The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-01-26

democrats. To many OF the former
yellow was obnoxious, and white hurt
the eyes Of SO many Of the latter that
they formed a distinct party Of their
own, mainly differing from the party
adopting the Chicago platform on the
one subject-money. 1t is characters.
tic of Americans more than any other
race to think for themselves, and party
lashes were cracked in vain that year,
1896. as each man vas doing his duty
MS citizen, according to his lights.
The result was that when election day
came. prophets we're selling at a dis.
count, tile ballots being cast with an
indedendenoe previously unknown and
representations proving wild. In
many communities, especially in the
west. local republican tickets we're
slaughtered, and the responsibility laid
at the door Of the silver republicans,
who voted for the Chicago platform
and nominee. This was undoubtedly
true in many instances, but it must be
remembered that there were a great
number who believed not in silver less,
but protection and republican principles
more, and cast a ballot at the last nom :
emit consistent with their old time pc.
litical faith, with none the wiser.
Conversions come easy to some, others
have to undergo a longer process Of
self-reasoning before abandoning opin-
ions honestly formed. Mistakes are
purt Of the process Of evolution by
which men profit as experience is
largely a chapter Of errors which to
learn is to aovid. Eighteen hundred
and ninety.eight found many converts
from the silver faitlK as the election.
returns everywhere proved. But now
comes the lesson: In the west, particu.
larIy. where the feeling in 1895 was
strongest and the republicans ran wild,
a disposition to discriminate in 1898
was manifested and the liam -holier-
than thou class Of republicans who,
by the way, were the weakest sort Of a
minority - suggested sackcloth and
ashes for those who were convalescent Of
the silver symptoms and disposed to
help roll the wheel for republican sue
cess. Not only this, but at the 1898
election this same minority, who were
too weak to rule, we're yet strong
enough to ruin, and when their work
at the polls was completed, no n
could deny that they had evened ac-
sounts and that it was a case of "horse
and horse''-189S as against 1895.
This is a matter Of record-the official
election retrns Of both years confirm it.
Let us admit that both years mentioned
were marked BY republican mistakes.
and let us profit by the conviction, and
avoid a repetition. ..
A presidential year is always a criti-
cal period in this nations history.
From a republican standpoint it's veal
Or its woe is determined for at least
tour years to ome The national cen
trail committee. the highest exponent
Of republioanism, has issued it's call in.
viting all who believe in the principles
the republican party, REGARDLESS
Of FORMER POLITICAL AFFIILIA.
TONS, to meet and take part in it's de-
|iberations. This means YOU, Mo
republican Of 1896; and also
YOU. ex.silver republican - not one
both. The party has need Of each
aid and influence; the nations
interest are in your keeping, the COM.
nunity in which you live and your own
iresides will be affected by your obser.
Of Your individual responsibility
IS a voter, for individuals make up
and they and their senti.
nents combine to shape the course of
he ship Of state.
Let mutiny belong to the past and
LAY no part in the coming struggle.
Let there be no duplication of the meth.
Ids affecting the last campaigns, which
an only bring a blush to remember.
The moral is p~ointed-by the works of
shall ye know them.
A '96 Republican.
Billings, Mont, Jan. 10, 1900.
= u \ .
And in a paper that is being tent
printed in Billings ON Mon
avs. appeared the following note of
"The Spider to the Fly" +.
l have read with much interest a
ommuloation published in the Billings !
last Tuesday, purported to have :
cen written by Il Mckinley republican
I the '96 variety, urging the republi. .
ans of that year to fall into line with :
ideas of the silver republican ele- !
1ent of the party. The whole article '
j question as published in The Gazette |
eads like a fairy story of the spider :,
nd the fly order, with the straight gold =
apublicans being placed in the role of !
he innocent fly. l doubt very much if '
he tempting article as published in The >
was ever written by one of the y
1embers of the republican party in q
Yellowstone county who Loyalty sup '
orted the st. Louis platform in 1895, :.
nd need but cite to the fact that the !
who signed himself "A '96 Re. !,
ublicnn,' exposes his hand by not !.
nnklng known his identity. No man '