The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-09-25

Illustration of the fruits of Democracy
should be given in Lafayette county, for,
only three days before, another ARRAY
had occurred in the streets of the same
town, and another man had been shot.
Nor was that Illustration absolutely
needed, for it is but a short time since
the James boys robbed a stage-load Of
passengers on the high ROAD near the
town, and since that time they have been
seen riding about unmolested in broad
daylight. If there are officials in Ia
fayette county, they are quite too truly
Democratic TO interfere in any way with
| these manifestations Of genuine Demo-
| cratic civilization.
These constantly recurring proofs that
the law is not enforced in Missouri are
made known by the press all over the
United States. Asober and industrious
| farmer or mechanic, . thousand miles
away, is considering to which OF the
Western States he will migrate, with his
wife, his growing boys, his store Of earn
incs, and his own productive industry.
He had heard much Of the magnificent
resources Of Missouri, and has in con-
temptation the Investment of his money
and the purchase Of a home in that
State. Week after week he reads that
bandits rob railway trains and stage
coaches in Missouri, and ride openly
about unmoiested by officers of the law,
and shoot detectives from othor States
sent to interfere with their freedom.
Week after week he reads that, in one
town or another in Missouri, ruddy
young fellows who are handy with the
pistol shoot each other at the slightest
provocation. Law does not check or
punish these private settlements; IN the
contrary, he finds that the latest law
breakers were 4 Deputy Sheriff and 4
Deputy City Marshal. He begins to
consider that such a State would scarce
" be an agreeable residence tor himself,
or 4 desirable place for the education Of
his sons. Accordingly, he moves to
Kansas, instead Of Missouri, and this
State pays the penalty Of lawlessnGss.
But the same news reaches another
set of readers. The wild, un~goycrnablc,
lawless desperate, who would rather
steal than work, and whose only notion
of manhood is to be quick to commit
murder, has been living in region where
the laws are uncomtortably enforced.
Officers have marked him as dangerous;
intelligent and order-loving society has
branded him as one Of its worst enemies.
He reads Of Missouri, and to him it
seems 4 very Paradise. That is the place
tor him: a land where officers Of the
law murder each other in open Gay;
where nighway!ncn enjoy the freedom Of
the country, and the honors which 10
civilized community has paid to outlaws
since Dick IurpIns time. where there
are trains to be robbie; and not an OIL
Ger to pursue; where public opinion de-
mands no harsh enforcement %! the law
against men who are handy with the lis-
tol, and organs Of the dominant party
openly proclaim that the people feel no
horror if they find 4 man hanging from 4
telegraph pole. Charmed with Missouri,
the desperate quits the land where the
law have mclucOnvcuicnt force, steals
money enough 10 pay lis fare, and emf
CRATES at once to this paradise OF ban
dit and murlc-erS.
OF course We know that Missouri is
not altogether a. lawless as these frequent
deeds OF violence secI 10 distant readers
TO indicate. In many Of the c%ountic+ Of
this State there is u strong law-ab!tins
spirit, and bloody deeds are rare. Bat
the distant reader, Wheeler industrious
laborer or desperate, ~inStinctiye!y forms
his impression OF the whole State from
the events which are chroniclei. OF all
the peaceful industry which still toes
on undiS.urbch he hears nothing. Oh
the murders and mohs and highway rob
berries he hears continually. The many
orderly counties send him ne tidines; TIE
few in which Democratic civilization
runs riot represent to his mind the whole
State. and he acts upon the information
which they send. If he wishes the pro
lection of just laws, vigorously admin,
istered, for himself and family, for his
industry and earnings, he goes some,
where else, and Missouri loses Il rein,
-. forcement to its army Of workers and
producers. If he wants us little law 4:
, possible, and a public opinion which toll.
a crates, if it does not honor, L rObbcl
Il and a murderer, he quickly, anc
n Missouri gains another outlaw and des
: perado.
Have we not endured this state o
things long enough? If so, let Us MAKE
: a determined effort to trample under foo
the Democratic lawlessness and semi
e barbarism which curses our State, anC
to give the power to men who will en-
8 force the laws with vigor ard impair
: TALLY in every part Of Nissouri.-[Dem