The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-06-15
THE MARMADUKE MONUMENT.

THE MAhMADUkh NUM- MINT.
Some OF our democratic exchanges
are c%ensuring the late legislature for re
iusing to vote an appropriation of 49,
600 to erect a monument v c the grave
of Governor MarmaduEc.
The Democrat opposed the bill wheI
IL was first introduced, to appropriate
So 900 or any other suin tor such II pur
pose. We contend that there was
neither law nor precedent to apprOpri
ate money for any such purpose. The
state had just as well appropriate mon
ey to erect a monument TO one govern
or as another. Ii a monument has tC
be erected TO Marmaduke, erect II fol
Jackson, Price, Phelps, Polk and the
rest of the dead governors. BY and by
Fletcher and McClurg will need one.
There is no money i'm the state treas
ury for any such purpose. The monu'
ment racket at public expense is large
ly overdone. Let the personal friends
of Gov. Marmaduke erect the monu-
ment. The democratic party nor nc
other party has the right to squandel
the peoples money for monuments to
Missouri's governors.
1t is needless to say that we were a
personal and political friend of govern
or Marmaduke, aud if a private sub
| scriptiOn is to be raised TO mark his
grave with a monument, we shall
claim the privilege OF contributing oui
mite.
The above is from our esteemed con
temporary, the Odessa Democrat, and
as we advocated an appropriation for
the erection of a modest monument
over the grave of Gov. Marmaduke we
shall say why we differed from our
contemporary. We will premise by
admitting that the Democrat is on
good democratic ground when it de-
tends the treasury against unwise or
unauthorized appropriations; that it is
correct when it says no party has a
right to squander the peoples money
for monuments to governors any more
than to any other persons. OF course
the state has a right to appropriate
money for whatever it may choose
because the state is sovereign oyer all,
ever the constitution.
Again, 1t is not the sum that we care
anything about, for if five hundred or q
thousand dollars will build a suitable
monument let that be appropriated,
and that only. 1t is the principle at
issue with which we have to do. The
writer of this article has personally
known Governors Marmaduke, Phelps,
Brown, Jackson, Stewart, Polk, Price
and King, who are all now dead.
Governors Phelps, Brown, jackson,
Stewart, Polk and Price he knew init
mately and well, indeed had a warm
regard and affection for, and would
like to see their memory honored by
suitable monuments and in every other
way, yet over none OF their graves
would we advocate that the state
should erect a monument. Why? Be.
cause we love them less? Not at all /;
but because it would be contrary to
public policy. In the case of Governor
Marmaduke it is different. Not only
did he die with the gnbernatorial har-
ness Oh his back, but his bones are in
TERED in state property. Anybody
who desires to do so car erect a monu-
ment over the grave of the other heroic
governors of Missouri, but no one can
move a clod or cut q brush over the
grave of John s. Marmadake without
first obtaining permission from the
state of Missouri. He lies buried in a
cemetery lot which belongs TO the
state. 1t is the duty Of the state to
care for and enbellish it, land so far from
u contemporary being correct in its
view ''that there Is neither law nor
precedent to appropriate money for
any such purpose" tho iruth is that
every legislature appropriates money
for the identifying of this lot. We
have not time TO search the records to
see how often it has appropri ated
money TO erect stones over graves there,
bnt in the session acts of 1879, page
II, will be found an appropriation 40
erect a monument e. the remains of
the Hon. Thomas j Powell, late repre-
sentative in the twerty-eighlh gen
eral assembly OF the state of Missouri,
who died at the capital, during his
term of office" The sum was small,
granted, only, one hundred and ffIy
dollars, but the principle is the same
We are ready TO admit that this leg
iSlalure, aud that legislature, every
Legislature for that matter, a~ppropriates
money which it should not, bnt that
is foreign TO This discussion which
should stand or fall on It's own merits.
Because the people OF Missouri in their
individual capacity have neglected the
graves of Jun Green, Sterling Price,
Jno. s. Phelps and other great aud
good men who have served them, let it
not be said that the state in ITS GUlinc-
tive capacity. where the circumstances
place the duty upon IT'S shoulders, neg
lects to perform it. 1t has been o;,en
alleged that republics are uugrateful.
Shall il be said of us, Missouriaus
Here is a man who devoted his whole
liie to his state. First as soldier, then
graphing fearlessly, iDcorruptibly and
ably with the question OF corporate
privileges and powers, and at last in
the highest place within the gilt of the
people, as governor. Always brave ,
always chivaIrous, always with but Que
beacon light-duty to lead him on his
way, las gallant as n Raleigh, as intrepid
ss a Cenr dc Lion, as firm az adamant ,
and in public trusts rs pure a. snow,
his mother, the state of Missouri, owes
ii TO him TO put II stone at the head of
his grave to mark the place where lie
under the egiS of carr and power the
ashes of what is the noblest work of
God, an honest man.
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