Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-09-11

council is TO meet, next Monday night,
and the public Is naturally anxious that
it shall do something definite in the
matter. 1t is puerile to permit Mr..
Turner longer to trifle with the rights
OF a gentleman of character and reputa-
ton such as is Mr.. Clagett, and, indeed,
with. tho rights of the citizens to have
their legally elected officer installed.
The council will fail in its duty if it does
not compel its defiant officer to obey its
order. and will subject itself to the
charge OF grave untairness it it permits
the obstinate resistance of that officer
to prejudice the case of a man whose
whole life has been marked by obeil-
ence to law. and by fair dealing, kind
ness and generosity to all men.
Mayer John occupies a peculiarly
delicate position in relation to this qns-
ton. He is a republican, and ran upon
the same ticket with Mr.. Turner. He
is the chief officer of the city, and the
president OF the council. He can, if he
will, cause Mr.. Turner to produce the
ballots of the election. If he cannot. he
is unfit to be mayor. We believe that
he can, and that he has acted badly in
not doing SC ere this. 1t is true that
the same persons who voted for Mr.
Turner voted for him. and that if MIR.
Shewalter should prove GO illegal re-
publican votes. he would. thereby. show
that Mr.. John himself was not lawfully
elected. But what OF that? Ii Mr.. John
is an honest man. and we have always
given him credit for honesty. lie should
throw no obstacle in the way of.he expur-
CATION of the ballot box. We do lot believe
that Mr.. John suborned a single man to
vote illegally, but it is jus as wrong
knowingly to enjoy the fruits OF fraudu-
lent voting. and, as NOR votes are
challenged than the majorly he receiv-
ed. he should be more ANXIOUS than any
one else to vindicate his right to hold
the pace which he occupies. The COM
munity has little hope o anything far
or proper on the part of Mr.. Turner. but
the character heretofore borne by Mr..
John should be an assurance, that, at
whatever cost of time aid trouble. he
will see justice done to MIR. Clagett,
ven at some risk to himself. Both he
and the council compfomie their digni-
ty and good name every time they sit in
their official capacity, and willingly as
sociate in the transaction OF business
with a brother officer Whole title to his
place Is tainted.
1t will not do to say that the office is
too Insignificant to occupy the time Of
the council or the attentionof the people.
1t is mo- simply a question between two
men. 1t is a question OF law and equity.
1t is a question ofthe purit, of the ballot
box. 1t is such a question of right that
the most august judicial tribunal would
weigh with scrupulous care. scorning,
in the importance of the subject, the
Puilut uoluCtdtiO vi IlIuc ouu oApcuSo.
1t IS one Of those questions in which the
liberties OF the people are wrapped
up. 1t is a question as to whether or
not, in Lexington, the honest people
who live here, and who have a right to
vote, shall be deprived of their power
to control their own affairs by ex-con-
victs and other disreputable characters
who may be persuaded to fraudulently
vote in our elections. 1t is q question
upon which clean. decent people, will
be found arrayed upon the side OF right,
and the other kind upon the side of
wrong.
What the law demands, what justice
demands. what decency demands.i is tina,
this matter cease to be made a farce of,
and that it be boldly and fearlessly tried.
with the honest purpose of giving the OF.
fee to the man who was elected to fill il
by honest ballots.