Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1898-10-12
DEMOCRATIC HYPOCRISY.
Mr.. Ornbspn Olives His Reasons for Not sup
porting the Democratic Ticket.

porting the Democratic TICKET.
Iewistown, Mont. Oct. s, 1898.
EDITOR ARGUS: Anticipating the
criticisms that my future movement
in this campaign will naturally pro-
woke, in view of my well known SEN
timents and past record and wishing
to put myself in a position unembar-
RAISING to my friends, / wish, through
the columns of the ARGUS to make a
few statements to the reading pub
lie.
On conditions, which l have here
tofore set forth, and freely expressed,
/ am as ardent in my free coinage be-
liefs as ever. There are, however.
very few, ii any, public questions on
which one can qualify himself with
out such qualifications being juggled
up to meet the demands of designing
opponents i'm an effort tn distOrt and
impugn ones motives.
Two years ago l was unable to
analyze and understand the procla-
nations of many of our free coinage
advocates, who at that time made
free to express their doubts in the
stability and sincerity of the Demo-
cratic party in championing the
cause of free silver. But during the
past two years the press comments
and misleading statements made by
leading Democratic politicians, and
the consequent action, as a result
thereof, by the Democrats in their
state conventions has proven beyond
a possible doubt, that their position
was well taken and that they were
perfectly justified in theircontentiOns
that the Democrats should first,
prove their sincerity and stability be-
lore making any demand ofothers to
follow their lead. Two years Of con-
slant labor to convince the Ameri-
can people of Democratic sincerity
and honesty OF purpose has proven
deep rooted hypocrisy, its greatest
and most prominent virtue.
Two years ago, after having been
completely submerged in the rotten
mire OF infamy and dissolution for
its administration OF government al
fairs, seeing the hopelessness of ever
regaining prominence, local or ma
tional, it came forth robed i'm a cloak
III uNDDGIlSN NV CSIfouSCo u INV
pie for which many of ourleading Re-
publican statesmen had been fighting
for single handed and alone foryears,
and had made prominent as one OF
the cardinal principles OF their faith.
On Bonded knees and shedding crOco-
ollie tears they humbly heseached Sill
yer Republicans and Populists alike
to once again enthrone then in power
that they might demonstrate their
sympathy in behalf of the toiling mil
lions.
The magnetic influence of their sill
yer tongued orators caused many
leading Silver Republicans to subor-
dinate other political beliefs for the
time being, sacrifice personal interest
and sever their relations with their
life long political associates, and vent
ON record as sincere in the principle
which they had so long kept promi-
nent among the people, and now may
| ask. what have been h results?
Combining myself practically to state
affairs with which we are all ac-
quainted, l will state plainly and
frankly the condition with which we
have to deal.
In view of the complete somersault
taken and the change of front by the
Democratic party during the past
bS" us III tiNt aht
successful efforts to defeat fusion of
the silver forces and the action OF
Eastern Democrats i'm ignoring the
silver issue and the Chicago platform,
there can be no possible doubt of a
determined effort to Side-track the
silver question, as an issue in the
campaign of 1900. In support of this
conclusion | could enumerate and
sight to many circumstances that
positively point to- this result. But
to do SO would necessitate the COM
position of a longer article thar the
average reader would care to read.
therefore | will confine myself TO in
cidents having TRANSFERRED i'm Mon
tana with which all are partially if
not entirely familiar.
-Four years ago in 1924, the relative
strength OF the Democratic party of
this state a. against the Republicans