Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-12-13
NEW CONGRESSMAN.

a NhV
We regret the necessity for speaking
OF filling the place in congress, made
vacant by the death of the noble Lay. al
most as soon as his bones are laid away
to rest in that portion of the soil of his
native state set apart tor the. burial OF her
representatives. No leaf that we can lay
on his grave will keep greener his men,
DRY in the hearts of his countrymen;
no word of praise a add to the fallness
of his honor; the plaudit being his.
"Well done, thou good and faithful SER
want" But while we lament the dead.
we have also a duty to perform to the
living. The present is a very impor-
tant session OF congress. The balance
between parties is small. The demo-
cratic party needs to keep its ranks
we'll filled. and closed up. Great issues
are at stake. and as Gov. Phelps will,
no doubt, order an election at an early
day, there will be but little time tor or
g%anization. The seventh congressional
district is composed of Lafayette. John
son, Cooper. Pettis, Cole, Moniteau,
Morgan, Benton, Miller, Camden. Hick-
DRY, Polk and Dallas. Of these coun-
ties Lafayette is the wealthiest and most
populous. Not only this. but she gives
a larger democratic majority than sew
eral of her sister counties put together +;
indeed, a larger democratic majority
than the entire added vote of several OF
the counties in the district. She has
within her borders gentlemen OF integ-
rity and talent, we'll known in the dis
trict; gentlemen who would grace a seat
in congress, and reflect credit upon an
intelligent constituency. Some one of
her distinguished sons she will present
IN the democratic congressional conven-
ton for this honor, and when she does
80, we think she will come with a good
claim. We have no word of d~isparage-
ment for any of the gentlemen who
have been named in other counties; we
believe them all to be worthy and com .
petent. but we think that old Lafayette
can offer to the district the peer of any
aspirant for the position that has been
named without her borders. She has
long served faithfully and we'll in the
democratic ranks, and her voice has
been heard through able and earnest
men upon the hustings OF almost every
county in the state. She has had, in all
her history. but one congressman. and
that was for a short part OF an unex-
PRED term. She, like other counties,
has some interests which she would like
to have represented by n Of her own
citizens. Is 1t not time, that for a ses-
sion or two at least, she should have this
privilege?
In what we have to say on this subject
VIZ have ne one mans claims to press.
All that we ask is a democrat OF un-
blemished reputation. The choice OF
Lafayette county is our choice.
There have been, thus far. two names
mentioned for the place-Hon. Henry c.
Wallace and X. Ryland, Esq.
The first mentioned gentleman is q
lawyer, well known throughout the state
for his thorough knowledge of his pro-
f%ession. A sound democrat. his integ-
rity, patriotism and competency are
above reproach. His services in the
constitutional convention were of a char
acter to render his name familiar 10 all
our public men.
Mr.. Ryland Is a younger man, but he
has a statewide reputation as an ora
tor, and as a democrat. Descended
from a father who honored the supreme
bench with a rare legal ,acumen, he in
herits comprehensive views, and is a
bold and fearless advocate of the right.
Few men have been more unselfishly
untiring and useful than he in battling
for democratic principles, peace. har'
mony and fraternity, since the a
One word, and we will close this ar
ticle. Whether Lafayette county pre-
sents one or the other of these two
names, or some other. we c%onjure dem
ocrats to fight out their battles in the
county convention, and to select a del
egation which will represent the collec
ted will of the democratic party as ex
pressed by the convention. Unless w
do this, and unless we stand by oul
county like men, as delegates iron
other counties do, we can never hope t.
command attention abroad.
Going into the congressional conven
ton with a solid delegation; advancing
our claim modestly and firmly on it
merits, there will be little doubt G
, success.