The Ravalli Republican. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1894-1899, 1896-08-19
AN OPEN LETTER
From Congressman Hartman Upon The
Miners Criticisms.

Miners Criticisms.
TO the people Of Montana:
Tile persistent efforts of The Miner
in commenting upon it's report Of tue
Butte conference, to place me in
false position with the people OF Mon
tana, will be apparent to every one
who understands the true position
occupied by myself with reference to
congressional candidacy.
The newspaper report of the in
complete statement OF my position
and the construction placed upon IL
by The Miner is misleading. In
Justice to the many friends that |
am proud to claim among all political
organizations in this state, who have
not only been just, but generous in
their treatment Of me, and in justice
tnarges Gonral6ea>1 III :thiee " antounaeea ael
by any word or deed Of mine, any in
suit or slight has been offered or in
tended to any man or political party
in this state. 1t is also due to those
friends and to myself that a plain
statement Of my position upon this
matter be given to the public.
Circumstances Of recent occur
renee have served to create condi-
tion which III my mind and to the
minds Of others seems to demand
subordination of partisanship to the
support Of What we believe to be the
greatest issue presented to the
American people since the civil war.
l repeat what I have said in public
addresses before, that the cause Of
bimctalism is the cause Of humanity
and civilization; it is greater than
any political .party-it is greater than
all political parties. 10 contribute
my mite to the success Of that great
principle, Like some others-have
believed it my duty to refuse to sup
port the gold standard nominees Of
the republican party for president
and vice president. I claim no credit
for that course. The act was but
the performance of What I believed
to be a solemn duty, and no man has
a right to claim credit for the per-
fornance of duty.
In other fields than Montana,
where work in support Of bimetal-
lism is needed, shall be found from
the Goth day Of September until
election day, doing whatever duty
may be assigned me in support Of that
cause. My name will be submitted
to the silver wing of the republican
party at it's state convention at
Helena on the 9th day Of September
next, as Il candidate for representa-
tive in congress. cannot anticipate
the action Of that convention. I be-
long to the republican party of Mon
tana, Of which in my judgment IS
per cent of its membership agree
with me that the free coinage Of
silver at the existing ratio, independ-
ent Of any nation on earth, is the
paramount issue. agree with the
other declarations OF the republican
state platform of 1894, and cordially
and heartily endorse the free coinage
plank of the democratic national
platform Of 1856.
1 have not been offered a nomina-
tion by the democratic party of Mon
tana, and do not presume such offer
will be made, because among other
reasons the democratic party of Mon
tana knows that [ have not changed
my belief upon other questions con-
tanned in their platform and the ;c-
ccptance OF Il nomination by them
without expressly disappearing these
planks with which I disagree, would
- l,C rnf,1 ~f T}t,tsC q m n +
on my part Of those planks. This
cannot consistently do. Hence a
nomination by that party could not
properly be offered or accepted.
However kindly disposed the convcn-
tion might feel toward any one oc-
fcupying my position, an endorsement
| is all that could properly be given by
it, and all that could properly be ac-
cepted. This was the idea that ]
entertained when the remark was
made-though imperfectly stated
which gave the excuse to the Miner
to place upon it the unfair and un,
warranted construction OF my having
"disdaincd" the aid Of the democrats
and ''otfcred gratutious INSULT tc
them.
am constrained to believe that
the "yaultng ambition Of my FRIEND
Quinn has rather "o'cr lcapcd itself,
He is also Il candidate ior congress
Permit me to say this to him i1
all kindness that he will not do hE
candidacy any good by adopting un
fair methods with his advorsarics
His own self respect and the conf
dence and esteem Of the public vii
be secured and retained much more
surely by adopting course marked
by fairness and fidelity at all times
and by a courage that does no.
waycr when the supreme test comes
After all is said. OF what Importance
are the political fortunes Of any ONT
man except rs they may tend to pro
mote the SUCCESS of the great cause
upon which depends the welfare Q
the entire people.
At the p: sent time it happens t
be my lot to represent Montana il
the lower house Of congress. 1t i
| just and proper in view Of the rcccn
unfair uttcrances Of The Miner, tina
publicly acknowledge my obiga
tions to the people and press (witl
but few cxceptions) OF all parties o.
Montana, for the generous trcatmcn
which they have uniformly EXTENDED
to me while it has been my fortune
to serve them in Il representative
capacity.
| SnI}d tho fortunes 0f thn c1,nn1io,