The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-02-27
CARTER DISCOVERS EVIDENCE.

The election of last fall, at which I
was defeated, conveyed to my mind con-
elusive evidence of the existence of a
very decided republican majority in the
state.
The above excerpt is contained in Mr..
Thomas ii. Carriers answer to the ques-
tion Of a newspaper reporter: "Why is it
that Montana is democratic, while all the
~nc,ghboring states are republican," Mr..
Carter professed he could assign no good
reason why Montana should support the
democratic ticket, and then followed his
remark above quoted. II it had been
made by Mark Twain or Bill Nye upon a
lecture platform it would have brought
down the house with roars of laughter,
but it is not supposed that Land Com
missioner Carter is engaged in the joke
business just now, and the inclination to
smile audibly dies in the presence of the
desire TO know Just what he means. The
gentleman was defeated for congress-: his
pariy's candidate for governor was de-
feated; it lost the legislature and then
stole it, but it elected several state Off
GERS by expanding something over a quar-
ter Of a million dollars of the republican
national committees corruption fund.
1t is IN these achievements Mr.. Carter
finds conclusive evidence OF the OK
istence of a very decided repub-
lican majority in November.
SURPRISING all inclination to treat
lightly the gcntleman's conclusions the
TRiErNE will simply say Mr.. Carter can
extract more comfort to the square inch
out of a most humiliating defeat than
Col. Sanders can, and that is putting the
matter as strongly as it can possibly be
put.
The tribune is open to conviction
and will with what grace it can com
mand yield The point if Mr.. Garter OF
any one else can give good reasons why
Montana should be expected TO support
the republican party. There have been
thirteen or fourteen d~elegatorial and
congressional elections in the state. The
republicans, through disaensions in the
democratic party. elected their delegate
w. ii. Ciaggctt in 1872. Mr.. Carter
was the next one elected. lie was also
elected to congress. The republicans
have never had control of either branch
Of the Legislative assembly but once or
twice. They were always in a hopeless
minority in that body. They have Ger.
tain state officers today. And there you
have the full measure of the successes
OF the republican party in Montana.
is there anything in them 10 warrant
the assumption that Montana is repub-
llcan upon a fair, square vote Of the pco-
pie: Assurcdly not. But there is every
reason to believe that the democratic
party in the state is much stronger today
thau it ever has been. The hostile at
titude Of the republican party against
silver will greatly weaken the party in
Montana. This is Il silver producing
state, and the party that turns its back
mp N the metal cannot receive the sup
port of its people. The hostility OF the
republican party to silver last winter
cost this state at least $lO,0OO,OO0 in ac-
tual cash, besides discouraging the open
ing and development of silver properties.
Does Mr.. Carter suppose that the peo-
pie Of Montana are dogs and Will lick
The hand that smitns them: Or does he
suppose they are fools 10 be wheedled
into voting again the republican ticket
upon the Oft repeated and rs oft broken
promise that the republican party will
saCrcdly guard the interests of this
state.
If the TRIBUNE Ices not mistake the
temper of the people of Montana they
will administer a rebuke to the repub-
liCan party next November that viii en-
phdsiHc in an unmistakable manner
their Indignation against the hostile
treatment their great interests have re
received at its hands. They have been
patient and long suffering, but when
they see prominent silver mills and
mines closing down ON account of the
adverse Legislation Of the republican
party and miners thrown out Of employ
ment and women and children suffering
they would be less than men if they
persisted in retaining that party in
power.