Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1882-03-18
A WORD TO THE DEMOCRATIC CON-
GRESsIONAL COMMITTEE.

1t is thought that representative
Flower, of New York, will be made
chairman of the democratic congression-
al committee. Mr.. Flower is q southern
man, a democrat of purest principles, a
live. wide-awake. energetic person, and
has the reputation of being a good or
GAMER. We think his selection to the
important position so certain that we
venture from our ar-westsrn democrat
&c position to give him a few words of
friendly advice, as coming from close
association with the veters of Missouri.
First, we beg of him not to permit his
colleagues to underestimate the lntelli-
geuce of the people; not to count on
demogogism to win elections. Whatev-
er may. have been the case many
years ago the school.master has been
abroad among the people of the west for
several decades, and they have learned
to read. knowing this much they use
their knowledge, and in matters in
which they are interested they are
about as we'll advised as the average
congressman. They are not politicians
they are business me n-therefore any
success IN securing political spoils at the
sacrifice Of . political principle is to
them . defeat. They desire, consequent
ly. no unhely alliances; no tampering
with fiat money ~idiocies; nc coquetting
with Reputation OF honest debts; no
congratulations tor Piaisted victories.
The Office holders are the thousands,
the taxpayers are the millions. These.
millions consider, and justly, that the
money collected from taxation is theirs.
Ii is wrung from them in many instan-
ces by cruelty unjust legislative practi-
Cos. and they are jealous of the
manner iu which It is expended. Too
much cannot be devoted to the payment
OF the national debt after that every
dollar should be -~husbanded. Let the
democrats in congress attempt the re-
peal or the radical amendment. Of.
the UNANIMOUSLY swindling arrears Of
pensions act. 80 asto reduce the amount
demanded by it to something like the
sun that il was claimed il would cost
when 1t was on its passage. II It CAM
not be made an honest measure let the
responsibility rest with the republicans.
If Mr.. Flowers committee thinks this
question will not be an issue IN the next
canvass it 10 mistaken. 1t will be q terri
BILE sin Of omissioa'it the democrats prove
to be too cowardly to attempt to right it,
IS the republicans evidently are.
Mr.. Flower lives in an atmosphere of
prosperous railroad aud manufacturing
monopolies. De1nogogues. no doubt,
make much unhallowed use of the word
''mouspolY," bat the democratic party
should place itself squarely and unequi-
yocafly on q platform of opposition to
privileged classss-justlce from railroads
to the people. and q tariff for, revenue, as
against tho enormous jobbery and rob-
berry Of the present protective system.
Democrats in congress, 30 far, have
not shown themselves equal to the stu
alton. It is time that they should. They
can almost make or mar success. ard
should. therefore, be jealous to leave
no duty undone. Above all let them
guard from the hands OF lobbyists and
subsidy hunters the money OF the peo-
pie. Give 10 unity of our leaders, upon
An unequisocally democratic platform,
with previous jealous care of the PEG.
pies money. and victory IS assured.
Without these we cannot win !; without
the two latter we ought not to win.