Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-13
HARMORY.

publican harmony is alone necessary to
ensure the redemption of this state from
democratic rule. The inglorious retreat
of the national leaders of the democracy
from the issue of 1896, in order
to affect a reunion between the silver and
god clements of hat party, added to
the undoubted prosperity brought about
under the wise and prudent administra-
ton of President Mckinley, has effectu-
ally shelved the free coinage issue, cav
ing to Montanians the duty of taking up
for consideration such other questions of
rational n state Importance as may
appeal to the judgment of our people.
In national affairs questions pertain
ing to the wise government of acquired
territory. and the adaptation of the
policy of expansion forced upon us by the
conditions of war, will require a large
share of public attention. An era of
commercial growth has been entered up
on which will place the nation in a new
relationship to the world movement of
the day, and upon the wisdom and patri-
otism displayed by our law makers must
the future of our country rest. The
vacillating. unpatriotic attitude of the
democratic leaders on issues of this char
acter betray their absolute inability to
properly solve the problems that must
arise in the adjustment of our foreign
affairs. The democratic press have
handled the Philippine question with
their intelligence at half-mast, ranging
from the border lines of treason n rank
copperheadism to a gradual concession
of the propriety of the course inaugural
ed by the republican party.
In modifying it's pro-Aguinaldo attitude
of the early war days. the democracy has
been forced to acknowledge the superior
craftsmanship of the republican leaders.
Retreat from the position formerly taken
by the democracy serves notice on the
American public thai the chief character
istic of that political organization is the
capacity to s'get off wrong on public
questions. AS the commercial issues of
the campaign nave a direct and import
ant bearing on the welfare of our state,
through the upbuilding and development
of the west, the unity of sentiment
among republicans is complete and they
will move hand in hand toward the goal
of victory.
But while national issues are ample to
align the republicans of Montana into a
fighting phalanx of irresistible strength,
questions of local import appeal with
still greater force if possible to the brain
and conscience of the people. Demo-
cratic scandals have seriously impaired
the good name and fame of our common
wealth at home and abroad. The name
of our state is mentioned throughout the
land with ridicule and contempt, and a
section of the union that is peerless in
the grandeur of it's opportunities for the
development of an ideal civilization, is
advertised as a rotten borough and refer
re- to with a sheer. AS long as the
democratic party remains in power the
scandals generated within that organiza-
ton will be kept alive, for the endorse
ment of that party would serve notice on
the American people that Montana en-
joys the hard name she has acquired
with all it may imply to the state.
To redeem the commonwealth is the
first duty of the citizen. and nothing will
serve that end with more expedition and
with greater surety han to again place
hands of the republican party. To this
end harmony should prevail among re-
pubiicans in local as well as in general
politics, unity of effort ensuring the de-
sired results all along the line.