The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-05

degree encourage the enemies of his
country or tend to weaken or dis
courage the brave men who are
nghting our battles. 1t is time for the
adoption of that beautiful and patriotic
sentiment in which l believe a vas
majority of the people most he artily
concur: My country: may she ever
/! be right, but right or wrong, my coun-
try"
out of the soil of liberty sanctified
ana made sacred by the blood of the
grand old heroes and martyrs who gave
10 us our country and our independence,
mas sprung the fabric of this mighty
republic. Under it's protection are
gathered S0,00O0O0 of the freeest. most
prosperous and patriotic people the
world has ever seen, enjoying the
blessings which come from self-gov-
eminent. Here every citizen is armed
with that mighty weapon, the ballot,
weapon more deadly than bullets,
more effective than bayonets, more
powerful than dynamite Through the
agency OF the ballot, directed by reason
and intelligence. abuses NAV be cor
rected, wrongs righted, unjust laws re-
pealed and just laws enacted in their
stead Through this medium all I'M
lawful combinations which are seeking
to subvert the rights of the masses of
the people to their selfish purposes,
may be placed under proper subsection
and control.
And through the same channel the
great body of toilers of our land. the
men who produce the wealth of the ma
ton, whose Drawn and brain and in
Intelligence have ever been and must
continue to be the main prop and STAY
of the commonwealth, may, by acting
in concert and unison, secure such just
legislation as they deem essential to
their own happiness and welfare.
Right of Suffrage.
The right of suffrage is the one privi-
lege we enjoy which. over an dabove all
others, gives life and force and vitality
to a free government. 1t is the key
stone in the grand arch of our rights
and liberties which sustains and holds
all in place.
The right to vote is the birthright of
an American citizen. 1t is his protec-
tion, his defense, his sword and shield.
The man who permits it to be wrested
from him through fear is coward and
deserves to lose it. The man who bar
tiers it for favor, or place, or gain. is
traitor to his own liberty and that
of his fellows. He who prostitutes a
position of power and influence to CO.
cree the vote of another who is depen-
dent upon him for employment, is not
only a stranger to the spirit and genius
of our government, but he is a menace
to the stability and perpetuity of our
| institutions greater than the anarchist
who throws a bomb; while he who,
having an abundance of wealth, tempts
his less fortunate fellow citizen Ito bar
ter his brthright for gold is too mean
to wear the majestic robes of American
citizenship.
With pure ballot, untrammeled an
influenced and unawed; a ballot which
can neither be coerced or corrupted,
| no harm can befall our beloved coun-
| try, and we shall continue to enjoy
| that character of government advocat-
| ed by Washington, supported by Jeffer-
| son and cherished by Lincoln-a gov
| eminent of the people, by the people
| and for the people-a government which
| shall not perish from the face of the
earth.
In conclusion. let us to-day. while the
| spirit of the fathers is about us, while
| the fragrance of liberty fills the air,
while loyalty and patriotism hold sway.
| again turn our eyes to the beautiful
| emblem of our country, and as we do
| so let us give expression of our feel
| ings in the lines of the poet:
"Our hearts, our hopes, are all with
| thee,