The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-10-27

same General Assemblies that frittercd away
the rights and interests of the people in the
sale of the railroad property.
If any man doubts the correctness of these
figures the vouchers can be found and eX-
amincd by anyone in the State Auditors
office.
The Democratic party point with pride to
their record in the management of the public
schools of the State. In the Republican period
there was expended for public school pur-
poses 81 ,662, 900. Under Democratic control
we have paid directly from the State treas
ury to the Board of Public Schools IS, 925, 600;
during the last two years they have received
81, 527, coo. onc-third of the revenue having
been appropriated for their support. 1t is
true of the Democratic party that during the
sixteen years of their control they have in
creased the permanent school fund of the
State from S2,624,OOO to 49, 36, 900; the en-.
downent fund of the State University has been
increased from SOS, 600 to S52S, 600. Not only
that, fellow citizens, but il has not been forget
full of the higher education and public chart
ties, to which the people of every enlightened
republic is entitled. We have built three
normal schools at a cost of some 100000. We
have reconstructed the State University at
an expenditure of SIZE. 900. We have erected
an asylum for the insane at st. Joseph at a
cost to the State of $3.50, 900, and a like sum
has been expended on an institution at Ne
vada, which is a source of pride and congrat-
ulation to the.people, being one of the most per-
feet of it's kind in the Union. All this has been
done whilst a continued decrease in the rate
of taxes has been going on. In 1865, when the
Republican party came into power after the
war, the rate of taxes was 32 cents on the
800. In 1864 or 1865 it was in
--- A M ---a r coo A.. -I.-- ~
again to 65 cents. In 1868 to SIS cents. The
Democratic party in 1875 reduced the rate to
40 cents. What a contrast is this, fellow citi-
zens, with the rate of taxes that prevailed in
our sister State Of Illinois. The taxes in Iii
nois under Democratic rule didn't exceed 25
cents on the 800, and that was the rate when
the Republicans came into power, but to-day
it has reached the enormous sum of SO cents
on the 500, and that in face of the fact that
the Illinois Central Railroad pays into that
State $3.50, 000-a sum amply sufficient to
maintain the cost of the State government
proper.
Thus, gentlemen, I have presented to you
briefly and imperfectly din contrast the mau-
agement of the affairs of this State by the
two great political parties. If you believe
that it were better to turn from the present
plan of economy to the old plan of profigacy
IN the public expend1tureS-lf you believe
that the prosperity and happiness of the
people can come to you by repeating the
scenes at jefferson City that prevailed dur
ing the time the Republican party was in
power-then I say to you it is your duty to
vote the Republican ticket at the coming
election. But if you believe that economy in
the public expenditures, and an impartial en-
forcement of the laws, would bring prosper
ity and peace to the people, then vote for the
nominees of the Democratic party and con-
tinue the party in power which has shown by
its acts, through sixteen years, that it is en-
titled to your confidence and support.