Barton County Democrat

FRAUD IN MONTANA.
Republican Disregard for Law and Constitutional Requirements.

The Republicans are showing their customary disregard for law and constitutional requirements in Montana. Experience and warnings seem to be thrown away upon them, for they should know by this time that the wrath of the people over such a gross violation of law and justice will be like consuming lightning to the party when next they are heard from at the polls. The issue of illegal certificates for members of the Legislature by the Republican State Board of Canvassers strikes at the very foundation of constitutional rights. The new State will have two Legislatures, one appointed by the State board, and the other duly certified to by the county clerks of the various counties. The history of the Republican conspiracy in Montana is one of the foulest in the annals of politics. By the use of fraudulent affidavits the conspirators, at the head of whom is the President's son, sought to subvert the will of the people. The court decided in favor of the Democrats, and the Republican State Board disregarded the decision of the courts and went behind the returns. There is not a particle of justification on the part of any canvassing board to reject properly certified returns, but the Republicans did not hesitate to do so. The Democratic Governor, about whose election there is no question, will only recognize the members of the Legislature who bear certificates from the county clerks, authorized by law to issue the same. The functions of the Republican State Board of Canvassers are purely clerical under the law, but they have made them judicial. It is an unblushing attempt at fraud on the part of the Republicans, and it will cost them dear, not only in Montana, but in other States. They are provoking an uprising of the people in defense of law and justice that will sweep them out of official existence. The most disgraceful feature of the situation is the prominent part taken by the President's son in the outrage, and the encouragement the conspiracy has received from the White House. He has his heart set upon being United States Senator from Montana, and has left no means untried to gain the object of his ambition. He managed to stock all the Federal offices in Montana with his personal friends, and he prevailed on his father to delay issuing a proclamation declaring the Territory a State of the Union. The conspiracy can not succeed. It is so monstrous and indefensible and is in such plain violation of law that the indignation of the people throughout the country will be too powerful, even for a Republican Congress to brave. The consequences of the fraud of 1876 should have warned the Republicans against any attempt to subvert the will of the people. The lesson of the recent election should teach them that they have no strong hold they can claim their own against any assault when the people rise up in their majesty to rebuke them. Congress should take early measures to remove this disgrace, this prostitution of the powers of the Government for the purpose of enabling the President's son to get into the United States Senate through fraud. There should be a searching investigation of these doings of Russell Harrison and his father. There are many Republican Senators who are aggrieved against the Administration and are ready to pay off old scores when Congress meets. They could not have a better opportunity than in laying bare this Montana infamy and the share the Harrisons have had in it. They will certainly serve their party best by repudiating this outrageous violation of law and making the Harrisons smart for it.

—Albany (N. Y.) Argus.