Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-10-03
TIE POLITICAL DRIFT

The unDatriotic trend of the demo-
cratic party, as the issues begin to shape
up for the forthcoming campaign. and
it's clearly expressed determination to
subordinate the paramount. issue of 1898
to the indefensible claims of "anti-im-
perialism." will unquestionably dimin-
ish it's voting strength in the western
states. Heretofore. it has received a
strong support from n~on-demoerats in
the belief that it represented a public
policy that would best conserve the in
terests of the people. But it has rele-
gated thai policy to the background, as
make room for a proposition of an UNI
patriotic character, which will, if carried
to a conclusion. seriously impede the
growth and development of the west.
Necessarily. those Who have heretofore
supported the democratic party, as the
representative of the free coinage move
ment. find themselves in a~ntagonism to
it. when it not only subordinates that
issue, but advocates as it's leading and
central idea a proposition that smacks
Of treason to the true interests Of the
western people and of disloyalty to the
flag. Loyalty to the nation must take
precedence to all other considerations
Next to that comes the question of ma
tianal policies as they affect the local
interests Of the. people.
During the war of the rebellion the
democracy. advocated a number of poll
cies that appealed to the good sense of
the people, but above and beyond all
these was it's sympathy with the con-
federate cause and it's willingness to
t'permit the erring sisters to depart in
peace" The patriotic American public
would not allow a party that was fun
damentally in sympathy with the enc
mics Of the flag to attain power, despite
the virtue of its minor claims to the
consideration of the people. So it is
to-day. The democratic party has
shown it's hand too plainly during the
trouble IN the ~fnlllpplneS " now lain
the support of any earnest, progressive,
patriotic citizen, on the grounds that it
has a few subordinate issues in it's repe-
toire of a most virtuous and laudable
type.
Under these circumstances, the vot-
ing strength of the democracy, espe-
ITO 1,y IL, thn y-oc+ will 1o ,,,ol Lace, =,
1900 than it was in 1896, in proportion to
the total population. That party can
not figure on the support of the populists,
who are already r~eorganizing for the
campaign Of next year, nor can it hope
to receive the support of the silver re-
p~ublicans. In states like Montana it
cation holds the balance of power, and
the results will turn largely upon the
political course that is pursued by it.
With the trend of political events
which is placing the question of bimetal-
lism in the rear. as an incident of the
Compaign rather than as an issue of par
mount importance, and bringing to the
front propositions upon which the silver
republicans and the old-line republicans
are in perfect accord, it looks as if the
two wings of the republican party may
again drift together for united work il
the political activities of next year. Such
a union would undoubtedly control politi.
cal results in this state, hence there is
great activity in democratic circles t.
prevent it from being brought about.
The only hope of success in the mex
campaign, which the local leaders of thu
democracy indulge, is based on prevent
ing the two wings of the republican party
from getting together. To this end the,
utilize to the fullest extent every cranl
that can be found in the ranks Of the old
dine republican organization, inducing
him to fight against the return of tn,
silver wing to the party with which /
was formerly identified. Through the in
fiuence of democratic money. an occa.
sional old-line republican is induced t,
hurl insults inc diatribes at silver re.
publicans who manifest a disposition t.