Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-06
WHERE SILVER REPUBLICANS STAND.

WHERE SILVER REPUBLICANS STAND.
This morning the Anaconda Standard
turns to the New Jerusalem of the plur-
al-wived disciples of Brigham Young for
an argument why the silver republicans
of Montana. should resume their old time
vocation of pulling democratic chestnuts
for an argument, and the source may be
Of unhealthy lineage, but the Standard
needed it in it's business, and it's taste in
a search for pointers calls for no serious
criticism. Ex-senator Frank Cannon's
advice to the silver republicans Of Utah
may or may not meet the approval Of
that political family, but his suggestions
win a no weight in Montana. wen
when filtered through an editorial en-
dorsement Of the Anaconda Standard.
Mr.. annon deals with glittering general
ities-With speculative possibilities-but
here in Montana that phase of political
life Is supplemented with the concrete
experiences Of the past that speak in
lIluIucI IOllcS ~ LIE COllSCl6lCe OIL every \
well meaning citizen of the state. There
are many reasons why the silver republic !
cans will not again cooperate with the
democratic party. some Of which may be
briefly summarized as follows:
FIRST. The conditions which invited
cooperation in 1896 are entirely lacking.
That year the question of bimetallism
was the supreme issue before the coun-
try, all other propositions being subordi-
mated to it. The democratic nominee for
the presidency was pledged to it's para
mountcy until It was settled and settled
right. The silver republicans believed
those democratic pledges were honestly
given and would be faithfully carried
out, and in that belief they accepted an
invitation to cooperate with the demo-
cratic party Time has demonstrated
the insincerity Of democratic p~retensions.
While cstensibly in favor of silver, in or
der to bunco the silver republicans and
popolists in the west, the leaders of the
democratic party, from Bryan dow to
the pot-wrestlers in their political kit
chen, rave united in the work of 'relegat-
ing that issue to the rear. Instead Of
all other questions being subordinate to
it, as in 1896. free coinage is now subor-
dinate to all other questions. The trend
of conditions which has made this change
of front a possibility has been gladly well
coined n encouraged by the democratic
party, as a mean to an end. 1t has en-
abled that political organization to bring
it's eastern and western wings into har-
mony, through the retirement of the par
amount issue of 1896 n the creation Of
another issue to take it's place. Plans
to bring the gold n silver wings of the
democracy into a union of interest were
undertaken Immediately after the defeat
of Bryan in 1896, and have been pursued
this, finding expression in the refusal of
the democrats to cooperate with other
silver organizations in 1898, and culmi-
mating in the endorsement of the boy
orator of the Platte by the democratic
goldbugs of New York and Boston.
-
Second. With free coinage hurled from
it's pedestal of p~aramountcy, and with
democratic leaders pulling the guy ropes
that landed that issue in the mud, the
merits and dement's of the leading ques-
lions before the country must determine
the action of the conscientious voter. An
ti-imperialism, a fictitious appeal to the
ignorant, wal trumpet up by Colonel
Bryan, while yet in the shoulder straps
of a federal officer, and aunched upor
the sea of politics through the patron.
age of his great and noble friend, the
we'll known labor agitator of Homestead
Andrew Carnegie! To the agitation o,
this question" was due the miserable
exhibits of copperheadism and treason
which characterized the greater part Of
the Filipino war, and which has injected
into the coming campaign an issue Of
patriotism which the democratic part,
cannot vad With such an issue ele.
waited to paramountcy over the grave
of free coinage, by Colonel Bryan him
self, the duty of silver republicans il
: plain.
Third. Every citizen interested in tn,
growth and development of the grea
vest must resent with his ballot the dem