Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1894-11-01
THE DUTY OF THE HOUR.
The Political Situation Reviewed and IT,
Duty Of Every Patriotic Citizen
Pointed Out.

. With the permission of the ARGUS
| wish briefly to review the political
field generally, and especially as TO the
in Fergus county.
Two years ago the campaign was
made principally on free trade lines,
and the people seemed to endorse that
policy by placing the Democratic party
in full control of the national govern
ment by a large plurality. Instantly
there was II depression in all in
dustries. Ii the party was to be true
to its platform, protection was to be
annihilated. Business men stopped
before making new contracts-mer-
chants preferred to greatly reduce
their stocks before ordering more.
Manufacturers of wooden goods quit
the market entirely for a time; bank
ers called In their loans, and We saw a
regular panic precipitated and inang-
urated by the threat of free trade
only that and nothing more. The
president, too cowardly to call con
gress together till by secret sonclaves
with the party leaders he could be rs
sured that the silver purchase act
would be repealed, allowed matters to
drift till late in the summer. was
visiting in Virginia when congress as
sembled and soon after went to Wash
49,. - l...l .,l loI.t. @-tHa
silver repeal act, and the one point
sought to he established by every
Democrat that spoke in favor OF re-
peal was that it 1.-THE Sherman act)
was responsible for the panic and its
repeal would mean n return OF pros
perity. They did it, aided by the pow
erful influence OF the president, and
the result has shown that it was no
more responsible for the panic than
for a change of the moon.
Today a Democratic would-be con
gresham is making his canvass in
Montana on the strength of his party's
silver record, ignoring the question Of
equal neutrality-suspicious..
We all agree that the panic has
been over tor some time, but so far nc
one seems to think that times art
good. Two years ago Democrats said
with wool on the free list our manu-
facturers would be able to keep theil
mills constantly running, and oper
competition would SO stimulate TIL,
business that they would pay more
for u wool. Today they don't say
anything about wool, ana Mr.. Corbett
in his speech at Billings, from start to
finish, let not the word escape his lips
The tariff bill finally, after many trib
ulations, passed by the Democratic
congress, is a sort OF a hybrid
In spots 1t is highly protective, espec
manded it. On the other hand, tn,
poor farmer gets 1T on every side, a
agricultural products come in free, o
nearly so, while his sugar is increased
IN price till it takes a pound of WOO
to purchase a pound OF the former, in
stead OF paying for two pounds as for
merly. Ex-President Harrison SAYS
the way to restore prosperity is to
vote the Republican ticket, from con
stable to congressman, and 1t Is gooC
advice. This is not a good year tol
publican convention | wish to say
that did not, nor do not now believ,
there was any pressure used to infu
ence votes in any way, for my owl
part, while | did not, as is well known
always vote for the successful man,
am satisfied to accept the Judgment o
the majority, and have nothing but
contempt for the man who, being fairly
beaten in the convention OF his party
flies the track and, by an independent
course in some small way though il
be. endangers the party ticket who's.
principles he has advocated.
Some say it makes no difference as
to county officers, and while they ar,
Republicans as to congressman and
members of the legislature, they viii
vote their personal preferences for the
rest OF the ticket.
This is all wrong. Who keeps up the
county organization and thereby
makes the election OF congressman
possible? Voters of Fergus county
take Harrison's advice and do youl
duty on election day; see that youI
neighbor votes - the one that says
NOh, it's sure to go all right this time
without me-" 1t won't be enough to
carry this county.
Look how Ohio did herself proud
Sast fall; Maine and Vermont have
spoken this fall. Montana, proud
mountain land that she is, home OF
the brave, will not fail to protest
against such an incompetent power
as now rules our nation.
Lastly, Fergus county, the banner
sheep county OF the state, must come
to the front as the banner county for
Republican maIorities. ID. W. s.
W. A. cGuire a well known citizen "i