Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-07-06
faithfully and well, perform this impera-

faithfully and well, perform this impera-
tive constitutional duty.
In this matter it must he seen then that
Missouri has grand interests and proud
est possibilities. Her common schools
have magnificent endowment, no farth-
ing of which can be used in all coming
time for any other than educational pur-
poses. A part of this fund, arises from
taxation upon the private citizen and
which he cheerfully pays, as part of the
burden he bears for the public veal, and
| this fund must exist, these taxes be paid,
II not school house should be opened
Tor a generation, or the school system be
crude and worthless or the schools a nui-
sance.
| Wisdom, economy combine to demand
\ that your school system should me made
| simple, congruous, complete and econom-
ical, SO that the schools under it should
he In fact the colleges of labor,a theyare in
name, and that the pupil shall receive the
highest, most thorough and best educa-
tion possible. For all the public school fund
for all your money paid by way of taxa
tion to swell its volume, you do get, YOU
can get, no other return, no other
usance than the education of your
own or the children of your neighbors,
and the reflex influence and blessings of
such education upon the people--the
whole State. Prudential considerations
alone, would dictate, that such returns,
such usance should be made as great
and valuable as possible. You see to it
that your cash invested In bonds or lands,
In stocks and mortgages, in grain or cat
tie, shall make the largest possible re-
turns. Why should you not exercise the
same, indeed, more care, anxiety and So
licitude, that your money invested In the
education of the mind and heart of your
own and your neighbours children, shall
realize the greatest and grandest return
possible.
THE LESSONS OF THE HOUR.
And now, my fellow citizens, what are
the lessons of the hour? Labor
and her hand-maiden, education,
must take their peculiar interests
all of them, into their own hands
and foster, nourish and defend them.
Their votaries are in the vast majority
both iu the State and the whole nation
and hence, have full power,i If they will as
sociate and aggregate it, to speak and be
obeyed. They must have both State
and National party, devoted faithfully to
their peculiar interests. Nothing can be
accomplished of good to the public, or by
way of protection, to any interest by gov
| ernment aid, in a republican government,
except by party organization. The pow
ers and energies of such government
can only be invoked and vitalizcd through
party influence. The voice of popular
opinion can be made vocal through the
utterance of party machinery only. Party
must gather the convictions of each indi-
vidual citizen into one grand swelling
stream, which is known and becomes ef-
| ficient, as popular opinion.
These grand national interests, labor
and education, must select its party
either the democratic or republican,; it
is now immaterial which, as their
agent and servant, to do their great work.
If neither of these will accept the employ
ment in good faith, and enter into the
work with intelligence, zeal and prompts
tude, then make new party for the oc-
casion and the work. When the party is
selected or made, then let it hang its BAN
ner on the outer wall, and within its folds
| write its leading, characteristic princi-
| pies in plain, unmistakable language, so
plain that he who runs may read, and as its
| legend. Leave no room for construction,
subterfuge or evasion. Declare, first of
all, that the financial scheme, the fiscal
| agents, the money of the country shall be
for, and the servant of, labor;-that their
primary, direct and legitimate effects
shall always bel to make labor constantly
| and continuously active, productive and
remunerative, all over the land.
Then declare, as plainly and cmphati-
cally, to the corporation carriers-the
great railroad corporations-tha theirex-
tortions on commerce, their corrupting
influence with money, upon the elective
| franchise, the bribery of legislators and
| judges cannot continue longcr-that IN
| the American Union there cannot be but
one government and that one of the peo-
pie, by the people and for the people;
that associated wealth, aggregated money
in the hands of the few, Is not, must not,
| shall not be king; nor shall it rear any
throne within all our borders; that while
commerce may and will pay its proper and
reasonable tolls, as well its proper dues
| to the government, ii shall not be laid un-
der contribution or tribute to any power
on earth. 1t must and shall be as nearly
| free as the waters that flow, as the air
we breath, as is possible in the nature of
the case to be. Not one penny for trib-
ute shall 1t ever pay, and TO insure this, II
is demanded that the federal government,
by appropriate legislation, shall become
the owners of all Interstate railroads and
become the carrier of all such commerce.
Then declare, in like terms, that the
free-soverfgn, intelligent, tax-paying la
Dor or this country, in its own markets
shall by protected against the paupcr and
and machine labor of foreign countries,
and above all, in letters of gold, write on
your party banner, especially in this
State, a perfected, economical school
system, common schools of the highest
order and full, st educational facilities,
and free for all the youth, and if need be,
compulsory legislation, TO compel that
youth to come to these healing fountains
and drink freely, wisely and well of their
lsparkling waters.
All these things being done, then by ap-
lpropriate party machinery, from your
best statesmen, soundest fnanciers,
ablest scholars, wisest and most honest
men, whether heretofore known as dem
ocrats or republicans, select your repre-
sentatives and leaders, but not one, who
is not known to he. alike honest, faithful
and capable, and then sound the buglC
calls for volunteers; around such a ban
ner the American people will rally, and
but single struggle will he needed
Then labor viii be redeemed: commerce
will be substantially free; money win bt
dethroned; the poison of corporation
will be extracted, and they rcndrre,
harmless; independent tnX-paying labol
will he crowned, and the youth of tn,
land will be on the highway 10 grant
and completed education.
: In view Of the fact, TINT such corrupt.
ing influences, as herein before stated
, have already got such foothold in ou
own State, as to control five or six rail
roads running across IL, there is a spec
ial lesson for the citizens of Missouri
and which Is, that they should see to il
that no man is elected to the Legislature
. who can be betrayed, seduccd or pur
chBsed into the interests or under th
control of the money king named, VIII
h boasts that he is in the habit of purchas
ing such officers as paying invcstmcn
:, for his company. There l. no politics 4
> his corruption; there should be none &
: the methods of defense against it.
vINDicATIoS.
Fellow citizens, the weIght of aggre
gated years Segin to fall heavy upon mt
The fires of youth within me are buTpin
low and dim, and my natural force
!. abatipg. As go down the slope of Iii
!, towards its setting sun, my shadow fall
:. eastward and day 10y day grows lougep
The ambitions, the tastes, the pride {
my youth are subsidHg or changing.
a was honored with an invitation 10 ah
!, dress you to-day. esteemed the invita-
u tion an honor. ! were constrained IL ac
I, cent it. and perform thp duties that af