Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1880-05-08
HISTORICAL.
Adair County Politics. Brief Sketch
Of the Republican Party in This
County.-Its Rise, Progress and
Present Condition,

.iNut NVuuts VlltlSS' n DiItI tohVtCi
of the Republican Party in This
County.-Its Rise, Progress and
Present Condition.
Twenty years ago, to-day, republican,
ism in Missouri was synonym for all
that was vile. fiendish, criminal. There
We're but few who dared openly to avow
republican sentiments; scarcely more
who would confess to being a reader of
the New York Tribune. Indeed that
paper itself was excluded from the Mis-
souri, mails as being an incendialy docu-
mcnt.
Notwithstanding. the germ of Repub-
llcanlsm was expanding into active life.
and there are among us
to-day those who can recall
the faces and names of those who
on the eventful election in November.
1860. dared to proclaim their choice for
Lincoln and Hamlin at the court house
voting place in our public square. In
the county at large We're many who did
tle same at other precincts, especially
in the townships of Walnut aud Clay,
where. if we recollect Alright, the repub-
lican ticket developed to a majority Il
few months later Around this nucleus
Of stalwarts gathered the loyal hearts
from all other parties: Douglass demo-
crats. breckenridge democrats, Bell
ard Everett men and old lire wings.
After the fiery ordeal OF war had been
passed it found them welded into one
grand organization. The republican
parts Of Adair county was a full grown
reality with maiofities in 1866 and 1865
running up into the hundreds it seemed
that the party would never be defeated.
The organization was severely strain
ed in 1870: but in 1872 gave majority
of 466 for Grant. We then felt over
weening confidence in our strength.
There was no republican party as an
organization in the political contest Of
1874: but after the eiecllon, the party
found itself in possession of all the coun-
ty offices, excepting the circuit judge,
county and probate Judge, county attor-
ney and circuit clerk all the courts and
two Of the best offices in control OF the
democracy.
In 1876 the party re-asserted itself
and came out with a majority of 437.
after that in 1873 we were subject to an
almost overwhelming defeat. Instead
of republican majority ranging into
the hundreds, it was a political earth
quake, for which no one was prepared,
apathy and over confidence of the repub-
lican party, the dearth of money. want
Unemployment, in fact hard times, with
all that is implied in the term, caused a
feeling Of political recklessness that was
and the result was the elec-
tion of democratic circuit court, county
court, probate court, county attorney,
county treasurer, county assessor.
We saved the member of the legisla-
ture by a majority of seven votes sher-
if by seventeen votes circuit clerk by
a bare plurality vote. The collector
and county clerk were elected by lar
ger though still alarmingly small ma
iorities.
Here we are to-day, with our boasted
600 majority OF a few years since, and
with that same republican sentiment,
as strong as at any time since the Or
ganization OF the party. yet with these
facts above narrated, this does not strike
the casual observer, as being republic
can county.
We ask the republicans to stop and
think, why this is so !? Do not stop to
blame your neighbor. OF this or that
one. but ask Of yourself, Have we not
been too Independent Have we not
felt too little interest at times in the well
fare OF the party organization ?
Because perhaps We have not attend
I'd the primaries, on even when attend
ng. did not get the nominees of our
.hoice. we have disapproyed loudly, and
,penl Y, and what was still more unwise
;oted an opposition ticket, and by weak
ming our own organization. aided our
iireSt enemy-Missouri State Democra-
". We need not press the truth upon
,ur readers that in the coming cam
,aign there will be practically but two
,arties in the field. Minor issues will
ne laid aside. and the question will be.
which shall prevail the party OF state
lights, the party of notification and Sc
ession, the party OF anything to beat
II shall it be the staunch old republican
,arty Republicans of Adair, let lis
gain stand shoulder to shoulder in the
-reat battle Of principle, upon which
sc are just entering.