The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1894-09-29
UNADULTERATED DEMOCRACY.
W. Lehman Who Spoke Here
Tuesday, September 18.

Two years ago, although there were a
president and congress tO he elected, our
republican friends were reluctant to
discuss national issues. They wished
u devote themselves exclusively to state
affairs, and they promised in respect of
these that if they were entrusted with
power they would. by some process not
explained, transform what they char
acteriZed as the poor old Missouri" of
the past, to some kind of a new-fangled,
wide-Open Missouri of the future. But
the people of the state did not take
kindly tn the programme. They said 1t
Is true that democratic Missouri does
not boom as high as republican Kansas
does in some years, but neither does ii
beg as hard i'll other years. Besides, We
have had some experience of republican
administration which we have not for
gotten, and which we are unwilling to
repeat.
So far as state administration is con-
cerned, the people of Missouri have no
occasion to he ashamed of their repre-
sentatives. During the last decade, the
public Indebtedness has been reduced
nearly $9,O0O,OOO, while such of the
remaining debt as could be refunded
was refunded at the low interest rate Of
three and One-half per cent. In the
meantime the levy for general purposes
of the state, excluding provision for the
debt, was brought down to one and one
half mills OH the dollar. A continual
reduction of Indebtedness, a low interest
rate, and a low tax levy. these are the
evidences, and not only the evidences,
but the elements, of good administration
This year our republican friends are
disposed to let state affairs alone and to
flaul nyclnoivaly xyith national ftoro
We need not fear to meet them on that
ground.
They jeer and jibe us because of the
halting course of congress on the tariff
and, pointing to the results Mt last OBJ
tained. they ask il these come up 10 the
measure of democratic promise and
expectation. We may frankly express
our disappointment. The senate bill is
not what we promised; it is not what
we wished; it is not what we had good
right to expect.
There is indeed a marked contrast
between the history of the Wilson bill
and the history Of the Mckinley bill.
The Mckinley bill was passed without
difficulty, and substantially as its authors
framed 1t. The Wilson bill was passed
with the greatest difiicultv and not till II
had been by amendment shorp of many
vi ltS uiOSt UoucIClclt lctluTcS. WHY
this diffierencep The answer is to be
found in the nature of the two bills. The
Mckinley bill was bill to increase tay-
alton. The Wilson bill was q billto
reduce taxation. Under our system OF
indirect taxation, system Of duties
upon imported commodities, 1t will
always be easy for the party of high
taxation to carry out its programme, and
always hard for the party Of low taxa
ton to carry out its programme. Low
taxation Is in the general interest. High
taxation is In some special interest. The
general interest is usually lukewarm and
only spasmodically aggressive. Special
interests are always on the alert and
watchful to take advantage of every
opportunity. The Mckinley bill, fol
example, largely increased the duty on
tin plate. In speech at Burlington, la.
made in 1890, Speaker Reed said that
this duty increased the cost Of tin cur