Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-08-06
:, THURSDAY. AUGUST s. 1896.


demned them to the galloNs. as it had
condemed the others.
In pardoning the men. Governor Alt
geld only did his duty as he believed
it. He was denounced for it not be
cause he did wrong, but because he
did wrong, but because he was bold
enough and democratic enough to do
what he conceived to be his duty, in
the fact of the protests of sensational
newspapers. There is not response
bic business man in Chicago to-day
who will say that he believes the gov
ernor of Illinois is an anarchist. or
that he is not opposed to all forms OF
disorder and lawlessness.
Another charge against Governor
Altgeld is that he refused to maintain
law and order during the late Chicago
riots. There is not word of truth in
that charge. Wellknown railway and
business men-men who are interested
In maintaining law and order-de-
clare that there was not a moment dur
ing the strikes when the governor was
not ready to restore order. He showed
his willingness by maintaining perfect
order along the lines of the great rail-
ways going out of Chicago. This is
the testimony of the most prominent
railway managers of the west
The question naturally arises, if
Governor Altgeld was so anxious to
put down rioting, why did he fail to
restore order in Chicago? The answer
is simple and conclusive. He was
never called on to put it down. At
the very beginning CT the troubles he
placed himself in communication with
Hopkins, the goldbug mayor, inform
ing him that whenever he felt himself
powerless to cope with the mob, the
authorities of the State were ready to-
take hold of the matter and restore
order. Gov. Altgeld was never called
Oh' hC LAa VI anu IAC CLCLACub oC
hind him, despising Altgeld because
he is Democrat, and thinking to hu-
initiate him, invoked other aid.
Thus occurred this celebrated rape
of constitutional Democracy. Gov.
Altgeld was not humiliated. but the
rights of sovereign State were Invad-
ed and the Democratic party grievous-
ly assaulted.
Why, then. it may be asked, should
certain elements in Chicago unite to
denounce Governor Alsgeld as an ''an-
archist?" First and foremost, because
he is a genuine Democrat who can |
neither be bought, bribed. cajoled or
bull-dozed in the performance of his |
duty. When he went into the Gov
ernor's Office. he found that the land
occupied by certain prominent build
ing in Chicago belonged to the public
school fund. It had been occupied |
without rent for twenty-seven years.
The Governor Immediately collected |
this rent and has been promptly col
Iecting it ever since. Out OF tie
building on this land issues a news
paper. and it is this newspaper that
has been one of the chief sl2nderers OF
the Democratic Governor.
Many of the southern delegates to
the Chicago convention were in a posi-
tion to investigate the charges against
Governor Altgeld. Those who did so
not only found that they were untrue,
put heard some of the best business
men of that city pay high tributes to
the wisdom, conservatism and cour
age of the Democratic Governor. His
of State affairs has
been clean, consistent and wise. His
success is best attested by the hold he
has on the common people. He is the |
most popular man in Illinois to-day.
and as true Democrat as can be found
In the country. Atlanta (Go.,J Con-
stitutiOa.