Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-06-19
ALIBERAL CONCESSION.

ent declared that it is improper for any
one to discuss the prospective principles
and candidates of the democratic party,
unless he supported the nominees of that
organization in 1896, or contemplates do
ing so in 1900. While this inhibition works
a hardship on thousands of newspapers
in the United States which did not sup
port the democracy in the past. and
which will follow the same habit in the
future. the disposition to respect the fiat
of such an minent democratic authority
as the Independent was quite general
throughout the civilized world.
Newspapers are fond of discussing the
alleged political principles of their es-
teemed enemies. and had not the indie
pendent prohibited the discussion of
democratic affairs by those who have not
in the past co-operated with that party.
and who will act just as contrary in the
future, the chances are the democratic
switch-this does not refer to it's hair,
but to it's attitude on the silver question:
would excite a great deal of comment.
The Inter Mountain, however, finds
itself in a peculiarly fortunate condition
respecting these matters. Having assist
ed in the work of rescuing the democracy
of this state from it's paralytic condition
of i%noccuous desuetude in 1896. the Hell
ena Independent has kindly granted us a
dispensation, under it's rules, to discuss
democratic affairs. 1t says:
The propriety of discussing the demo
cratic platform and candidates for 1900
being restricted to those who supported
the democratic platform and candidates
in 1896, or who intend to do so in 1900, the
esteemed Inter Mountain is eligible I'M
der the first qualification.
Words fail. to express the gratitude
which the Inter Mountain feels over the
right accorded it by the Independent to
discuss the democratic platform and
candidates for 1900. While spape
ings Gazette will have to confine them
selves to such topics as the peace con-
ference at The Hague, the theory and
practice Of Christian Science. and the
future output Of the peanut crop in Porto
Rico, the Inter Mountain is free. under
the ~dispensation issued by the Independ-
ent. to discuss democratic affairs from
Thomas Jefferson to Bob Smith. Had the
Independent used the word and instead
of the word 'or" in placing it's embargo
on free speech, making the support of the
in debating the principles of that party,
the Inter Mountain would have been
compelled to feel it's way toward liberty
Of thought and expression with extreme
caution. Even as it is, the privilege
granted it by the Independent to discuss
democratic questions has a string to it.
That paper says:
But, as a good friend of silver. the es-
teemed Inter Mountain should cease it's
efforts to induce the only silver party in
the nation. of national Importance to re-
pudiate silver.
From the foregoing it is plain to be
seen that the Inter Mountain is suspected
of trying to induce the democracy to re-
pudiate silver. Having been caught in
the act, this paper might as we'll acknowl-
edge that it induced the Butte Miners
wing Of the democracy to go back on the
fusion policy Of the national silver lead
ers that was deemed essential to success
in 1896, and subsequently persuaded the
Anaconda Standard to repudiate the free
coinage ratio Of Is to J.. The firm stand
k by those two great financial organs,
as well as the Independent, in favor of
permitting no silver man to exist unless
he was branded with the democratic
trademark, and gave equal loyalty to
free trade and the other vagaries of that
political organization, was caused, with
out doubt, by the influence of the Inter
Mountain.
Later on, the efforts of this paper to
induce the democracy to repudiate silver.
led to the holding of the st. Louis con-
ference, in which all the great silver lead
ers of the democratic party decided that
SILVER must he placed in the background
and a new paramount issue invented for
1900. The phenomenal influence of the
racy 20 ~repudiate silver, must be pleaded
in Justification of the advice given us by
the I~ndpDpn1ant IN oj,iJa Iaa6;uy N. r.,