Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-08-07

soldier, a great commander. q wise
statesman aud a pure patriot. but q
prudent, painstaking, practical man
of uuqueslioned honesty; trusted
often with important public duties,
faithful to every trust aud In the full
meridian Of ripe and vigorous man
hood, he is. in my judgment. emi
nently fitted for the highest office on
earth-the presidency Of the United
States. Not only ID he the right man
fol- the place, but the time has come
when the best interests of the coun-
try require that the party which has
menopolized the executive depart
ment Of the general government for
the last twenty years should be re-
tired. The continuance of that party
in power four years longer would mol
be beneficial to the public or i'll &C.
cordance with the spirit OF our re-
publican institutions. Laws Of entail
have not been favored in our system
of government. The perpetuation Of
property or place in II family or
set of men has never been encouraged
in this country, aud the great M
good men who formed our republic
can government aud its traditions
wisely limited the tenure of office
and in many ways showed their dis
approval Of long leases of power.
Twenty years of continuous power
Is long enough aud has already led to
irregularities and corruptions which
are not likely to be properly exposed
under the same party that Perpetrat-
ell them; besides, it should not De
forgotten that the four last years OF
power held by that party we're pro.
cured by discreditable means and
held in defiance Of b wishes of q
majority of the people. 1t was q
g%rievous wrong to every voter n
to our system of self-government
which should never be forgotten or
forgiven. Many of the men new in
office were put there because of or
rupt partisan services in thus defeat
ing the fairly and legally expressed
will of the majority, and the hypoc-
risy of the professions of that party
in favor of civil-service reform was
shown by placing such men in office
! aud turning the whole brood Of led
| eraI ofice-holders loose to influence
| the elections. The money Of the pee-
| pie, taken out of the public treasury
by these men for services often poor
Nv performed or not performed 81
| all, is being used in vast sums, with
the knowledge and presumed sane
ton of the administration, to control
the elections, and even the membert
.,f the cabinet are strolling about the
country making partisan speeches
instead of being in their department.
ut Washington discharging the pub
A-o 60. -hsnh thnv ora maid hX
he people. But with all their clever
ness and ability a discriminating pub
Tic will no doubt read between tn
lines of their speeches that thell
paramount hope aud aim is to keel
| themselves or their satellites f0uI
Years longer in Office. Perpetuatin!
he power of chronic federal Office
holders four years longer will no
benefit the millions of men sad wo
men who hold no Office but earn thel
tally bread by honest industry |
what the same discerning public vii
no doubt fully understand, as the.
will also, that it is because of thei
own industry and economy aud Gou'
hounfiful harvests that the countr
is comparatively prosperous. and no
because of anything done by thes
federal of1ce-holders. The countr
is comparatively prosperous, not be
: cause of them but in spite of then
: This contest Is in fact between tn
!, people endeavoring to regain the poll
. cal power which rightfuily belong
10 them, and to restore the pur'
simple, economical, constitutions
), government of our fathers, GU tt
one side, and q hundred theusau
!. federal ofice-holders and their bacl
ers, pampered with place aud powe
: and determined to retain them at a
hazards, Oh the other. Hence Il
= constant assumption of new al
:. dangerous powers by the general go
eminent under the rule of the repu
lican party, the effort to build Z
what they call q strong governmei
: with the administration of justice
the courts of the several states, t
- interference with the elections throuI
= the medium of paid partisan FEEDER
ofice-helders interested in keepil
their party in power, and caring me
~ tor that than fairness in the election
y. In fact, the constant encroachmei
" which have been made by that par
IL upon the clearly reserved rights
the people and the states will, if u
D. checked, subvert the liberties of
=. people and the government Of limit
81 powers created by the fathers, a
;e end in a great consolidated cent
- government-strong, Indeed, for e
u -aud the overthrow of republic
re institutions. The wise, men W
formed our constitution knew
evils of a strong government and
long continuance of political poV
" IN the same hands. They knew tn
-. was a tendency in this direction In
governments and consequent dan
u to republican institutions from t
~ cause. and took pains TO guard agai
it. The machinery of a strong C
tralized government a be used
oe perpetuate the same set of men
power from term to term unit
81 ceases to be a republic, or is 8
only in name, and the tendency of
- party now in power in that direct
= AS shown in various ways, besides
A willingness recently manifested b
-ei large number of that party to Gle
III! president all unlimited numbe
"n terms, is quite apparent, and n
satisfy thinking people hat the
ehu has come when it will be safest
MS best for that party to be retired.
in resisting the encroachments OF
hs' general government upon the
.hF served rights of the people and
states, l wish to be distinctly un
-. stood as favoring the proper exc
by the general government of
powers rightfully belonging to il
WIN der the constitution. Eucroachm
ons, unon tho constitutions riohts OF
anu general government or interior
the with the proper exercise of its
exc ers must be carefully avoided.
ihe. union of the state under the
.uiiy stitutien must be maintained, q
his is well known that this has al
'ern, been the position Of both the C
cfeu dates Oh the democratic preside
mer- ticket. 1t is acquiesced in everyy
new, and finally aud forever sc
as one Of the results of the wa
n. is certain beyond all question
the legitimate results of the W,
/, the the Union will not be overthrow
hair- impaired should the democratic
o' be elected. In that event proper
tioh. lection will he given in every
mate way to every citizen, natl
adopted, in every section of Il
,SO. public, in the enjoyment of the
hon guaranteed by the constitutio
13;h its amendments; Il sound currel
man honest money, of a value and