Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-04-19
THE NEGATIVE POSITION,

Though the jefferson club of Helena
is comparatively unpretentious, and does
not aspire to extend its present functions
beyond the control of the Austrian vote
in the East Helena smelter, its recent
dinner in honor of its namesake brought
out a few political texts that may be
studied with profit. That veteran demo-
crat, Judge Mcconnell. distinguished as
being the father OF the present county at
torney OF Lewis and Clarke county,
uttered the following thoughtful sem
fences, after having filled himself up
with terrapin, quail on toast, charlotte
russo, edam cheese and other Jeffer-
sonian simplicities:
Be careful of your principles. Don't
oppose a thing because the other party
has happened to esporse it first. Don't
take the negative position. it will make
you the laughing stock Of the world. Be
careful to learn the facts first; be sure
you're right and then stand by it.
His advice TO the democracy to be care
full of it's principles was timely. Other
wise they cannot stand the wear and
tear. Just as soon as a democrat finds
out what the principles of his party are
he ought to be careful of them.
BY studying the career Of Grover
Cleveland, whose administration was in
dorsed near the close of his last term by
the democratic state convention of Mon
tana, by reading up on the methods en-
ployed by a later democratic state con-
vention to turn down the fusion plans
of William Jennings Bryan, followed still
later by the Reputation Of HE 16 to 1
free coinage ratio By the leading news
paper organ of the party, thu average POI
litical neophyte ought to he able to set
a pretty good idea of democratic prinCt-
piles as they apply to bimetallfsna.
Then, by reading the history Of the
founder of the democratic party, who
favored expansion and the purchase Of
the territory Of Louisiana, with it's vast
horde Of red Indians, and annexing It tc
the United States 'without the consen
of the governed and follow this up by
reading the late anti-expansion speeche;
made by Mr.. Bryan and by Mr.. jos
Toole of Helena, a fair idea of the pftn
ciples of the democratic party, as the,
apply to expansion, can be obtained
And SO on through the list.
A democrat has every incentive to b
careful of his principles-so h vii
not get mixed up in the shuttle and b
swapped. The advice to not oppose
thing because the 'other party hap
pened to first espouse it, IS also valuable
The Anaconda Standard recently set
noble Example in this line by giving it
unqualified Endorsement to the resump
ton of specie payments, brought abou
by the republican party shortly after tn
. close of the war of the rebellion. And
large number of democrats are praisin
the memory Of Abraham Lincoln, an
quoting him literally to show that h
was a democrat at heart, though he mad
it mighty unpleasant for that part
when he issued his immortal emancip2
ton proclamation.
AS an able and talented man, Jude
Mcconnell ought to know that the d.
mocracy is not opposing anything Whic
the "other party" espoused first. All
does is to kick like fury for a few yea
and then indorse the proposition. SUI
is the history of the past thirty year
such will be the history of the futur
Within ten years the democracy will d
clare in favor of expansion and quo
Thomas Jefferson as the father Of Il
idea, and claim that President McKinIt
was a democrat IN disguise.
The democracy acts upon the advi
of Judge Mcconnell in that they "a
careful to learn the facts first It us
ally requires about ten years after som
thing has become the settled policy of Il
nation for our democratic friends
''learn the facts but when they do tn,
get around onto republican ground wi
an alacrity that makes a mans he:
swim.
Whether the dog catcher shall be pa
q stipulated salary or receive a comm
sion on the dogs impounded, is a profile