Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-11-20
WESTERN

receipts we're started to market.
WESTERN REPUBLICANS.
Those republicans who have stood so
loyalty and strenuously to the line of
sound money, in the region west of the
Missouri river, have earned special rec
ignition and they should receive en-
couragement from their brethren whose
homes are to the east. In North and
South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas,
not to speak of the country farther
west, true republicans have been put to
the %severest test. Conditions we're ad-
verse. The situation was extraordinary.
The facts are we'll understood. For
peculiar reasons, popular discomfort
had great vogue in these states. They
constitute "a newly settled territory.
The settlers in large areas, poor ut the
start, have encountered the hardships
and trials which are inseparable To
pioneering. These h%ardships were in
tensltied by the physical conditions
peculiar to the semi-arid belt that
stretches far to the east of the foot.
hills of the Rocky mountains. Harassed
by these untoward conditions, multi
tudes of citizens had reached u frame
OF mind which prepared them Tor the
vehement agitation of extreme silver
ism. Its plausible assumptions and soph-
isms took possession OF great bodies of
men. This is not strange. 1t would
have been strange il there had been a
different result. These conditions in
vited and secured the extraordinary eX
ertion of demagogism of every variety.
Indeed, it had been active for years.
In some states,too, as in South Dakota.
there was atthe critical moment system
attic treachery in republican leadership.
These and many similar facts are to be
remembered i'll Judging the result OF
the election in the western states to
which reference is here made. They
are not to be judged too harshly, al
though they will be severely judged by
those who do not fully understand the
conditions. But grave injustice will
be doneif the loyalty and steadfastness
of the republicans of the west are not
recognized. They made a splendid bat
tie, Il battle not less worthy of remem-
brance II acknowledgment becauseit
iil mot ,,s,, tl;. n1nutDr
p%aratively easy for republicans in many
states to stand up for sound finance,
but i'll these western states it took cour-
age, conviction and even self sacrifice
for republicans to make such a stand.
Let it be said to their credit that the
great. majority of republicans stood
true. They made a mighty fight. They
organized. they c~o-operated, they held
up boldly the flag of the party. They
made Il fight that deserved to win, and
which, in spite of all untoward circum-
stances,came near winning inthis elect
ton. They did carry North Dakota by a
handsome majority. They held South
Dakota close to victory. They are not
disgraccfully beaten in Nebraska, al
though they sustain serious defeat in
Kansas. To do so much is, in an i'm
portant sense, Il victory, for although
defeated in the election, the way is
paved for ultimate and indeed speedy
victory in the future. These western
republicans have stood for the truth.
and the truth will be their sure vindi-
cation when better times shall come
and when many shall be relieved from
the stress which warped their judg.
ments. Letthe republicans of Nebraska
and South Dakota stand firm. Let
there be no compromise, no turning
aside from the solid ground of sane
finance. Let them go straight forward
along the line which they have so faith
fully fought for in the late election
This is the one important thing now
Sioux City Journal.
~