Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-12-30
COURIER.
;sssrca u r. O. q Elk Point a. sseond-clasa
THURSDAY. DECEMBER 80, 1897.
OmoaAl Newspaper Of Union County, 30. Dial
O6bctal Newspaper Of City Of ELK Point. So. Dial

osscssi N ;Sswspspst q q ely SliS * k isi Poisnt. s.. OAK.
TNE BENEDICT ARNOLD OF SOUTH
DAKOTA.
Senator Pettigrew seems to be very
DESTROYS just at present Of emphasizing
his standing in the republican party.
He was elected by republican votes,
he never has ceased to claim that he
represents his constituency, and only
the other day the Chicago Inter.O Ocean
In classifying the Senate placed him
among the republicans. With a most
dismal outlook for the future Of fusion
and an active v for reelection
close At hand, it is nj wonder that the
Senator should desire to make the
most OF his alleged republicanism.
Before he is allowed to do this it will
be we'll to review the principal facts Of
his treachery, facts which are matters
Of record and beyond dispute.
BY reference to the House Journal Of
1895, page 4S2, 1t will be observed that
. memorial to Congress, praying for
the adoption Of free silver, wal voted
upon and passed by q vote OF 43 to 80.
An analysis Of the vote shows that the
entire populist constituency, fourteen
votes, vas cast In favor Of the memorial,
while the republican vote was nearly
equally divided, 20 voting in favor and
% against. Now please notice: Every
vote against the measure was q re-
publican vote, every populist vote was
. vote In favor Of the measure, and a
majority OF the republican vote was
against the measure. This was in the
House; In the Senate the memorial
wa overwhelmingly defeated. The
republican vote Of the very legislature
that elected Senator Pettigrew then,
was firmly opposed to the Senator's
present silver views. Senator Petit
grew today does not, and for two years
past has not, represented the views of
the constituency that elected him.
Two years ago Senator Pettigrew
was very anxious to head the South
Dakota delegation to the National
Nominating Convention at St. Louis.
He was not allowed to do 60, but after
being called before the state convention
at Huron, and openly pledgiug himself
to loyalty 10 its policy and platform, he
was allowed to be placed upon the
delegation. When the national con-
vention endorsed the policy and plat
form of the state convention to the en-
tire satisfaction of everyone OF the
delegation except Senator P~ettigrew,
the Senator walked out OF the conven-
ton and has been in open revolt ever
since. In this connection 1t Is worth
while to observe that Editor Cory, OF
the Watertown Public Opinion, is author
ity for the statement, that as early as
1894 an intimate friend OF Senator
Pettigrew stated to q small circle Of
silverites In the Arcade Hotel In that
city, that on that issue the Senator
would be M with them. Senator
Pettigrew's betrayal of the constituency
that elected him was deliberate and
premeditated then. For the sake Of a
reelection he was willing to betray the
principles he was elected TO represent,
and he did 90 through deception and
double dealing. We brand him the
Benedict Arnold Of South Dakota, be.
cause he has done in politics for the
Ssfate exactly what Benedict Arnold
Vid for the nation. For an insignificant
Prsonal reward he has betrayed the
Nrysinterests he vas sworn to defend,
aAdids 90 Intentionally and through
syn Aathy With the enemy. These
stroay words need TO be said just now,
lest ~ weakened silver republicans
shouldbe misled into supposing that
any PLACES the Senator may make Ia
them weuld for one moment stand in
tho way 4 similar treachery to them,
should the Senator'S personal advance
ment o. Individual interests seem to
lay In another direction.
a " As