The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-13
THREE REPUBLICAN, OPINIONS.

Among recent contributions to politi-
cal literature we note with interest the
views Of three leaders Of Montana re-
p~ublicanism. These are Commodore
Power, Governor Richards and Lieut.
Gov. Botkin, who were invited by tho
Chicago Inter Ocean to furnish sugges-
tions and ideas for the restoration Of
republican principles. These we're pre-
sumably given for tho benefit of the
republican national league convention
at Louisville, which turned out to be a
very dull and spiritless gathering.
Commodore Power, who aspires to the
east side leadership, is cautious in his
expressions. He says that in his opinion
the democratic party is going to be very
conservative and may disappoint the re-
publicans by their very thoughtful and
moderate movements. Good for the
commodore, who is in q much better
position to read political conditions than
either OF his fellow contributors. He
has seen too much around Washington
to be fooled by the slow returning en-
thuslasm of his republican friends.
The, views of the governor and lieu
tenant governor are conservative and
offer suggestions which might we'll be
needed by the democratic ngre
Governor Richards believes that the re-
publican party, in order TO win, must
get nearer to the people. This can be
done by standing equarely for the re-
striction Of emigration. FREQ coinage Of
silver and encouragement for irrigation.
On the latter subject, he says:
The rapid absorption OF the public do
main will soon close the era of cheap lands,
unless steps are taken to reclaim the vast
tracts of land in the arid belts, which can
be done only by n comprehensive system of
irrigation. The republican party can at
ford to place itsslf squarely on record in
favor Of maintaining q system of cheap
homes for the actual settler, having
fathered that benign policy. and to do SO it
should champion the universal reclamation
of our arid lands.
Lieut.-Gov. Botkin, who has written
more declarations of republican prin-
ciples than any other Montanian, thinks
the party should wait for the develop
ment of democratic workings before
declaring itself and adds that the most
suggestive mistake of the republican
party has been the policy of waiting
for twenty years and finding indictments
against itself and pleading guilty to
them without awaiting the verdict.
This is the first time we ever heard of
the republican party pleading guilty TO
anything and We are inclined to think
that after the verdict on last November
there is nc longer any occasion for fur
thor waiting. Col. Botkin gives the
greatest weight to the Importance Of
the republican party declaring itself for
free silver. Singularly enough, none of
these gentlemen have a word to say
about the furtherance of shat grand
American SYSTEM" better known as the
war tariff. All seem to realize that in
order to maintain even an organization,
the republican party must forever drop
this pernicious system of taxation. The
eubEeoC1ous gwen ny tueSe RenGlGmen re-
lating to free silver, emigration and irrl-
CATION, are exactly what The INDEpEN-
DEN would offer to a gathering of
democrats. Aside from these, we note
in the communications referred to a
decided lack of enthusiasm over the
future of republicanism and no express
sions of hope that the party will ever
again get out of it's rut.
They seem to agree with the com
modore that the only thing to do is to
saw wood and wait.