Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-01-09
WHY MISSOURI Is DEMOCRATIC
From the Jefferson City,rribune.l

Strangers and people who do hot
study the matter closely no doubt Won
der frequently why it is that Missouri
is such solid democratic state. There
is nothing strange about this condition
Of affairs when the past and present
history of the state is examined Mis-
souri, Is democratic rs 4 matter of
,nice aud likewise as q matter of pro-
lection.
Shortly after the commencement of
the civil war the republicans assumed
bayonet rule over Missouri and were
not dislodged until 1870. During this
period nearly every county in the stale
was swamped with debts. Many of
the county courts were presided over
by tree bOOters, who came into Office
beggars OH foot and went out on horse
back. They voted away the peoples
money with impunity, and to accase
one of them of committing wrong
act was treason of the most daring
nature Lite and property were only
safe to those who were SO blind that
they could see nothing wrong in the
acts of the free-bOoters.
But this condition OF affairs could
not last always. Missouri possessed
men who were as fearless as thev were
honest. Such union soldiers as Hou.
Frank p. Blair, Gen. James Craig,
Judge John Philips. ex-Gev. Critten-
den, ex-Gov. John 3. Phelps and
host of others assaiIed the free hooters
from every stump in the state. They
were threatened and cursed alternate
ly, but they waxed stronger, and final
ly, in 1870, aided by such men as B.
Gratz Brown, Carl Schurz, Z F.
johnson and the entire democratic
party, they stOrmed and carried the
Notifications of the republicans. Then
| the golden era of Missouri commenced.
Two years later the last relic of re-
publican misrule, save state, county
and municipal Indebtedness, was oblit-
Grated. Then the democrats commence
ed looking about them to see what they
had gained. The outlook was not
cheerful. The credit of the state was
practically thing of the past; many
of the counties were hopelessly in debt.
and everything bore the marks of
ruthless despollers. Had the men then
in control Of the government been pos
sessed of the single desire to gain per-
sonal hODors during the short official
terms of their Offices, they would have
resigned and said to the republican
party: "Here is the government OF
Missouri. The credit of the state, as
well as the counties, is completely
worthless. You cannot possibly hurt
the state any worse than what you
have. 80 go ahead and take what little,
there is left"
But this was not the course pursued.
The democrats at once commenced
making order out of chaos. The
state was working under robber con-
stitution, and consequently a new one
1oFee. haS TO 9e n,g6 0%Raii was built between
the jobbers and public money when
this constitution was adopted Then
the credit of the state commenced to
revive and show signs of life. All
abuses in public offices were at once
stopped and the state began to prosper.
All this happened ten years ago and
over. What ia Missouri TODAY COM
pared with what she was when the
democrats came into power? She is a
great state now, while under repub.i-
can rule she was practically bankrupt.
This is one difference, and one OF con-
siderable importance. Another one is
that, SO long as the democrats remain
in power, the credit OF the state can
never be appreciated. Equal rights
are extended to all Life and property
is safe. The school fund is the largest
possessed by any state III the Union,
Texas alone excepted.
| Under this condition of affairs is it
any wonder that Missouri is demo-
cratic. Taxpayers have no induce-
ments to vote TO return to power n par
ty which impoverished the people with
taxes aud denied the right OF suffrage
to as good men as ever lived in this or
anv other state. This is why Missouri
is democratic and why she will con-
tlnue SO in the future. This is why the
msjority is large and continues to grow
from year to year. Is il any wonder
that the old men who were prescribed
and politically ostracised for NJ other
reason than because they were demo-
Gratis, learn their sons to never scratch
ticket3 Is it any wonder that the
majority continues large when Lublic
debts are being continually reduced
and taxes growing less and less under
democratic ruler 1t certainly appears
to be no wonder, and this fully ex.
rlains why Missouri is democratic an,l
why she will remain so long as rem
nant of the republican party is in ex
isfance