Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-05-08
A LETTER FROM CAPTAIN JN0. W.
BROWN.

EDITOR Observation-Disclosures will
be very little inducement and poor en-
couragement for an officer to act hon.
estly and remain faithful i'll all things,
or in any thing, if the slime, filth and
gross injustice heaped upon the good
name and official acts and conduct of
w. B. Steel by the editor OF the Hig-
g~insville Advance, in the issue of that
paper of the Esd inst, can have any i'll
fuence with the voters of this county.
Such articles are a burning and blast
ing shame, and a disgrace to the paper
publishing them, and grossly insulting
to the morality, fairness and decency of
the people upon whom they are forced.
The editor of that paper is the post
master at Higginsville, and as such Of
ficer can he not find employment in his
Office instead of d~evoting his time to
the writing of bitter personal articles
concerning brother democrats and
brother officers
Was the position of postmaster Sc
cured for him that he might have and
enjoy the better opportunity and means
of sowing the seeds of discOrd and
dividing the democratic party in the
county ?
Was he appointed postmaster at Hig-
ginsville so that his newspaper could
be kept on its legs long enough to bat
tie against and break down the conf
dence and harmony Of the party by
spiteful, malicious personal assaults up
on individual members of the party !?
1t would seem so, provided he should
be permitted to retain the position now
so shamefully abused by him.
We have known w. B. Steele long
and intimately. We have watched his
official acts and conduct with the closest
scrutiny, and we find him to be the
very first man to oppose all unjust or
illegal claims against our county.
Among h many ruinOus and unjust
claims, are the outstanding bonds of
the county, and the many applicants
for a rebate on taxes belonging to the
county. He has ever stood firm to
compromise the bonds, and in opposing
rebates on taxes, and all other things
that tend to weaken our resources. |
myself went before the county court
for a rebate on taxes and he was the
very first man to say 10. Notwith-
standing have ever been an intimate
friend and a strong supporter of his,
since first he was hOnOred with a coun-
ty office, and as there are many other
parallel cases yet to come up in the
ear future to be settled. l say, let the
man who has long been acquainted
with our county's griefs, and battled
for her rights, go back and battle for
her still
am not afraid to say, and do now
say, that if one single solitary dlshOn-
est or corrupt act or deed can be proven
against him during his long official life,
then | will vote and work against him.
But l can't be made to waver in nv
support of this honest and faithful mar
and officer by the spite or malice, i'll
will or personal abuse of any man,
clique or paper.
Personal abuse can't and won't win
in this or any other campaign in La
fayette county. We want cOnscienti-
Gus discussion, not malicious u
ton.
If Steele has been guilty of a single
dishonest act, prove 1t and don't spare
him. But in the name of justice and
decency don't parade him before the
public in the press of the county and
cover his name and character with
filthy personal abuse, then implicitly
admit that you have nothing to offer
more serious or more decent.
MIR. Steele has made some enemies
all honest officers are bound to make
them; but come down to facts and you
will find that the most, if not all of
these enemies, were made by him
while fighting and contending for the
rights and the best interests OF the
people, and these enemies, so made not
being able to defeat him by fair resort
to foul means.
l. hope and believe that the people
will be as true as steel.
You will please publish this in your
paper this week. Respectfully,
j. w. BROWN.
Anllville, Mo-, May 3, 1886.