The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-07-07
CONSIDER, ~DEMOORATS

EDITOR lNTELLIGENCER:-The day
set for the primary election is at hand.
Democrats of Lafayette county arc
again to choose men To fill the different
offices; aud now fellow democrats, let us
reason together. There are many good
men IN the field, as candidates.
Doubtless each man has his friends,
both personal and political; and each
man. In his own Judgment, believes he
has the greatest claim on the people.
Therefore we have been largely con-
trOlled in our choice of men by u varie-
ty of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES friend
ship" ''sympathy, "''looation," "active
partisanship ;",these, and many others,
have all more or less determined Il
conduct or Influenced us to u greater
or less extent. Seldom have we paused
to consider that which should be, in
all cases, the prime reason and give
direction to our choice. The question
as to whether a candidate is qualified
is seldom asked. We hear much of
such twaddle as "he's a good fellow"
"a clever man" '.needs it," "always
been an active democrat, twas a good
soldier" etc., etc. All snch talk 10 well
enough; but. fellow democrats, does
the possession of all these characters
tics fit q man for the discharge of the
duties devolving on public oficialsr
Should we not consider qualities OF
so5riety, honesty, proper business
qualifications as paramount to all such
balderdash2 In fact, il as defined by
our great president, "Public office ia a
public trust" ought we not 10 see to
it that those we put in Office have all
the necessary qualifications to make
them trust orthy? Is a man wholly
without clerical ability fitted to fill an
Office the duties OF which are purely
clerical? Are we to risk and jeopardize
the public service merely to tolerate or
give c~ountenance to an absurd notion
that any nan can fll any Office? Or are
we to reject q man whom we know to
be eminently qualified simply because
public opinion not always impartial
has brought In q verdict of ''not q good
fellow" or because he served in some
bOdy's army twenty-five years ago, or
he didn't serve In either of the armies,
and therefore not entitled to consider.
alton; or shall we, as democrats ,
raise the bloody shirt issue against q
"Oitbs uiOu1DS vi Jul purity WnO occho
our suffrages, and then denounce the
republican party tor doing the same
thing2 Again let US reason together.
We live in a grand county. susceptible
of vast production, unlimited in
resources OF wealth, aud second to
none in intelligence culture and morals.
Are these things to figure in our choice
of county officers? Are we to select
representative men who shall reflect
this boosted intelligence and culture,
or, are we TO disregard all these and
blindly follow and vote for the one who
has purchased the greatest number of
''pullers" at the polls or Influenced
voters by a generous cultivation OF
6eericai quail f1cations. 1t is not Deces-
sary In this article to mention names.
We have men before us seeking the
nomination for the different offices who
possess all the qualifications required.
Many OF them are known to almost
every man, woman and child in the
county. Some of them have prOUen
themselves thoroughly competent, and
in conclusion, fellow democrats, let US
support that kind Of men.
AN OLD DEMOCRAT.