The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-12-15
FRIDAY, DECEMBER Is, 1899.
FOR REPUBLICAN UNITY.

It IL time Tor tue tOcul TepuuAACuus,
IL they hope to again place the party in
the aooendanoy in this republican conn
~, to begin to think and talk Of unity
Of action aud formulate plans for the
campaign that will open III the spring
by the election Of delegates to the ma
tional convention. All the republicans
In the county, we assume, are anxious
for the success of the party, but II that
object ia to be attained u different line
Of notion must be pursued than has
been followed IN the last two cam.
paigns. And this newspaper, we think,
which was the original Mckinley or.
gan in Montana, aud whose present
publisher ia we'll known in this COM
munity az a staunoh advocate Of the
ST. Louis platform, is not only quail
fed to advise the party as to what
should ba done, but has the right to do
80 BY reason of being its recognized
organ.
Unfortunately, in 1896, a division
was created III the party by the silver
issue, which not only resulted IL rapub-
lioan defeat, but e%ngendered animosi.
ties that were carried into the CAM
paign last year, with a like result. In
both instances the republicans them.
selves were responsible, and 1t now re-
mains for them to decide whether they
will continue the strife within their
ranks, or settle the differences that
have existed aud redeem the county at
the presidential election.
10 begin with, all the republicans
are now Of one mind as far as the prin.
oiples Of the party are concerned; that
Ia one important point that has been
gained. The members who were cur.
ried from their m%oorings in 90 BY the
silver issue are now agreed that free
coinage Ii not essential to the prosper
lily Of the country; 90 per cent Of them,
in fact, reached that conclusion last
year, returned TO the party, standing
'squarely Oh the St. Louis platform,
battled Loyalty for the whole ticket
and will again be in line for success IN
the next campaign. II would natural.
~ seem, then, that unity Of action can
DO easily secured, and II could be were
1t not for the extreme radioalism Of a
very small minority Of the party.
Last year 1t took the position that the
silver republicans should not return to
the party, even though they endorsed
the st. Louis platform, hut the radical
element was not sustained in this false
position by the masses OF the party.
They welcomed tho return Of the silver
republicans. but the radical element
was strong enough to defeat the ticket
at the polls. Aud today, we are sorry
to say. a disposition Is manifested In
some quarters to debar the former sill
YER republicans from a voice IN the
councils OF the party next year, or from
representation on the ticket.
The GuAette oann0t follow its ST.
Louis platform allies on that PROPOSE.
tion there never will be unity Of action
on that basis, and the question to dc.
eide Ii whether tho party shall be kept
In the minority IN Il county where 1t
has a safe working majority, Within
the past week we have heard at least
ono prominent republican, who Ia sup
posed to he closely identified with the
faction that was responsible for last
years defeat, declare that the minority
Ia pursuing tho wrong policy that we
never will have q republican party in
this county as long rs sneh u course II
followed; that, Ms far as he IL concerned,
he will not inquire III tho nest CAM
paign Whathai a man who suhseribes to
the republican platform has been in
the past a silver republican, q demo-
GRAFT or u p0pulist-it il sufficient for
him that he Ii a republican now, and
a. such he ID untitled to the same priv
ileaes AZ any other member of the party,
That Ia the spirit that must prevail
In this county to get the republicans to-
aather, tt In tho sentiment at q large
majority of the republicans and they
will ha able, We trust, TO convince the
few radicals Of their error before it
again jeopardizes party SUCCESS, Their
Number. fortunately, ii haoomiag less
every day II Ii to DO hoped they will
he such d snall minority In the next