The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-09-03
Politics in Montana.
Especial to The Irish Standard.)

Especial W / lie lFlSn SLanUdFu.)
ANACONDA, Mont, Aug. 80, 1893
TO give brief outlook of Montana pol
itics and have it understood by the
numerous readers or The Irish Standard
in Minnesota, Wisconsin and other East
ern states, it is necessary to first state
the difference in the general political
situation between the East and the
West.
In the East the Democrats, Populists
and Silver Republicans, combined and
thoroughly fused are barely able to cope
with the gold or administration Repub-
licans. Among these silver elements the
Silver Republicans arc certainly actu-
ated, in the stand they have taken, as
much as any other, by motives of pure
patriotism. Men who in 1896, like Chas.
A. ToWne, John Lind and Others, left
dominant political party, when every
thing pointed toward power and almost
certain success in politics had they re-
manned where they were, and to just as
certain defeat in Joining the silver
forces, are trusted and looked upon Ivy
all as men who put patriotism above
| party, and country above personal ambi-
ton. These men were a small minority
| of the Republican party, but had the
courage Of their convictions, and the
| manhood to follow the distates of rea-
| son and conscience.
| In Montana and other mountain states
the situation is different Here the Sill
| yer Republicans constitute a large ma
jority of the party. What are called
Gold or Mckinley Republicans are only
a handful Of federal office-holders and
| their friends. In this state, prior to two
years ago, the Republicans as whole
were little stronger than the Demo-
Gratis, with the Populists a good third
party. Any two, combining could easily
defeat the third. Since the split in the
Republican party the Silver Republicans
have dropped to second place, and the
| Democrats advanced to first which party
is now looked upon by the people as the
logical followers of Bryan and the stand
ard-bearcrs of the silver cause.
The gold wing Of the Republican
party is now making the deceptive but
fascinating Cry of a reunited Republi-
can party" They arc willing to concede
all local offices to the Silver Republicans,
and also adopt silver plank in the state
platform, and the only consideration
they ask in return is to have the whole
party take the incongruous action of in
dorsing the Mckinley administration
This program meets the approval If
quite q number of Silver Republicans
where the Republican party was strong
prior to two years ago, and whose only
ambition is personal advancement and
the spoils of Office. However, the great
leaders of the Silver Republicans have
taken stand in direct opposition to this
program, for they see the trap into
which the managers CT the Mckinley adj
ministration intend they shall fall. These
men see the peril to silvers cause by
having silver state like Montana in
dorse the present gold administration
and If l can judge Alright, they will
bring the Silver Republican party past
the danger point safely TO proper and
harmonious fusion with the Democrats
and Populists
Fusion Is what the true friends
of silver and humanity are work
ing for everywhere. Without it
we might be able to re-elect Sena-
tor Mantle and Congressman Hartman,
or some other good silver men to sue
coed them in the next congress, but the
effect a division of the silver forces in
this state would have on the situation
in other states might work untold harm
to the cause
But the most ineXplica5le thing we
| lind is certain element in the Demo-
cratic party also working against flu
sion of the silver forces. And strange to
| say, all who take this stand are workin o
| In the interests Of Il certain Democratic
candidate for a seat in the United States
senate, w. y. Clark. Why they should
antagonize the interests Of silver and
expect to succeed in state like Mon
tana, is hard to tell, unless it be that.
in the general miX-,lp aud chaos that
would follow, they expect by liberal
use Of money TO do some missionary
work i'll the next legislature.
However. as general conclusion I
think it safe to say that the true friends
of silver will succeed in fusinc tie silver
forces in this state and in many of the
counties. The officers to be elected This
fall are congressman. chief justice of
the supreme court, an associate Justice
of the supreme court, a clerk of the su-
preme court, and a legislature that will
choose United States senator for the
coming six years, besides county officers