The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-18
The TOWN OF LIBERAL, MO.
Denial of the Allegations Made by Clark
Braden as to Its Immoralities.
Christian People Who Live in 1t, and
Its Morality Is Average.

Clark Braden gave what purported to be
the facts relating to the town of Liberal a
Missouri village founded by Free Thinkers and
ostensiblY flower and fruit of infdelity. The
statements were at once challenged, and the
Journal volunteered, of course, as matter of JUS
tice to print whatever facts might be furnish
ed in contravention. Below will be found
number of certificates, sent US, which show that
Mr. Braden is, by no means, a reliable witness
and while the town was founded by Free Think
ers its population is not exclusively infidel, and
its morality an average at least of similar Ameri
can towns:
THE CERTIFICATES.
Liberal. Mo-, May IL.
have read the article purporting to come
from Clark Braden and published in the St
Louis Post Dispatch, and reproduced in the
Indianapolis State Journal, and pronounce
it base libel on the people of Liberal
| am now living in Liberal. have
lived within three miles of the place for
over eighteen years. / am a member of the
Methodist Church, and firm believer III the re.
ligion of the Bible and New Testament I am
acquainted with all the people of the town, and
have been acquainted with G. II. Walser for
twenty-four years, and l know from my own
knowledge that Mr.. Walser is universally kind
to all alike, both Christian and Liberal; that no
his or her belief on the part of the Liberals
The people here are sober kind, generous and
industrious. The females are pure in
mind, in conduct and in speech. There is not a
dlsreputable character in town. and never has
been, to stay. There has been no case of f9ti-
eide to my knowledge, in the place, nor have l
heard of such a practice. The young girls and
young men are modest and well behaved. The
hotel conducted by S. @. Thayer is as nice a
place as car be found anywhere. The one just
vacated by Mrs. Witt was reputable as any
place in the land There is less profanity
among the people here than any town was
ever in, and there is no place where person
can buy whisky to drink unless on prescription
by physician for medical purposes. l pro-
nounce that article by Clark Braden a scan
dalous outrage, and tissue of falsehoods from
beginning to the end. The above are facts to
the best of my belief. MARY A. LEWIS.
LIBERAL Mo-, May r.
| am a farmer, and / live one mile from Lib
eral. l bought my land of G. II. Walser and
l told him at the time / bought that was
member of church. He remarked that that
made no difference, religion did not make man
a good man nor bad man; that people should
be judged according to their manly bearing and
not from religious stand point
l. am well acquainted with the people of Lib
eral, and know them to be high-minded and
acknowledgements people who love virtue dhate
vice in all Its forms With one exception, they are
all temperate men, and fully four-ffths of them
of any community l ever saw.
No man or woman is ever moleSted for their
b elief. Where difficulties have arisen they have
always grown out of an Infringement of their
rights as citizens and not on account of religion.
There are many church people in Liberal and
they are all kindly treated.
GEORGE P. NELSON.
LIBERAL Mo-, May IL.
was one the first settlers of Liberal. /
came here and bought property of Mr.. Walser,
and he knew that was Christian. I have
always been treated kindly by Mr. Walser and
the people generally. / own the opera house in
Liberal: it cost me 81, 500. The principal dances
are held in the opera house. and no iewd women
have ever attended those dances. These dances
are always conducted decently and in order
The Liberals were not turned out Of the hall for
non payment Of rent. M. BURGESS.
LAMAR, Mo-. May 13.
I am minister of the gospel in the Free
will Baptist Church. and am we'll acquainted
with G. Ell. Walser. He has lived in this city
and county for many years, and he has always
enjoyed the esteem and respect of those who
know him. his best friends are those who have
known him the longest / am also acquainted
with the people of Liberal and, taking out
their skepticism, they are as worthy the respect
of the world as any people know Of or have
ever known. Infdels as they are as to the
teachings of the Bible, they have done what
Christian communities in this country have
failed in doing in keeping saloons and places of
intoxication out of their town. To this extent
Christian towns could well take pattern of Lib
eral. The charges of Clark Braden against the
people are untrue. I do not believe that Chris
tianity requires services as rendered in this re-
spect by said Braden. JOHN A. Pool.
To Whom it May Concern:
Having read in the public prints an interview
regarding the people of Liberal, | would say
that have many times visited said town, and
am pta6 Will thar 0f
When there have always been treated with
respect and kindness. While not in sympathy
with their ideas on religious matters, have
failed to see practiced any of the immoralties
spoken of in said interview the conduct of the
people being the same as in other places, so far
as my observation extends.
With Mr.. Waser | have had business relations
for many years, and have always found him
prompt and reliable in all his transactions.
r. p. SMITH,
Treasurer Barton County.
LAMAR, Mo. May 13.
lam deputy sheriff of Barton county, Missouri,
and as such officer arrested Clark Braden last
March, on warrant issued by the Governor Of
the State of Missouri, in compliance with
requlstion from the Governor of Nebraska
the Governor of Missouri, fugitive from
justice. turned Braden over to Sheriff Lane,
who took him back to WILDER, Neb, to answer
to an indictment for felony. He is now ON bail
here for criminal libel. I arrested him for
mat crime last Friday, May B, 1850, IN this
place B. B. BOSTON,
Deputy sheriff Barton county. Nc.
LAMAR, Mo-. May 49,
We are acquainted with G.. H. Walser, of
Liberal, and the citizens of that place generally
and from our own knowledge of that people we
know them to be good and respectable in every
sense that it takes to make up good citizenship.
They are as pure minded, we'll behaved, and as
worthy the esteem of the world as any people
in the country, and we pronounce the charges
made against the citizens of Liberal by Clark
Braden, as published in the Post-Dispatch, as
UNANIMOUSLY false
w. l.. MACK, Circuit clerk,
r Il RnsT0N Denntv sheriff