The Ravalli Republican., 1898-07-20
COMMUNICATED.
Grantsdole, july IS. 1898.

Editor Ravalll Republlcan:
The state central committecs-or
a part of such committees-of three
political parties of this state have
met, and through the inspiration
furnished by the Jefferson club Of
Helena have agreed to hold their
several conventions at Anaconda on
the same day, in hopes that the three
may and will be merged in one, and
thereby inaugurate a regular love
feast by which the interests Of free
coinage Of silver will be forwarded
several notches on the political wheel.
l suppose it will be considered rash
for any one Of the rank and file to
doubt the possibility Of the grounds
offered for fusion, or to offer any OBJ
lection to the plan or plans Of such
wise men as Jones, Stewart and the
others who have in hand the nurse
ling, ssFrec Coinage Of Silver" and
have had it for twenty five years
and still it is not advanced beyond
it's swaddling clothes. There is a
strong array Of proof Of this fact that
any one Of ordinary intelligence can
apply and verify to his satisfaction.
For twenty-fi five years the two great
political parties of this country in
national convention have loyalty de-
clared for free coinage-and as loyal
ly ignored it as a party pledge. The
republicans at St. Louis nominated
Mckinley, and elected him, on a
platform with free coinage left out.
T1bo,, +1,o 1,,or M ~, III irnpc f,f
tana rallied to the standard Of Bryan
under the assurance that he could
and would be elected, and thus free
coinage become fixed fact. We all
know the result. The democratic
party as organized under Bryan is a
thing Of the past. From Maine to
California, from Montana to Texas,
there is no logical cohesion Of rrinci-
pies or policies except Of a negative
nature, nor will there be until they
grow out of the results of this war
with Spain,
This brief review seems necessary
in order to properly gauge results
and arrive at the true value and
merit of free coinage as paramount
|
two years hence, The imperial mon
ey powers with headquarters in Lon
don consider free coinage as stale
side issue. Can the silver ;opubli-
cans Of Montana make of it anything
more? We tried it faithfully tive
years ago and signally failed in every.
thing except to disrupt and disinte-
CRATE our own party. For proof OF
this see list Of delegates already Civ
en- for the trimvirate convention
which is already looming up in fine
proportions before eyes in fine frenzy
rolling.
1t is useless to undertake to rcjuy
enate and make paramount to al
others an issue that has been before
the people in 50 many forms, and for
SO many years, and at the very time
when our brave boys in blue, both or
land and sea, are formulating new
issues faster than we are prepared tt
receive them. 1t is useless to deter
mine now what shal! he the cohesive
elements for party two Gears hence:
and, too, while we are busy sending
men and munitions Of war to tho
front to settle and adjust With SpaAt
for her barbarisms in the island OF
Cuba. 1t is useless to accept with
out murmur the dictation Of tho
little junta Of politicians who arc at
the head Of the movement, and espc-
cially So at this jllncture Of transpir-
ing events.
When men are lost they travel in /;
circle, and ask in all seriousness: is
it not possible that good and wise
men may become SO absorbed in one
idea us to lose sight of the tccmin9
millions passing onward and up.
ward about them. The people de-
manded this war, and the people will
see to it that the issues involved in
it are settled correctly. We must
keep pace with our destiny as a ma
tion, or soon we will find that by tho
verdict of the moving world we arc
lined up with bankrupt and cf1ete
Spain.
The times are propitious now fol
the republicans OF Montana to pull
themselves together for the future
use and benefit Of the nation, not on
ly on Que issue but many and new
ones as they arise in the cvcrchang-
ing scenes Of life.
It is suggested that the silver re.
publicans in this new proposed dea1
ought to have the senator and repre-
sentative in congress because they
are true and tried men. But what
of the counties and state? Are We
to be attached to the tail OF tile dem
ocratic kite? There are other ques-
tions too numerous to mention at this
time,
Now, please do not understand
that I wish to belittlc the cause OF
free coinage, but that it is not prac-
tical or possible in my belief to ma kc
it at this time Il paramount issue Or
sufficiently important to disbard ard
throw overheard the republican par
ty of Montana.
Truly yours, A. X. GROW.
| !