Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-12-25
GEORGE WILSON-FRANCIS NJ. COCK
REIT,

RELL.
EDITOR INTELLIaENcER:-Mr. George Wilson,
Of Lexington, Missouri, has, in several comniu-
nioations to the press of your town, fairly placed
himself in the contest Tor L. 5. senator He
has, in so doing, conceived II 10 be his duty TO
assail Senator Cockrell upon the plea, primari-
ly, that he does not possess the proper qualiii-
cations to grasp or handle tae measures that
will most cOndGce to the welfare of the American
people in general and the democratic party in
particular. His second point OF attack on Cock
rsll Is, that he was Il brigadier general in the
southern army, and that u Confederate general
in the senate from Missouri hundlcaps us in the
presidential race in lSS4.' The latter PROPOSE
tion l propose to dispose of according to my way
OF thinking, irst. briefly. thus-there is nothing
In it. Upon the first plea, there is some differ
ence Of opinion between gentlemen who desire
the position Of U. s. senator for themselves, and
the friends OF the aforesaid gentleman, parties
of the first part, and senator Cockrell and his
friends. parties, of the second part. This is
natural. Twas ever 60; and IL will continue so
to the end. The friends OF tx Gov. Brown,
Doubtless, believe that he IS the proper man TO
represent Missouri in the senate; the friends OF
Broadhssd. and those of Glover, and OF AR.
Wilson will say the same thing, and 30 on to
tn. end of the chapter. We are thus forced 10
rely on our own judgment and knowledge OF
men and their capabilities. l have heard men
repeatedly cay that Gen. Grant was not much oil
u general. 1t is very easy to make such Il remark
MS that, but it would be u very diii;cult task 10
prove it-partIcularly with the men who laced
him in battle as Jurors. 1t Is Just IS easy t. Say
that Cockrell is practically worthless rs Il sena-
tor, sitting In judgment Il thousand miles away
from the scene OF his labors. But would the ell
tire senate, sitting Us judges in The case, Say so?
1 have been informed by moro I'll an one member
Of the lower house oicongressf from this state that
Cockreli was considered one OF the most useful
members of the body of which lie is II menb,r
1t is true that when political matsdOrs like
ntn i u,t and linn RtuIT. xU,nll NAV fhn o.
nag at the ''rebel brizadiers" he has not con-
sidered that he was called upon to assert his
bravery in a war OF words rs II defender of the
south; he did that at Wilson's Greek, Corinth,
Chickamauga. Franklin and fifty ether places.
But when II came to re-instating the act on the
statutes to recon the Standard silver dollar, he
/ WAS heard in the best speech that was delivered
on the silver bill Capt Eads had no better nor
ing the construction of the j~etties at the mouth
of the Mississippi. and he was the author OF the
bill appointing commissioners TO survey the
Mississippi from st. Paul to New Orleans, with
u view to strengthen and deepen the channel OF
that river, that our might flow Gun
veXed to the sea-" AS / commenced this article
to answer criticisms from several sources, on a
variety of points, cannot give it that continuity
is from an Iowa paper claiming 10 be democrat
ic, and copied into the Republican, OF st. Louis.
After waving the blood shirt through several
paragraphs, and advising the election of some
such man as Brown, Glover. Wilson. Broad
head. etc. it says:-''We would hail the act as
an evidence OF desire on their part to recipro-
cate the efforts OF northern democrats to main
tain good government south rs well AS nerth.'
For cool, unbiushing elrontery and Impudence.
that ought to craze the and Chi
caso Intsr-Ocean with Jealousy. Are We not
maintaining as good government in Missouri as
ing faster in wealth and population than you
are; our laws arc as faithfully executed MS
yours; life and property are as safe here as in
Iowa, and our representation, in both branches
of congress-, Is infinitely superior to the Iowa
article IN politics and in bralns-nade up, as
they are, OF ex-union men and ex rebels-for We
arp a III min men now We an nnf nlecrInu man
to office in Missouri on deal issues, anu l will
prove, before l close this article, that the editor
OF the Ottumwa, Iowa, Democrat and Times UNI
derstands but little of the aniInus that Controls
the democratic party OF Missouri. l desire to
say for the information of the Iowa paper that
the war closed in Missouri more than fifteen
years ago; that the Missouri democracy, in the
selection OF public servants. has consulted the
TO the color Of the clothes that ii man wore fifteen
or tw enty years ago. This fact has been repeat
eddy affected in the selection OF national and
have been re-enfranchiscd. The fret chance
that the democrats had they elected Gratz
Brown for governor, the next was Woodson,
least. the gallant Crittenaen, who scored in the
nominating convention nearly double the NUM-
Der OF votes received by both of rs opponents
combined. on the first ballot, both of Them eX-
rebels, and one OF them q brigadIer ut that, and
as gallant IL one as the war produced. We have
repeatedly sent to the lower house of congress-
unlen soldiers, and VIII do SO again; but We
want it distinctly understood that we will nom
mate and elect no man, no matter what his an
tecedents may have been, under outside dicta-
ton. A state like Iowa, that sometimes burns
corn for fuel because of oppressive railroad
charges, and then gives SO, 200 majority for Gar
Held, q man who il the champion. ut all times
and under all circumstances, OF every species oil
corporation and aggregated capital, Is a poor
source to receive advice from ON any political
topic. One would judge from the tone of the
of the Republican. Oh tho article OF
the Iowa paper, thar il mas been asleep on the
senatorial question for some time. We unsO-
phislicated country people thought, last sum
mer, when it advised Mr.. Thomas Allen to fore.
60 his senatorial aspiratfons. and Try his luck
reii had an open sea and no breakers ahead, but
It suddenly pricks up its ears; and lis eyes with
mince words about 1t. the fact is, Gen. Cock
rell, whist Il man OF fair average capacities,
does not possess the intellectual cIiIier The state
ought to and can command Tor its suitable rep
resentItion in the senate OF the UNI. u States
Now, does any one believe that il Cnckrell had
his home in st. Louis and h.t been chosen as u
ST. LOUIS man to represent the STATE III the u. S.
senate that it would have been any thing less tuau
sacrI!ese in the eyes OF the Republican to even
talk of succeeding him in the senate by some
nan in the provincial towns ui the state. The
people have not forgotten the war II made on
explanation IS easy-Vest is not "a Candidate Ut
this Time; II he was n preteNt Woali soon be
found f.r attacking him, as 1t Will be when his
present term in the senate expires if he should
% 4 Candidate for reelection.
The great trouble with the editors of that town
has been and is, that they arrosats to themselves
more Importance than other people attach to
them. They really deserve no more considera-
tion than attaches to any other three hundred
ether part Of the reate. if as much. The state.
counties, towns and individual outside of st.
Louis have been subsidized between thirty-fve
and forty millions of dollars to bui!d railroads
to her corporate limits; her ''public bcnelau-
tors' installed as presidents and directors OF
the same, and to-day her ''solid men, don'l
own a mile OF railway Qeaving out the street
concerns); nor do they control the price of a
single fare, ora pound OF freight on any OF the
or south. And yet the Republican signs for "a
man of larger caliber and greater capacities
than Cookrell., Surely St. Louis ought to Turn
ish him as she has made such splendid Cl use Of
the grand opportunities Afforded her by the
balance OF the state.
desire to say to Mr.. Wilson In regard to The
kind mention of the family of which the writer
Is a member, that personally have the kindest
regard for him; that no '.ill WHIP VIII be en-
tor CoGkrell. The Office belongs 10 no man in
particular, but to the one who fairly secures il
election Of Cockr.ll IN his first race lor the
senate, and intend, in my humble way, 10 as
sist III his reelection all that l Can. / do so
because l know HIM int mateiy. and know him
to b. the right man in the right place, and not
the right man in the wrong place, as Mr..
Wilson puts it. No Just and valid reasons have
been nor can be assigned for his retirement at
this time. He has had six years experience in
the u. 5. senate, and he is u very apt learner.
of tile senate, and the routene of busInyaa that
would take IL new and lneSperienced man IN
sucii. u body, though possessing every uIler
qualification. from Two to three sessions to ..c-
complish. He Is a man of temperate hsLirs, in
dustrious, possessed OF line legislative ab!,Ity,
reliable to Tie fullest extent, aId wholly i.!enti-
hed with the people OF the state. Then why tels
about dispensing with the services Of 4 public
servant against wlom no real cause for .~iis-ttis-
faction exists. The eastern states nrvsr retiIc
q man frsIn congress who serves them well.
That is the reason they have dictated the
laws of the country for Inc la-L twenty years,
and have secured untold millions from t he pub
nc treasury 10 ioster and build NY their interests.
The word 'change.' change" has been the
bane OF western advancement. We asIy learn
wisdom by and by. Very respectfully,
e. l.. y.
THE PROBATE JUDGESHIP.