Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-08-28
DEMOCRATIC MISSOURI.
From the st. Louis Republican.

r TOM Tue OF. LOUIS htpuuiltdu.l
There is apparently no good reason of
existence for a republican party in Mis-
souri,, and it would seem to be quite
the proper and discreet thing for that
combination of misguided persons to
cease their wranglings owe empty
questions, and, in imitation of the SINH
lar bodies in some of the southern states
retire indefinitely from the field.
We do not mean to imply that there
is not a tolerable showing of exemplary
and useful citizens who afford enter
tainment which the state would reluc-
family lose in the abandonment of that
party-nor that. when it polls its full
vote, under a popular leader, it does
not make a rather creditable appear
ance. But admitting all the problema-
teal virtues and good intentions it lays
claim to at this day, what improvement
ia the condition of things could it hope
to bring about? Has not democratic
rule in Missouri in the last sixteen or
eighteen years presented such a sturdy
growth in education, population, tenn
perance, public order, general prosper
ity and popular contentedness, as to
make even a proposition for change
luouIlllSSlOIC Aoo
has increased from $475 900 900 to
1921, OOO, 900; the state debt has been
reduced one-halt; the harassing, and in
many cases ~fraudulently contracted,
county debts have been readjusted and
placed in process OF peaceful payment ;
the state chOol moneys annually dis
tributed have been augmented to $780,
600, and the school district taxes to 3d.
ON nnn, tY,1 okox1 u.1sk I~. loo~ 49,
ed from a borrowing rate OF 6 per cent.
to 3 per cent. n hundred of the ia
counties in the state have one Or
railroads; the state tax has been reduc-
ed from so to 40 cents, and the time
can already be toreseen when all the
revenue required may be raised from
railwayand other corporations andlicen-
ses, without any state tax whatever OH
property. The multiplication OF school
houses, churches and manufacturing
enterprises, the rapid extension of the
titled area, the increase of staple crops,
and the marked development of stock
breeding show a people growing in
all the elements of prosperity and pow
er unvexed by harassing agitatiOns,
and dwelling together in a cordial
amity. When we add to this a civil
service free from defalcatiOns and EN-
bezzlements, and marked by probity
and economy both at the state capital
and in the county administrations, we
have a complete picture of a well-gov-
erned state and a people satisfied with
themselves and with the world.
What more could be asked? Is not
democratic Missouri the most desirable
state in the Union to live in? And is
not. this demonstrated by the large
accessions to our population that have
come and are still coming from the
North?
We do not underrate the pleasant
animation which the republican row.
dydows impart to our politics; but is
not the cost of this diversion more
than it is worth? Does not a sound
economy dictate that the republicans
save the breath, money and muscular
energy they are wasting, cease holding
conventions, abandon their party Or
gamzation, making an unconditional
surrender to the party that governs
Missouri so satisfactorily, and enter
into q compact to leave the state in
the hands of the democracy as long as
it behaves itself as at present.