The Ravalli Republican. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1894-1899, 1898-01-26
POpULISTS GETTING WARM.
Editor Holmes Expresses a Few Opinions
OH Democracy.

The breach between the Montana
populists and their late twin-b brothers
the Montana democracy, is widening
at such u rate that the state is not
large enough to hold both. In the
last issue of the Great Falls News,
Editor Holmes dips his pen into Wit
riol and remarks:
devoid Of gratitude, as it's prototype
the democracy Of Montana. With
an official political standing OF two
votes. to the democrats one, the pop
ulists last year magnanimously-and
patriotically, for the sake Of silver
and other populist reforms sincorpor
ate in the Chicago platform--con-
sented to a fusion and gave the dem
ocrats a majority Of the state cleo
tive vote. AS the republican party
was divided and the puny democracy
Was still further disabled by the
pressure of a strong gold standard
element within its irregular and de-
moralized ranl1s-tlle populist party
could have swept the state. But as
an independent canvass would have
engendcred strife between the par
ties that were allied nationally, and
would have furnished political cap
ital for the gold standard forces, the
populists patrotically surrendered
-temporarjly-thcir political adyan-
tage. Since then the successful
democratic cur has done nothing but
growl and snarl at the party that
saved--or, rather, postponed its
final and complete annihilation.
"During the campaign they were
true to their dishonest political in
clinations land traded local populisu
candidates whenever it was possible.
At the conclusion Of the successful
state gn-in absolute violation
of the joint convention agreement
there was a host Of Democratic appli-
cants for appointive state ot1iccs-of
which they received more than an
even share from u supposedly popu-
list governor.
"In the legislature the democratic
members opposed every populist
measure-and, to the contrary, the
silver republicans gave them very
material support.
''Thcn, again, since the election,
the democratic press Of the state has
been persistent and contemplate in
its abuse Of the party-rcviling and
dcnouncing populist principles at
every opportunity, making it impos-
sible for the popuIist party to again
extend it's strong support to the dem
ocratic weakling-and at the same
time retain its political self respect.
| Among the state democratic
papers that were models OF hypocricy
last fall and that have uncloakcd
their political dishonesty sincc-we
must except the Tribune Of this city
and the independent of Helcna-but
as the latter has changed hands, it's
position is problematic.
"What has been and is the posi-
tion Of The democratic press is also
true Of the democratic politicians
with very few exceptions. politi-
caliy, they are dishoncst-and they
are anti-popuists. While the politi-
cal attitude Of the several reform
elements cannot at this date be fore
told-tle political coalition Of popu-
lists and democrats in this state, at
any future time, is an absolute. I'M
ayoidable impossibiIity."
In connection with the above tho
Helena Herald has the following:
Have the populists soured or
William Jennings Bryan?
viii they support him If he i!
nominated in 1900?
If one can believe what he hear:
whispered around Helena since tn.
recent populist convention or confer
cncc in St. Louis there is reason tt
believe that the answer to the first
question commences with a "Y,
while the letter s'Nn in the largcs
type expresses the average pOpulist':
sentiments On the latter point as tt
spelling and answer.
Il. $. Hogan, secretary Of the stat
of Montana, who has just returned
from St. Louis where he represented
Montana's pops at the conference
when asked today il the populist
were as red hot after the Ncbraskal
as ever, admitted that from what III
heard some Of the delegates say IL
did not believe they we're. Mr.. 1lo
gan said that many of the delegate
from the south did not suffer from a,
: oycr-stock Of love for William. No
long ago Bryan il, an interview cx
pressed more or less sympathy 70
. what he termed the popu!ists self
sacrifice in giving up their organiza
tion rs it were and joining with TIL
democrats. This particular inter
vie" made the pops very weary
They, and in fact the pops every
where deny most cmphatically tina
they have by any means given ~
their organization. They claim, ol
the contrary, that they are better Or
ganZcd than ever regardless Of the
theft Of their ammunition bv th
democracy.
From what Mr.. Hogan had to sa,
OF the sentiments the sOutherncr
expressed aJ the conference it look
as though the pops in that section
, looked upon Williams Jcnning
Bryan as 4 clever fakir. Comm!
from the south and having hat
plenty Of experience with the demo
cratic arrogance called Bourbonsn
50 famous in that section, those pop
ont RI + ia,