The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-02-05
D"EMOCRACY'S NEW IDOL.

DEMOCRACY'S NEW IDOL.
When Towne delivered his COM
bined salutatory and valedictory in
the senate he did not have the Fill
pinos as much III mind as he had one
"Charley" Towne, and as events dur
ing the past few days have gone to
show he made a ten-strike when he
opened the fues of his fuency and un-
burdened himself Of his %harangue.
He knew that no matter what he
might say it would not cause a single
change of opinion among the men
whom he was supposed to be address
ing, or that the government would re-
code i'll the slightest degree from it's
policy toward the Philippines. 1t was
not the senators he was talking to, but
a larger audience, who recipro-
Gated his sentiments and consequently
much more susceptible to his appeals.
Towne may be a crank, but he has
never been accused of being Il fool,
though like other men he has made
miscalculations and has seen his plans
fail, notably the one SO carefully
worked out last summer. Failure,
however, does not discourage him and
he is ever on the alert to grasp oppo1-
tunity whenever it tangles itself up
within his reach. One of those &C.
c~asions was last Montday and already
the results are apparent. From a
neophyte he raised himslef with one
bound to the exalted position of a
leader with a following 50 large as not
to be ignored by those older in the
faith and who still cling to the in
sigma of rank, although dlsowned by
those they once led.
1t may be charged that he is too
shifting in his views and that he never
adheres long enough to- any one doc
trine to make it possible for him to
SCCu4S lCL1tSS Duu' dlV Ik1ISs 30
an end. Having started out as a re-
publican, then allied himself with the
schism of free silver, only to enroll as
a probationer in the ranks Of the pop
uliist, the descent to democracy was
easy of accomplishment and having
reached the bottom he may be expect
ed to remain there. In none of the
other parties could he hope to ecure
the recognition or prominence he may
look forward to. in his new relations
and rs he is eminently a mar fond Of
himself and not overburdened with
modesty, he may be relied upon to
make the most of his last opportun-
ity. And be is doing it. Already he
is trespassing upon the domain to
which a certain distinguished gentle
man of Nebraska has beer laying sole
title and that, too, within a week.
What may he not be expected to do
within the few years that must inter
vene before another alignment of
forces for a struggle national in ex-
tent. That there may be no doubt OF
his ambition and desire IN that direc-
tion, he is pursuing a course so plain
that all may understand it. The in
itial move was made in the senate and
the good friend to push it along was
not wanting. He appeared in the
person of Representative Newlands OF
Nevada. Nothing more graceful
could be done by the Nevadan than t.
tender a dinner to the new exponent
of a militant if. defeated democracy,
Accordingly a spread was provided
and the Minnesota Demosthenes wa!
the guest of honor. Other luminarie'
were invited to stretch their leg
under the table and by their presence
give endorsement to the movement t.
Install the new Moses in the affections