The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1896-08-08
try's prosperity and bring relief to a

try,s prosperity and bring relief to a
suffering people.
We demand the immediate restoration
of the free and unlimited coinage of
gold and silver at the present legal ratio
of IL to /, without waiting for the aid
or consent of any other nation.
We demand that the standard silver
dollar shall be a full legal tender, equally
with gold, for all debts, public and phi
Vate, and we favor such Legislation AS
will prevent the decentralization of any
kind OF legal tender money by private
contract.
In the field of national politics the
democratic party has placed itself so
emphatlcally on the side of the people
in their struggle against excessive taxa
ton, profligate expenditures and a
vicious monetary system, that on this
ground alone it would be entitled to the
support of every citizen who is in sym
pathy with the people in their effort to
bring about better conditions; but i'll
Missouri the party has a special claim
upon this support by reason OF It's record
in the administration of the state gov
eminent and finances.
The democratic party OF Missouri
offers as the best guarantee for the
future the wise and economical admin
istration of the affairs of the state since
it came into power in 1873. Orderly
SONCI UHltIlJ uilutI IL llDtIdl COIlSlllullOIl
has signaliZed the administration of our
state affairs under democratic authority,
which has been free from extravaganza,
OStraciSm and mlSrnle. When it came
into power in 1878 the democratic party
found a bonded debt of Sd ,76S 900, the
securities for which a been squan-
dered.
This debt has been paid off until only
S5,O97 900 in bonds remain unpaid.
While making this reduction i'll the
states Indebtedness the democratic
party has been liberal in furnishing eX-
cellent educational, el~eemOSynary and
penal institutions equal to those of any |
state in the Union; it has continually |
reduced taxation until the levy is now ,
but one-half of what it vas under re-
publican administration. Under the
last two democratic administrations the
tax levy has been reduced 10 cents on
the 500, or 374 per cent, a saving of
81 500 900 per annum to the taxpayers.
The entire tax levy for state purposes is
- cents on the 500 valuation; 10 cents
of this is for bond and interest fund to
pay principal upon the debt fastened
upon the people prior to 1873; 5 cents of
the same goes back to the people for the
support of the common schools, leaving
but 10 cents levy to pay all government
tai expenses. Including appropriations
for public buildings, schools, eleemosy-
nary and penal, support of the l
sity, normal schools, asylnms, reform
schools, penitentiaTy, for criminal costs
and salaries of officers, thuS giving to
the people more for the small sum of
money taken from them than does any
state in the American Union.
The continuance of democratic state
government means the tinal and full
payment of the state debt during the
next four years, with the possibility at
the end of that time of raising all state
taxes from corporations, leaving the
personal and real property in the coun-
Ties to be taxed only for county pur-
The public school system in Missouri
was founded by the act of February 6,
1887, under democratic supremacy. 1t
has bad its fullest fruition under demo-
cratic administration, until b money
in school funds of this state rave be-
among the largest possessed by
any commonwealth iii the union, amount
at this time To SD. 283 ,49l 10, beside
which Over ST.. 600 900 is invested in
the public school houses of the state.
The common schools and higher educa-
ton have been literally foStered, and
the school system OF Missouri. crowned
the state university, is famed for eX-
throughout the repubti'
We invite the attention of the people
y ' III - HaiHh wa CAhAA
1ence their verdict.
We pledge the democratic party, so
.ong as it is entrusted with power, to a
continuance of the wISe, economical
progressive policy That has marked
is past administrations.
We favor appropriations for the pub
ic s 'hoolS AS liberal as the states IN
cone will permit, and generous provis-
oil for the needs OF the state university
state normal5. We oppose any in
10y the stale with the parent s
.n%alienable right to control and direct
the childs education.
We favor an efficient road law that
will aid and encourage h improvement
If the public roads throughout the state.
We renew u demand for the enact
nent of laws by congress and the state
legislature that will compel railway
to adopt safety appliances
'or the protection of the lives and limbs
If their employees.
We favor all legislation that tends to
the condition of the work.
ngman and to elevate labor, and we
such amendments to b cOnStitu-
ion and such statutory laws as may be
to protect wage-earners from
heir employers. We also favor protect
ng the free labor of the state as far as
possible, and h general public inter
ests will permit, from competition with
prison labor.
We heartily endorse the present state
administration, for its patriotism, integ-
'itY, ability and economy, and commend
he enactment of a reform election law
or the cities of st. Louis and Kansas
Jity, passed at an extra session of the
legislature called by "a democratic gov
.rnor for that especial purpose, which
legislature would have placed upon the
books a fair and just fellow
Ieryant law, but for the conduct of the
epublican majority in the house of rep
esentatiYes.