Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1896-09-17


many deserving citizens of Montana
have been driven to the verge of des-
titution and ruin.
with these and other repudiated
and objectionable features of pro-
posed public policy, the convention
free and unlimited coinage of silver.
The lead is greater than silver can
bear. No friend of silver will be will
ing to permanently abide by a de-
cision rendered upon such a platform
as that, i'm which silver appears as
the only redeemable feature. As "A
Republican / believe i'm the free
coinage of silver and protection to
American labor and American indus
try. do not believe i'm free coinage
coupled with free trade and do not
believe that free coinage with free
trade can be successfully established
and maintained by our government.
The free trade policy will render the
establishment of bimetallism an
utter impossibility. The attempt to
with free trade is an Utopian dream.
Differs Only i'm Method.
After looking the whole situation
over, it will be found that the Re
publican party has not declared i'm
favor of the gold standard but in
favor of the restoration of silver. i
find i'm this particular that it differs
from the opposition platform only
in the matter of method. 1 believe
that the Republican party is i'm this
behalf too conservative, but as be-
tween the acceptance of the Republi-
can platform with it's conservative
expression on this subject and the
acceptance Of the Chicago platform
with it's free trade, states rights, free
riots, reputation and many other
objectionable features, l find no
room to hesitate.
Il believe it is the clear and unques-
assemble under and i'm conformity
with the forms and usages of the Re
publican party of this state and as
delegated representatives of the Re
publicans who reside here. to place
i'm the field electors favorable to
Mckinley and Hobart. 1t has been
suggested, but I hope with little
semblance Of authority, that some
elements in the convention would,
under the banner of the Republican
| rsfx nd In 20 at,nn f..
nate electors here favorable to Bryan
and Sewall or Bryan and Watson
I cannot believe that any such senti-
ment will receive approval. Bryan
and Sewall electors have been placed
i'm the field by the regular Democratic
organization of this state. 1t is the
right of the Republicans of this state
to demand that their organization
shall place before the people for their
suffrages Mckinley and Hobart elec-
tors.
"Those who feel that duty requires
them, as friends of silver, to- support
Bryan and Sewall have the plain priv
ilege of SO doing inasmuch az electors
representing Bryan and Sewall have
been presented to the people of the
state by the regularly constituted
authority of the Democratic party.
This il a Republican convention. re-
presenting the dominant party in
Montana and the delegates have not
in my judgment any right whatever,
under the established rules of political
action, to entertain for one moment
a thought of nominating any other
than straight Republican electors. /
do sincerely hope that while insisting
firmly upon the course of action in
dicated, the broadest possible char
ity will be exercised i'm dealing with
the opinions of those Republicans
who feel constrained by a sense of
duty to vote against the national
candidates ON the silver question
alone. 1t pains me beyond measure
of expression to contemplate a situa-
ton where such conflicting opinions
exist among members of the same
party with reference to the propriety
of personal action. Every citizen
has the inalienable right, irrespec-
tive of party, to cast one vote on
election day, according to the die
tates of his judgment and conscience
rNxx-<s-uc<1 -. ES<x.,~<k, Do<o1