Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1881-08-13
TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT MISSOURI.
rFrom the st., LOUIS Republican. j

lf.sa CFrom the St.. LOUIS Republican.
Missouri is looking up. The offer
Of CSC, 600 reward for the train robbers
0f aifew weeks ago indicates that state
begins to realize the egnecessity of rid
ding har soil Of bandits, and ls going to
set about, the matter in earnest. The
mere offer of this large reward is worth
i've imes the sum TO the state, and if it
results In the capture and punishment OF
the Eobbers will be Of considerable val
ua to, that commonwealth. Law, order
and security are. necessary to the ad-
and prosperity OF any COM
munity." 40 sl
This from the Chicago Inter-Ocean is
only partially correct. That Missouri
has had Flaw, order and security" is ev-
idenced BY the rapid advancement she
has made and is making, and that she
intends to maintain "law, order aud Sc
curisy" ia aIso evidenced by the steps
taken to rid the state of the desperadoes
who are q. disgrace to some sections.
But while acknowledging the correct
ness Of a. portion of what the. Chicago
paper says, we objectto that part OF the
paragraph that inferentially accuses this
state of having heretofore. made no ef-
fort to put down lawlessness. The fact
10 the condition OF affairs is not halt so
bad as jealous rivals and narro W mind
ed enemies OF the states prosperity
would make it appear. Taking the
worst phase of the deplorable Wins.
ton affair, and It 10 not nearly 90 bad as
the press outside the state,r and, we re-
gret to say 1t, many papers inside the
state would make 1t appear. The sem
sation mongers seize the opportunity. to
make 9 "spread,i' and the matter is
made to assume q character, as it affects
than it is. Then the subject is dwell
upon and rehashed ;the record is search
ed, and old crimes committed, OF alleg-
ed to have been committed, are revie " ed
and retold until it is made to appear that
the state Is very hot bed of outlawry.
The simple truth about deeds OF violence
that are committed in this state or else.
where is bad enough without exaggera.
ton. ,t.. -s-.rs .-'.s
Then, again. there is no evidence ex.
cebt conjecture that the train robberle.
should be wholly chargeable to Missouri
The end of the war found the whole
border In . condition OF lawlessness
Men may have come from other states
and probably did in this instanse, choos
ing The place to perpetrate their daring
outrage on account OF the condition 0
the country, the sparseness of popula
ton, the facilities afforded by the lay
Of the land tor speedy escape in TACT
many reasons might be set forth To-
choosing railroads IN this state to oper
ate on, and none OF them be considered
dishonor or disgrace to the state. II
burglar ensers.-a mans house and de
spoils him OF his valuables, do we, as
rule, blame the victim or the housed
The first move that is, or should be
made is, to capture and punish tn
thief, In the meantime securing tn
house against further lncursion. Tha
is exactly what Missouri is dong. Sh
has set about capturing the bandits
may be the James boys or other Mis-
sourians. or, It may be. somebody els
from some other state-and no effor
which vigilance, love OF order and tn
duties of humanity can inspire will b
omitted.