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.
"The uncommon Ella Knowles Haskell played a major role in taking the common—no votes for women—and making it both uncommon and popular. Montanans should be very proud of her."
"He was smart enough to know what his job was—to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution,” not to ignore it, shred it or rewrite it."
"He was always more interested in the good in people than the bad. That’s just the way he was, and probably the way the rest of us ought to be."
"On this important question, the verdict is in and it is definitive: The one ingredient that makes the most difference in educational outcomes is parental involvement."
"Every human possesses a natural right to be his own master, so long as he does not deny that same right to others. Most people take that truism for granted today but it wasn’t the governing rule of the past."
"During the debate over the Amendment, an 1899 scandal involving Clark figured prominently."
"It’s freedom, not the “luck of the Irish,” that explains Ireland’s remarkable economic success."
"Though fewer people today live in the Republic of Ireland than did almost two centuries ago, they’re busy teaching the world an important lesson: economic freedom works!"
"We remember Gary Cooper not because he was a run-of-the-mill actor but because he was uncommonly good—just like the heroes he played and the hero he was."
"He restrained spending and vetoed more bills than the previous 23 presidents combined."
"For the sake of our liberties, we could use more judges like him both in Montana and in Washington, D.C."
"In 1923, the people of Butte appreciated a President who didn’t try to buy votes with other people’s money, who cut government spending and balanced the budget."
"What the government giveth, it can sooner or later taketh away. That’s a lesson that Granite learned the hard way."
"Opposition to religious persecution is one of this country’s most important founding principles."