, 1879-03-20
ANNEXATION,
The Proposition to cede the CITY
OF St. Louis to the State
Of Illinois.
Interviews with Prominent Merchants,
Lawyers, and 6tatesmen.

sion on this side OF the Fnttcr Of Waters. For
many 5caro the neople Of St. Louis have groaned
under the bard burdeua Imposed upon them by
the State Legislature, AMI have In vain petit
toned and prayed for relief. Tie tnterests of
the city ara no essentially different from those
Of the balance Of the State ttat the same laws
arc not suited 10 both; yet, under The Consti.
tuition. The laws must opcsntc upon atl sections
alike. Previous to the adoption OF the Con-
st!tutfon Of 1865 the city could procure the
passage Of laws Of special nature TINT would
benefit her and not injure any otheer PORTION
OF the state. Since then all lnws must be
gcnesnl, md when an act Is passed for the
benefit Of the rural districts It must bear on
tho city rs we'll, no matter how unjust and
oppressive the provisions may be. When the
present City Charter was ntIopted II WIS thought
The city would by allowed to enjoy some de-
gree ot se1f-govet1,ment, AMI would be permit
ted to regulate its own Affairs IA 90 tas as
TIE rghs o. ohff p0ron. ot shs sS.c
proved dclusion ani snare. for the I.cgfsla-
ture intcrfercs with the internal government OF
this city. aud dictates 10 the people the meas
ures they must adopt for tller government.
for raising revcnue for sustaining the police OF
the city. The city found II necessary to impose
d licause-tax on lawyers to delruy small pos-
courts OF Justice, and the Legislature stepped
tn and passed prohibitory act. The c,ty ex-
pended millions In constructing streets, nntl the
Legislature granted c!1arters 10 numerous rail-
rond companies. giving them ll,e right to uae
The streets without paysng an adequate cou,pen-
sation therefor. Tho city established police
system for the protection Of llfc and property,
nnd the Legislature created new system. By
which the Governor exercises tho riGht 70 ap-
point the Doard That has the management Of
the whole Police Department. Many other in
stances might he mentioned wherein the power
the people Of the CITY Of St. Louis. 1t t.
well'known fact that the city pays annunlly
about onc-thirti Of the entire revenue collected
Tor the support of the State Government.
And set there seemed tu be no remedy for
these growing svs'a uut!L eaeacious and en-
llrhtencd member Of the LeGislature OF IN nd-
1acent State conceived the idea Of nnne1lng tho
City Of st. Louis 10 the State uf 1lllnots. The
were being ground down BY tho oppressive rule
OF the Democratic majority that controls the
State Of Missouri. and, knowing tie suporlorsty
Of the laws Of the great Repuhflcan State Of ILL
asylum and refuge hy annexlng her to the
grA,ld Prairie State. Illinois may be aetuatcd by
1 feeling Of set!shncss in thIs natter; but, ~ It
y our 9 :"
10 great city Of her own, she desires to annex
At, Louis in order to enrich herself aud to utl
10 her dignity aud glory by acquirlHg the fiyheat
city OF the West. 10 1t 80. The benefit wil b.
mutual.
In order to asccrtain something OF the feel
ings Of the people OF 1t. Louis 10 regar1 to this
echenlc OF annexation. a Gfott- Democrat re-
viewed a number Ut the Leading merchants and
manufacturers On the proposition az business
mcas,lrc.
MR.. Ioux VAIL,
p.o,,d.n> - tho Mo-chorts, rxcbsnoe v..
wnrmiv in favor of the nToiect. lie was will.
ng Ior The Mexican Minister to enter, md had
his speech or welcome ready Tor delivery at his
own optt II, un! was willing 10 60 over to ILL.,
liois at uny time "Yes," said no ~ mn for It.
am fn fayor Of bursting the blasted thing up
and taking fresh start.''
MR.. M1HSs1s,
the vice-Presidcnt, WIS enthusiastic On tho sub
ject: +" Put st. Lous in Iltnsos and we'll 90
ahead faster thnn ever. That's the Unly thing
The Mississippi, and stca.nboats ran pass under,
mud nobody will know that there ever was u
water-courae to separate 81. Louis from Illinois.
MH. b. ". ALEXANDER
was In favor Of the plan. Not oniy has our
Lcgtstature displayed MI utter ignorance Of the
wuuts Of the ctty. but our Afunlc!pat Assembly
Is little better. They aro urivlnS business awaY
by nhjatt lne1 aass s;,.o af,veH NH III. .tiG
Gattie n aE lsaus acloss NV ,hi,,!t ~" @ ~.
drlse array tne inuts n ',"ue -, icy t!.'uh tnnt
a'u,,." n1as at sn,a nne r., ~ r"i ~ nroen
,n,,'a. md }r,li find thr,n ali oycr lie ida.
walks very soou.
p. IT..
.,s. ~. - -. @'.'n. ~. ~ A.,
snoueas !! "ouu oe sonu sa ~ IT. .'s s.at G'ts
sssne an 60 ose5 or 10 r@G ,, esn1s ,nst "
lss9uta nas pau 1aor ~. ss" H., 1e @ mst
sa;I ,r,nm W. bo 1,ct nt;,nnr r3vtlized urnnIc ho
would not let item know where no was from;
he would tell ti1em he yns from He'll or apy
othcr pIaco but Missouri,
vp ruov.a p,cuuaou
-. -. eo,..S, -. .,.
rfeslaent OF me senoot noanl, va ~ iasos o.
Inc movement. East Of Gou!s stuus lnaly "
mnv ~ viii .I,ut1,i a fnw srhnni,r;srs ,,,I
Einderrartens on tlc other aldo OF the river 10
ave toll On lie bridge,
.,.,-s., r...n
Voted 5cs. AltnouGn natsvn Mlssoutlan' no.
Sou!d not spprose lne at1'taao takch oy ths
STATE 70 sstta'a measures. 9ennta hau cal!eu "
1.e n ss ,,.; 10y ~ ,I ~" ~ h,I .o
wnTman wl,t, stt,,3s YOU on the road aud Gala
ont. "Sson and dciiyer!S
,,u r uon-uurp
n1" =. ~ SoA'A"of .,
voted yes, on accoaut or tiIa pad leeislatlon OF