Mexico weekly ledger., 1892-11-03
TIE DUTY OF DEMOCRATS.
70 the Editor of tbs Ledger.

10y
the Lincoln County Times, Oct,
Goth, 1892, signed "James M, Viii
it is not now my intention,
nor have | the time to review and
contradict many. of his statements
concerning the so-ealled ''late un-
pleasantness in the Ninth Congress
ional District | will call special
attention to but one serious, and,
as | hope, unintentional misstate-
ment, Mr.. Wilson makes and which
is next to an insult to as brave,
honest and fearless Democrats, as
ever cast a vote-''I mean the
Catholics" Coming from one of
the oldest and most respected Cath
Ole families in st. Louis, | am i'll Il
position to know whereof | speak,
when | declare that Catholics will
not be misled by mere assertions.
If Mr.. Wilson should ever again be
drawn into discussing political is
sues and candidates, let him re-
member, that if he expects to catch
Catholic votes for his pet hobbies,
he will first have to bring positive,
convincing facts and not mere hol-
low assertions.
In his review, Mr.. Wilson init
mates that if his wholesome CD
advice is not followed, the "a. P,
A" which, as he claims is now
raising its head, will be rampant in
our state. Can the reader fully
understand the meaning the above
sentence is to convey? 1t is an in
direct charge that Champ Clark is a
member of the A. P. A., and | now
unhesitatingly and forcibly denounce
this charge as wholly false. Yes.
brother Wilson, this is a matter Of
grave importance, and to Isl your
own words, "unless the seal of con.
demnation is set on such misrepre,
sensations by the good men of the
District, unless the snake IS killed;
unless the wolf is strangled in its
puppy hood, the effect will indeed
be far-reaching and should such
untenable and malicious misstate.
ments as you use hold good, then
indeed will the A. P. A. be ram
pant in our state" AS a Catholic.
and knowing Champ Clark as I do,
having lived in Pike county, the
past few years, l again publicly
denounce Mr.. Wilson'S charge as far
as Clark's supposed animosity to-
wards the Catholics is concerned,
as unqualifedly untrue, and | in
sist, and can prove that never, to
my knowledge, has there been a
fairer-minded man; as regards the
freedom of exercising ones own re-
ligious faith than Champ Clark.
Moreover, if Mr.. Clark is the A. P.
A. hyena that Mr.. Wilson would
have people believe, why in Gods
name, how was it that of the entire
vote at st. Clement e. strictly Cath
olic settlement) Clark got every sol
itary vote in the primaries, without
as much as an effort on his part or
that of his friends. I claim to be
as fair, as honest, as Democratic,
is truthful as Mr.. Wilson, yet, God
forbid that l should accuse, any
man, ever a political opponent of
u%ntenable, malicious charges I
could not prove.
The proof-positive and absolute,
is what we Catholics have a right to
demand of you, and in name of
justice, honor, I as a Catholic, de-
mand that you prove your asser-
tons. Let me warn you, Mr.. Will
son, that mere allegations and in
situations will not win you a single
Catholic vote.
Again, 1 say, never have Cath
olics had a better, truer and more
sincere friend than Champ Clark,
and Mr.. Wilson will have to learn
that Catholics, as a rule, and as
Democrats in particular, do not go
back on their friends.
CHAs. ]. DEGENHART,
Member of st. Clement parish !;
formerly member of Cathedral.
Alton, ILL.,, formerly member of st.
Vincent's Parish, st. Louis, Mo.
An Indignant Community,