Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-10-02
JUDGEPHILIPgKU KUMP HALL SPEECH

JUDGE PHILIPSKUMP HALL SPEECH.
On the evening of Monday, Septem-
ber goth, at Kump's Hall, Kansas City,
Judge Jno. F. Philips, democratic
candidate for congress in the fifth dis
trict, spoke before All immense and
enthusiastic audience as follows:-
Mr.. Chairman and Fellow Citizens
In republic like ours, reposing for its
strength and security upon the intelli-
gence and virtue of the people express
ed and enforced through the ballot,
public discussion of measures of pub
lie concern, when properly conducted,
is not only permissible but is expedi-
ent and healthful. BY this means and
this agency we are brought eye to eye
and face to face, and in the compari-
SONS and interchange of views and
opinions we are often brought upon
common plane of observation, of feel
ing and sentiment; and in this way the
citizen is enabled to know and under
stand for whom and for what he is
called upon to cast his ballot. For in
a republican form of government, be
it ever remembered by the citizen, the
ballot is his proudest heritage and
| richest Jewel. 1t IS his buckler and his
SHIELD; it is at once his weapon Of
offense and defense. 1t is the great
| equalizer in our political system,
| 1t is that which makes the weak equal
to the strong, the poor man the equal
and peer of the rich. 1t is the amulet
| of the citizens protection, and it is the
last right that he should barter away.
| CApplause. Since the days when
! Esau bartered away his birthright for
miserable mess of pottage there has
been nor can be no greater outrage
| perpetrated by the citizen upon his
government and upon the individuality
of his manhood than to carelessly sac
rifice his ballot, and a man who barters
for it, who purchases it and takes away
from the citizen his free consent in the
| exercise of it., commits a felOmOus
assault upon the integrity of the coun-
try; he stabs it to its very vitals, and
he is as much guilty of treason as he
who leads All open revolt or under
takes to produce state of anarchy in
the country. Applause
therefore open this campaign before
this meeting by saying to my fellow
citizens, that [ charge you to guard
well that ballot ,toconsider anylman vino
attempts to trife with it as public
enemy, and as your personal toe.
Guard it as you would your personal
honor and the good name and virtue
of your mother.
am before you, as has been an
nounced, fellow citizens. as candidate
for a high and important Office. 1t Is
not one of my seeking, it is not one
desire, and if ever there was in the
state of Missouri genuine instance in
which the Office sought the man and
not the man the Office it was in my
nomination. But, having consented tt
be the democratic standard bearer
IDEsIRE TO BE ELECTED
and expect to be, and all ask of yot
here to might, or propose 10 ask during
this campaign of the people of the dis
trict is fair audience, and fair, hon
Orable treatment. l have only to tel
you that want hearing for my cause
and my country, and whatever may bt
the result of this contest one thing, a
r least, am sure of, and that is, that
shall come out of it with my self-res.
, pect preserved and my party's banner
clasped about my breast. [Applause..
stand before you surrounded by NJ
local potent influence, surrounded
by no kindred, backed by no wealth
but stand before this people simply
upon my manhood and my principles
? and by these 1 propose to stand o.
fall, Applause.
recognize, fellow citizens, the fac
that ouc modern politics has becom,
quite practical. The questions will
which and upon which the legislato
e is called upon to deal and to act AZ,
principally economic, and when we ge
into congress and get to voting upol
: measures and legislation we divide les
r very largely by local consideration
and surroundings. And yet nothwilh
o. standing this potent fact that an homes
man must confess, there still remail
o differences i'll principle-difference il
are yet broad and distinct. If | were
v asked here tonight, as public man
to state in brief what are the great con
trolling fundamental differences tina
divide the democratic and republican
party, | would answer in few word
that the one keeps close to the constitu
ton of the country and to the people
while the other is engaged in constau
struggle either to get outside Of tn
constitution or to break through it
barriers in search of doubtful expedi
ents. ahd is trying to tear power frOI
the people and constitute it Ill that in
tangible thing known as federal gov
ernment, which under its control
constantly slipping away from III
many and is being concentrated in tn
hands of the few. [Applause.l
1t is q constant encrOachment an
breaking down of the autonomy {
communities and an attempt to over
ride and overawe the manhood and il
dividuality of the American citizel
Applause Its maxim Is that of MOI
archy, strong government, while tn
democratic party believes and hold
with Humboldt, that the great purpos
toward which every human bein
should ceaselessly exert his efforts all
on which the public man VINO seeks [
control public opinion and public su
frage should constantly keep his eye
is the individuality of power and re
sponsibility. The thought that w;
canonized by the founder of the demo
cratic party and that has been crystal
lied into the public history is gove-l
ment of the people, by the people an
for the people. Why, fellow citizen
the history OF manhood itself is but
struggle of communities, and of indi
viduals of self assertion. What wa
the influence of Moses when he smo
" the Egyptian, the efforts of Plato, IL
of idea of Martin Luther, the politic
convictions of Joan of Arc-all to ~ al
of the one common inspiration of til
O human soul for individual freedom an
- personal independence. 1t was tn,
a, which gathered the sturdy commonel
:" of England 600 years ago. and mac
the tyrant king sign
- THE ACT OF MAGMA CHARTA.
Applause 1t was that that sent til
~ Maytiower to Plymouth rock. 1t ws
that, fellOw-citizens, which guided til
DO hand of Thomas jefferson in the draf
ing of the Declaration of Independenc
DO, I'd it was that that inspired the COZ
5tltution itsels, that which inspired tt
n formation of that unmatched instri
ment. [Applause.l
90 The controlling thought, and wis
to emphasize this upon the people t,
M night, because it means and signiiiC
w something, the controlling thought