The Colored citizen., 1894-09-10
REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION.
Large, Representative and Enthusiastic.

Large, Representative and Enthusiastic.
The republican state convention
which convened here last Thursday
was one of the largest, most repre-
sentative and thoroughly enthusiastic
body of citizens ever assembled in this
state. From start to finish the air
was filed with a delirium of unsup-
pressible and genuine enthusiasm.
The auditorium was tastefully decor
ated and the floor of the convention
hall was admirably arranged. When
the convention was called to order by
Hon. Lee Mantle, chairman of the
state central committee, every chair
was occupied and the seats arranged
for spectators were we'll filed. After
calling the convention to order and
the reading of the call by Secretary
Thomas S. Cummings, Mr.. Mantle, in
4 forciole and eloquent speech, occu-
pying FULLY an hour, expressed him
self in substance as follows:
HE expressed pleasure at again
meeting the representatives of the
republican party, especially under
circumstances which point, he said,
to great republican victory. The
bright prospects came largely from
the unfortunate condition of affairs
/ after eighteen months of democratic
rule. Nothing was comparable to
this condition except the utter de-
moralizatlon of the party responsible
for it. Mr.. Mantle referred to the
election of two years ago. 1.-THE fail
ure to elect working majority of the
legislature" he said, ''was a misfor-
tune. 1t was due to methods well
known to all, and which will not stop
to discuss. 1t was unfortunate be-
cause it led to the enactment of the
most disgraceful scenes ever enacted
in any legislature of Montana, or any
other state in the Union. 1t brought
the blush of shame to the cheek
of every self-respecting citizen of the
state. None but the severest condem-
nation is heard for the men who were
corrupted into a betrayal of their
trust; but am one of those who be-
lieve the bribe giver is equally guilty
with the bribe taker, and ought to be
placed under the same ban. That
sturdy band of men, who in the temp
est of debauchery held fast to their
principles, have won the respect and
esteem of all good men. The fact
that there we're divisions in the DEM
ocratic party and that the three pop
ulist members we're owned body and
soul by the democratic factions, one
of which failed to corrupt enough
members to secure an election, made
it necessary for the governor to ap-
point. The precedents of years JUS
titled the belief that the appointee
would be seated. But owing to the
agitation over the repeal of the Sher-
man law, and the fact that the seat
ing would strengthen the cause of sill
yer, as we'll as the belief of the demo-
cratic senators that failure to seat
would force the governor to call the
legislature again, the decision was
adverse and Montana was left with
but one representative in the senate.
l believe the overwhelming sentiment
of the people is that the governor was
right in refusing to call the legisla-
ture together to re-enact the dis
graceful scenes of the previous ses-
zion. 1t would have been little short
of Infamous if he had done so. The
great majority of the people would
rather see one seat vacant than have
| IL ullCu Dy OnS WhooC tltiS was Soi-
rupted by fraud or who had debauched
the members of the other party to
secure it." Mr.. Mantle then COM
mended the services of Senator
Power and Congressman Hartman.
''It is customary" continued Mr..
Mantle, ito detail in the platform
the crimes and blunders of the other
party. This year we will have to
abandon that. The list Is so long and
its character so assinine that nothing
but the sarcasm of Sanders could do
it justice. When the history of the
democratic party for the past
eighteen months shall have been
written, the administration of
Grover Cleveland will be written the
most colossal of failures" The speak
er then referred to the Hawaiian mat
ter, the Van Alan appointment, etc,
and accused the president of oppres-
sing the old soldiers, of evading the
provisions of the Chinese exclusion
act, of seeking to unduly influence
congress and many other things, and
i saiA ,AaN n,, aIa-Nfn. la = ,.-o,,ld not