The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-10-27
DENOCRACY'S RECORD.
WHAT THE PARTY HAS DONE FOR TIE
STATE OF MISSOURI.
Mr.. Cnmpbe11 Contrasts 1t With Repub-
lfcan Rule Railroads and Land
Grnuts-Guarding the Finan-
ciaI Interests Of the State.


FELLow-~CITIZESs-On the 9th of November
the American people will be called upon to
elect a President and Vice-President of the
United States, and the people of this State
will select n Governor and other executive
officers to administer the affairs of the gov
eminent and State for the next four years.
The recurrence of this quadrennial period
devolves upon the citizens of the State the
highest duty of American citizenship.
congratulate you, fellow-citizens, upon the
character Of the nominees of the Democratic
party for the Offices of President and Vice
President of the United States and upon the
ticket which is presented for your suffrage in
this State.
Grover Cleveland and Allen G.. Thurman
need no eulogy at my hands; the record
which they have made as public officers stamp
them as eminently qualified for the high po-
sition to which our party seeks to assign
them. TIL issue presented to your considera-
ton and for your decision at the election is
one of taxation and the preservation of the
rights and wages of the laboring people of
this country.
1t is a question as to whether the high taxes
that succeeded and were made necessary by
the war, should be continued without regard
to the needs of the government, or whether
taxes should be reduced so as to yield an
amount necessary to maintain the govern
ment economically administered, and thereby
tighten the burden of the farmer, the me-
chanic and the laborer in all the vocations Of
life.
Upon this issue the two great political
parties ave declared themselves. The Dem
ocratic party has announced itself in favor of
n rniDrm Of tho tDpif lopvs nf tho country 10
the end that the laborer and the product of his
labor shall not be uniustly burdened.
The Republican party, III it's declaration of
principles, has said that the onerous taxes of
the present unjust tariff law shall be con-
tinued; and, if any rebatement is necessary,
1t shall be secured by free whiskey and to-
bacco." The administration of tho govern
ment during the term of President Cleveland
by the adoption of wise and conservative
measures greatly promoted the prosperity of
the people. The unwise and improvident
policy of the Republican party touching the
management of the public lands has been re-
versed, and it has reclaimed from railway
corporations and restored to tho people nearly
100, GOO, 900 of acres of valuable land. 1t has
paid outfor more pensions and bounties to the
soldiers and sailors of the Union thar was
ever paid before during the same length
of time, and by a judicious and economical
expenditure of the public moneys it has in
augurated the building of q navy which,
within the short space of four years, will put
upon the seas new vessels to the number OF
twenty-five or thirty. 1t has pursued a pru-
dent foreign policy, while courteously main
tanning all the rights and interests of our
own people; it has preserved peace with all
nations of the world. BY treaty stipulation
II nttnmntn1 IN nyplu1n from, oI,r Gharag
Chinese laborers, but which, by reason of the
long delay on the part of the Republican
Senate in its ratification, we ave informa-
ton now that it has been rejected by the
Chinese government, but there is now in the
hands of the President for his approval q
bill which he will most certainly sign that
will effectively exclude Chinese laborers from
competition with the labor of the people of
the United States.
The public service has been brought to the
highest point of efficiency by prudent and
wise business methods in all departments
and an honest fulhlment of the requirements
of the civil-service law.
1t is upon this record, made by the Presi-
dent of the United States, that his party has
selected him as its standard bearer aud asks
an Endorsement of his policy by his re-elec-
ton to the high office which he now holds.
it is not my purpose to discuss at any
length national politics. That 1 will leave to
the gentlemen succeeding me upon this occa-
sion.
The Democratic party has been in power in
this State for the past sixteen years, and it
comes before the people of the State asking u
continuance of their confidence in the man
agement of public affairs, and as a guarantee
of the honest and faithful discharge of the
public trust to be imposed in it, points to its
past record as guaranty of its future conduct.
1t has been proclaimed by Republican jour
nails and orators that a change il the manage
ment of affairs of the State would result in
great prosperity to the people; that land
would be enhanced % per cent. in value;
that we would have such an influx of popu-
lation as has not been witnessed at any
former period in our history. Now, if this is
true, if this great prosperity Is to come to us
by reason of this change in the management
of the public interests, |, for one, unhcsitat-
ingly say that it would be the duty of every
citizen TO vote the Republican ticket. But is
it true? What guarantee do these gentlemen
give us hat if the Republican party is in
trusted with the management of this great
State that this unexampled prosperity will
take place! We have no way of Judging the
future but by the past, and Judging by the past,
| am COIlpelIcu 10 Say IndJ instead Oh prosperity
the reverse would onsue. 1t so happened that
for eight years Immediately succeeding the
war the Republican party had ahso-
lutte control of the executive legislation,
and Judicial departments of the State
Almost every executive Office
was filled by Republicans. Now, l propose to
institute comparison between their manage
mcnt during their eight years reign, and the
sixteen years of Democratic rule. The affairs
of a State are in almost every essential par
ticularly identical with those of Il great bust
ness concern. IL is the duty OF a State gov
crnmcnt to levy and collect taxes, and make
such laws as may be necessary to preserve
the peace and quiet Of the community ana to
enforce contracts and obligations between the
citizens, and to provide for the expenses of
the three departments of the government, the
executive, judicial and legislative. Now,
the test of fitness in the management of the
business affairs of life, as well as the business
affairs OF the State can only be determined by
the amount of money taken from the
people by taxation to meet the nee
essary wants of the government, and that
government which Is eXtravagant or prOili-
gate in its expenditures in carrying on the
various functions OF the State is not to be
trusted with its extraordinary powers when
there is another party at hand who adopts
tine opposite policy of economic and providrnt
expenditures.
rha TNyant " Third TNyrnf " Fourth Twpn