Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-08-24
CAMPAIGN, 8 8
Elder Brooks Speech.

Elder Brooks Speech.
We have met with no one that en-
tircly approves of Elder John A.
Brooks speech in this city last week,
and vet we gave that gentleman much
space in this issue to answer the OBJ
jections that have been made to it.
An almost universal criticism OF
Mr.. Brooks is, that he assumes too
much, andtherefore deceives himself
and misleads those that look to him
for guidance.
This is true of what he says about
the LEDGER. Had he contented him.
self with intimating that this paper
was a friend and advocate of temper
ance. lie would have announced its
true character to its friends and the
public; but when he attempts to in
clude it with those journals that are
foolish enough 10 pledge themselves
to an organic law that has not been
formulated, he goes too far and would
put us in a position that nc represent
alive of the democracy ought to occu-
Ply.
1t is probable numerous prohibition
petitions will be sent oJeffersonCi-
ty during the coming winter to be re-
ceived and respectfully considered,
as was done at the last session of the
legislature. There will also possibly
be prohibition-compromises and con-
cessions, some of which may contra
vene the principles of either or both
the great parties and may therefore
be voted down. The last legislature
acted in this way without justifying
Mr.. Brooks accusation of that body's
being disrespectful to the right of pc
tition. Where among the records OF
the past does Mr.. Brooks find it laid
down that legislatures ought invaria-
Oily to grant all that is numerousiy
asked for by respectable people?
Mr.. Brooks again plunges headlong
INTO illogical assumption, when he as
:.rts that a constitutional amendment
ii remove temperance from politics.
Is the adoption of such a pro-
vision had that effect in Maine, Iowa,
/ nsas or any other state. Has not
litter conflict been inaugurated in
wa, that threatens the integrity OF
dominant party of that State =:
al in Kansas, so far from quoting
attention, has not the new organic
extended temperance agitation tc
tional politics, and a deprohibitior
the import of liquor by the genera
.yernment necessary to prevent in
briates in that state obtaining from
:ssouri and other states all the whis.
s.: they want.
MIR. Brooks next reverses the ordel
i progress. 1t was not the agitators
at inundated the brewers; but tina
= immaterial. What right have either
> threaten democratic candidates
..;e who claims to be a democrat
md as such participates in primaries
and then deserts the nominee is {
hotter. But what shall be said ofhin
who goes further and inflames the
Wondering embers of class hatred
What is that but to be all incendiary
We leave it to our readers to judge
from the following put forth in the
nalne of democracy by Mr.. Brooks in
regard TO anticipated loss of property
Oh the part of brewers, through the
operation of prohibition enactments
how far that gentleman has placed
himself iii that category:
Not long since q large part of the
democratic party of Missouri claimed
the liberty to possess human beings
As slaves. Gradually the though
that slavery was inconsistent with The
public good, rs evinced in the broth
erllood of humanity, took possession
of the popular mind. In this cast
the republican party championed the
principle. These self-same German:
We're then in the democratic party
bat they deserted us, and went oyer
in a body to the republicans. W.
protested and told them that the as.
sertion of this principle would involve
the loss of millions of property, w
had acquired by inheritance o by
hard labor, and that it would be grea'
injustice to rob us of this property
All! but they said, it is inconsistent
with the public good. We will TRAMP
your liberties under foot and you
property must 60 To make it as baG
rs they could, they even treated us
to much of the classical language Of
Henry Clay Dean, and swapping thei1
fingers in our faces, they said, hell
yourselves Well we tried; bu
could not and rs those who went befor,
III yielded gracefully to the inevitable
Now if these same chickens hav,
come home to roost in the camp o
our German fellow citizens
they ought not to censure the demo
Gratis of Missouri. This great princi
pie is marching on, and the soone
that part of our German friends, VIII,
are engagedin this traffic, adapt them
selves to the situation the better"
Rails County Democracy.