Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-07-24
A CAMPAIGN OF DIRT.

It seems from the course of the Post
hat we are to have in Lafayette coun-
" what we hoped had passed away
with the heated feelings which sue
the war period, a campaign OF
dirt. For some reasons we had thought,
in spite of assurances to the contrary
from gentlemen at Higginsville, that
that newspaper was actuated by
feelings and a desire to conduct
partisan discussion fairly and de-
1t seems that we have been
In every issue of late we
have been treated to the epithets"ring"
and "boss," directed at gentlemen
in private conversation the edl-
tor processes to esteem. So far the
unseemly cry is hypocritical. The JUS
tifcation which is held out for this
course is, that the words are put into
its mouth by democrats.
Congreve has it that hell hath no
fury like a woman scorned.' No one
better than does the editor Of
the Post that if the poet had lived till
now he would have written it, hell
hath no fury like some politicians Left
If a thing is true it is true even if
uttered by a republican. If a thing is
it is false even if uttered by a
Now, what is the situa-
Two democrats have been NOM
for Office, fairly, squarely, hon.
estly. They are both gentlemen; their
personal honor and integrity have
never been assailed; their conduct of
the offices which they hold has been
able, faithful and commendsble. They
have been virulently opposed for Office,
because of having served
three terms, but mort upon personal
grounds, and those who have been dis
in their efforts to defeat them
before the people revenge themselves
by disappearing them and by heap
ing upon them and their friends epithets
which are uncalled for and uniustifa-
BILE.
Let us see if this were a rule of con-
duct how it would work. Not long
ago, in the Laclede hotel, a prominent
and responsible citizen Of Higginsvllle
asserted to us that the editor of the
Post was a dishonest man, IN that he
had collected illegal fees while acting
as mayor of his town. The little Anglo
Saxon word of five letters which de-
scribes the man who does an act of that
kind is a pretty hard one, but it is as
easy to write as "ring'' Or 'sboss."
Were we conducting a anvass as the
Post is doing we should have publish
ed that gentlemen's remarks, and
rung the changes on the
epithet, no matter what the facts may
be; no matter how a correct life may
speak in behalf of the accused; no
matter if it wrings the feelings of those
at home who love him and his good
name. But we did nothing of the
kind. We did not even speak of the
language alluded to, because we were
enough to attribute 1t to the
heat of partisan feeling. Against
others who are assalling the demo-
cratic ticket at this time we have
heard numbers of men assert that they
ire cranks, crazy men, etc. Suppose
he Intelligencer were to fall into
inc, with epithets and abuse, would
We not have a beautiful canvass in
Lafayette county, On the one side,
'boss," "ring," "ringworm;" on the
other, "thief," "crank," "ass," "liar."
. happy state of affairs, truly.
That kind of political discussion pre-.
vailed over the country some years ago.
1t was tolerated then because of the
feelings engendered by the war.
1t will not be tolerated now. The man
who INDUCES in it will do so at the
cost of the respect of his fellow citizens,
and to the detriment of the cause which
he espouses. The people of Lafayette
county, both republicans and demo.
Gratis, r educated beyond the point
where discussion of that kind can
affect them favorahlv-
No doubt, as to dishonest politicians,
there should be "put in every honest
hand a whip, to lash the rascals naked
through the world ," but whilst this is
so, decency and morality demand that
honest, clean, reputable gentlemen in
politics shall not be covered with the
slime and spume of malignant epithets,
which while lacking the bravery OF
direct charges of wrong-doing would
by lnnuendo rob them of their good
name, the dearest heritage of their
wives and children.
Let us have done with this kind OF
let US substitute reason for
abuse. These men are in no ring; they
assume to boss no one. They took
their chances in the primary election,
in which every democrat was given an
to vote, just as others did.
The election was honestly conducted,
by gentlemen OF %undisputed integrity
and patriotism, who freely and for no
reward, consented to act as judges.
These men were intelligent enough 10
know their duty, and none will doubt
that they were brave and honest enough
to discharge it. The charge that any
considerable number of republicans
voted at the primary is unsupported by
any attempt at proof. The fact is, that
it is incapable of being sustained, and
is a SANDER and a libel upon the dem
ocratic party and the men who were
the guardians of its honor in the cleo.
ton, men of as high character rs the
county contains. 1t is they who are
assailed in the charge of unfairness Al
the primary, either in submitting te
the dictation of rings or bosses, or, fol
their own purposes, in corruptly per.
hitting republicans to vote.