Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-03-19
THE DUTY OF REPUBLICANS.


The Helena Herald has so few
readers in this state that the general
public is not familiar with the TRADE
OF abuse its columns have containei
for the past three months of Senator
Carter and the Republican state com
mittee. Knowing the animus of these
attacks upon and the v%ilifcation oil
Republicans of the highest integrity,
both politically and privately, very lit
tie attention has been given them by
the Republican press Of the state. be,
lieving that the Herald was injurins
itself more than anyone else. Sure
ly. those Republicans who have a
grievance will gain nothing by the
Herald's championship of their cause
and some. no doubt. will regret that
ii has apparently undertaken the task.
While il is true some OF them may
be classed as Clark Republicans il
will not apply to all of them. A mum.
Der have bitterly denounced the
course OF the Herald n the past and
would be the last TO accept IL rs a
party organ, Deing familiar as they
are with its perfdity and treason.
While there may be a community OF in
terest, so to speak, in the fight made
against Mr.. Carter, IL ends there so
tar as any support OF the Herald is
desired. We have too much respect
for some of the ~disaffected to belive
that they have anything but con.
tempt for the Helena Herald, viewed
from the standpoint of loyalty to the
Republican party of Montana. This
being true. by the exercise of modera.
tion and discretion by all loyal Re.
publicans. there is every reason to be.
lieve that harmony car be restored In
the party and that it will again join
hands to meet the common enemy IN
the rtncOm contest.
Every true Republican should be
willing to submit his grievance to the
next state convention for final set.
Element and abide by its decision.
NO man is greater than his party;
those who think they are better
should leave it tor another or flock
by themselves. If one who has been
greatly honored has proven false to
his trust he should 'go way back and
sit down" and give others a chance.
The Republican party was never
short of material for leadership. But
no Republican who has rendered 10y.
al service should be turned down
without a hearing or without proof
of his unfitness for further honors.
Mere accusations. based upon enmity
and jealousy, or resulting from de-
feated ambition, will 0ot do.
The Republican party is the great
est political organization that ever
had an existence in this or any other
country. Its principles have ever
been lofty and its policies have been
guided by intelligence and patriotism.
Its aim has been to choose good and
true men for high stations. even
though il may have sometimes failed.
The Republicans of Montana in their
conventions must choose such men II
they wish the support of the people.
Ex-senator Thomas II. Carter has
been most yiciously assaulted, as has
been the Republican state central
committee. What has either done to
merit this abuse? The Herald's at.
lacks are beneath notice. If Repub.
leans of standing. those who have
been loyal to the party in the past,
have complaints TO make, let them
make them with the proof over their
own signatures, or on the floor of the
next state convention. If they have
not the courage to do SO, let them
forever after hold their peace.
The Republican state committee
was regularly chosen, every member
being named by his county delega.
ton in open convention. In his du-
ties he aims to represent the interest
and will of his party as indicated by
their chosen representatives. If he
is wrong those who selected him as
committeeman are wrong, and indi.
rectly sharers in the odium of any
services he may perform as we'll as
abuse heaped upon him.
The injustice OF this is apparent to
anyone and the Helena Herald has
accomplished nothing by traducing
men who stand high in the communi-
ties in which they live and who are
doing their duty as they see it.