Year: 1867

We were somewhat surprised 10 see


in the Democrat of the 18th inst, the


article presented In another column.


The Democrat during the campaign pur-


ported to be the organ of the Democracy


Of Madison county. 1t now sustains the
third apportionment, while that party


went into the Convention pledged to,
and did nominate and elect under the
first apportionment, and stand by it to-
DAY. The Democrat is published in, and
receives its main support from, Virginia


City and Madison county; yet it sus-
tains and advocates that which is on it's
face unjust, in its inception and further


ance void and illegal, and in its effect
prejudicial to this city and county 1t
has taken occasion in times past to strike
hands with n Radical paper in Helena,
and heaped eulogy upon it to divert pa
tronage from the Posi- to the Herald.
II has used epithet, taunts and invective
against the Posi- to attract Democratic
patronage from the PosT to the Demo
crat, and through all we have treated


such things with that silent contempt its
imbecility and pitiful weakness merited.
Were we so disposed we might point out
to its patrons here its treachery in absn-
doning the position taken by its party.
We might show the cowardly betrayal
Of the interests of Virginia manifested
in its trucking, syehophancy, selling out
principle for the crumbs of official pa
tronage that drop from the Governors
table. We might show that a journal
that will sacrifice the interests of patrons
for little printing from tie Executive
Office is unworthy their support, and
should be denounced as traitorous be-
trayer of their confidence. We might
assert that q paper taking sides against
the people among whom it has been
supported. when they have right and
justice on their side that it may curry
favor with an official who has made a
mistake, is unworthy of countenance or
respect. All these things would the
Democrat do, if it had opportunity. 1t
is believed by some people that venalty,
corruption, cowardice or treachery is dis
creditable; that an honest, straightfor-
ward fight for the right is honorable
and that a paper abandoning the people
who have nursed it through a muling
precarious infancy to join those of oppo-
site interests whenever it becomes strong
enough TO crawl away, and leaving them
dependent upon the advocacy of one
they have been instructed TO consider as
vacillating and irresponsible, is a base
migrate and traitor. The Democrat
admits nothing of the kind, and
viper like, stings the bosom in
which it has been warmed to life.
Itis indisputable that the first apportion'
ment is the nearest approximation to an
equitable representation that local
questions of importance to the people of
this county and city will be mischiev-
ously effected by the organization of the
Legislature under the third apportion-
meut; that every consideration of law
anu IlSht Is III iaNoE ol the hise APPOA


uonment that the Legislative body can
and have the right to decide upon the
question Of the qualification of their
members, and it is right that the jour
nails ofthe respective localities interest
ed should with what ability they have,
present the claims of their own sections.
The Deer Lodge Independent, with it's
county having larger population than
Edgerton, would be false to it's people if
Haid not maintain their claims TO as large
presentation. The Gazette will say