Frontier History is a monthly series that highlights the compelling stories of Montana’s historical trail blazers that bucked the notion that the government is the solution to all of our problems and sought out ways to improve Montana without relying on the government’s favor or their purse. Opinions expressed by guest authors do not necessarily represent the positions of the Frontier Institute.
Montanans know that the spirit of the holiday should transcend a single day, December 25. As expressed by the reformed Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”
"Though it didn’t get far in Washington, some 38 states eventually passed so-called “Blaine Amendments,” including Montana."
"If not for a bullet, the man who least wanted to be president may well have become one of our better ones. Such can be the bitter ironies of history thwarted."
"In his “spare” time, he spoke out against slavery and in favor of fiscal responsibility, free trade and individual liberty. Most people never accomplish a tenth of what Gallatin did in his 88 years."
"The Court should display fairness and stability and respect the constitutional prerogatives of the other branches of state government."
"Montanans should be grateful, though ever vigilant, that the Shippy story is not likely to be relived here in the Treasure State."
"All of us should be proud of what Nicky Winton did to save so many, and proud of Montana’s Jewish heritage too."
"Fort Benton, Montana, is right to take pride in the man for whom it is named."
"It may be what Benjamin Franklin had in mind when he said the Founders gave the American people a republic, but only so long as we can muster the courage, integrity, and fiscal rectitude to keep it."
"We flourish to the extent we are each free to build on our uniqueness, to make our own choices, so long as we do no harm to the equal rights of others."
"He did not believe in segregating history by race, but rather, he dreamed of seamlessly incorporating the relevant history of all peoples into a unified discipline."
"Kipling himself, I’m sure, would be as proud of the town as the folks there are to bear his name."
"The rest is history, as well as a phenomenal tribute to private enterprise, the profit motive, and the ingenuity of free and unsubsidized entrepreneurs."
In 1876, when rejecting the demand to move his people to a reservation, Chief Joseph said, “I claim a right to live on my land and accord you the privilege to return to yours.” To me, that sounds like a man who understands private property.