Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-04-01
WAYERIY.


EDITOR ISTELLIGENCER :-Instead OF
news items allow me, through the columns
of your paper, to make q few suggestions to
the volers OF our county and state, as this Is
the most eventful year since our national eX-
i~stenee, and 1t is with the voters to say
whether the results will be good or evil.
One hundred years ago was laid the %founda-
ton of a form of government which, In It's
infancy, was the best the sun ever shone up
on ; aud la this, the centennial OF cur exls-
tence, it should be heralded at home anu
abro ad as one of the greatest and granues'
of democratic governments instead Of being
As it is, an eye-sore and laughlng-stock to our
more fortunate neighbor nations. Aud why
in tbiSp Simply because we have entrusted
our rights and privileges into the hands OIL Il
few adventurous politicians who, having no
guide but intrigue, and whisky rings, nno
no God but ayarlce and no interests at stake,
sold their influence for q few dollars there
by usurping the national and state govern
ment, turning it into au engine or oppres-
sion and tyranny, causing the citizens 70
SIN ,rt and groan under its burden of taxes,
instead of affording protection anu sympa-
thy, as it should have done. The result oil
the next election Is u question Oh great im-
port1nce, and is agitating the minds oil the
American people to-day. And the thoushts
| of every true and interested citizen should
be how far these motives can be checked
and resisted by that public authority whose
duty and functions 1t is to place Itself above
that influence which, In individual men,oVer-
powers the voice of reason and conscience.
The decline Of states il sscribed, ny phiioso-
pliers and historians of both ancient anu
modern times, to the influence OF riches up
on national character. The laws OF Lycur-
gus, banishing the precious metals from
Sparta, was said, by some, TO be u perfect
model OF legislation; but how opposite TO
this is the doctrine Of the modern politician!
Far from considering poverty as an advan-
tage to the state. his great aim 10 to-open up
new resources OF %opulence aud to animate
the activities of all classes of people to tue
increase Of extravaganza. If we could only
check the promptings of individual interests
our country would be more prosperous, ant
our government better. To avoid this di
r Iemma In the future. let us, in full force, &C
up to the polls ut the next election and by
one united effort, as democratic people, en-
deavor to hurl from their seats OF power
/, those who, as the successors OF the founder
of our government, made 1t q putrlu mass o
corruption, and disxraced us as a people
, Let US have no third term or 'blOody shirt
men ; who, il we judge from their actsfn tn
past, both IN the white House and in tn
e Senate would again ruin us, and who's
private secretaries would be carpet-bagger
-. ..aLok ,,,l,,I,~ lo.Horo -ho IN oon.au
their heinous crimes and government dc
t faults, hide behind their innocent and virtu
GUS wives, 10 clear them Of niggardly rasca
d ity. But let US elect men to Office who wi
rise above Individual interests and part
=. cliques, TO keep At heart the true interests
the people men who will fight against ring
of every description, and Of every commod
ty, so as to restore busiRess to q good an
7. firm basis, and transact 1t on purely legit
is mate principles for it is our honest opinio
and firm belief that, until all rings and mol
eyed monopolles are dtsbanded and broke
up, times will grow severer. Hard time
are chiefly felt by the farmers; and they al
the masses, and real producers. and create
sufferers, while those engaged in rings ar
combinations of every iniquitous charActe
are revealing In opulenee and faring fine
every day. Nay we not profit by the exp
rlence of the past, especially of the last Gig
years, and take warning from those wi
have sought to ruin our government al
who are now reaplng their reward in impr1
oument and fines a. the bitter fruits of the
, outrageous and rascally actsy And we see
CLEAN Of hope of recovering and ~restoril
the morality of our once free and indepe
dent government unless we,as a painstaki
and upright people, take the reins of rulil
into our own hands, and elect men of hon
and trust to ill our Offices; men who ha
ability aud tirmness enough to rise abo
party and self ambition, and break I
shackles which have SO firmly bound US
the past, taking the leadership, and guidi
our ship of state Alright, free Of the break
of intemperance, intamy and disgrace, up
which we have been wrecked, and a f
ave more years will place us back in the go
old path which our forefathers trod, WIN
hs was peace, prosperity and happiness.
. JEAN