Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-04-05
LESSONS OF THE CAMPAIGN.

Having secured seven out of the eleven
official positions in issue before the voters
of Butte last Monday, despite the meth
DDS employed by the local managers of
the democratic party, the republicans of
this city feel that the future is radiant
with political hope. A majority of from
1900 to 1000 was confidently anticipated
by the best posted men in the democratic
party, and the average republican con-
ceded the overwhelming defeat of his
party twenty-four hours before the polls
opened.
Nearly every republican in the city
went to the polls feeling within his heart
that the fight was a hopeless one, in view
of all the circumstances, while the demo-
cratic leaders were jubilant over the fore
cast of an easy victory. But the results
show that the republicans largely over
estimated the fighting qualities of their
opponents, while the democrats thor
oughly misunderstood the temper of the
people.
In electing but three aldermen out of
eight, by narrow margins, and their can
djdate for mayor By a majority of only
81 votes ont Of a total poll of ZIP, the
T--,1.~1-. - Ill -,--,-~ a,5 ,,-o-o ?
suffered a complete collapse. If the COM
binat.Qns effected, the coercion practiced,
the money expended and the bulldozing
raSorted to. added to the wholesale at
tempt a. illegal registration, can land
the democratic nominee for mayor by so
small a margin. what might have been
expected on a fair and square contest
over the issues?
Moreover, the one man landed in a city
office by the democrats had the benefit
of the political terror and inactivity of
Weakened republicans, as we'll as the
silent vote of many of those who opposed
the platform he stood on, but who ac-
cepted bis quiet, sub rosa reputation OF
it in good faith and voted for him. Had
any one CT the elements referred to beer
lacking from their campaign, the defeat
of the democracy would AVE been tota
and complete, AS it is, there is nothing
in it that savors of a victory for tha
party, or that can inspire it with an!
hope for the future.
Over sanguine democrats may hope 70
q fnal welding of the two factions of TIL
party, that might TO some extent ~increas'
vain. Each faction has crossed the Rubi
con and burned the bridges behind ii
After making its city campaign on a
anti-Clark platform, the democracy 0
this city cannot recall its words of cen
sure while that gentleman sits in the sen
ate of the United States, without maxim
itself the laughing stock of the state an
advertising its own insincerity of pur
pose. On the other hand, the Clark me
cannot take their enemies to their arm
in sweet political communion until a
humble apology has been engrossed an
placed on file in the archives Of the party
And there you are.
The fact is, the democracy of this cit
played all it's trulnps in the late carnpaig
and took in only one small Jackpot o
a iuke. The lesson that has been admin
istered to that political organization i
one that must hereafter be respected i
the politics of Butte, or it will be repeate
with additional emphasis in the next cam
paign that rolls around 1t must be re
membered that a majority of the voter
of Butte are respectable, law-abiding cit
liens, who intend to eliminate from til
politics of this city the briber, the bull
doZer and the thug.
The man who registers illegally for tn