The Cape Girardeau Democrat., 1897-01-16
PENAL


| sons admitted to these institutions has filled
most OF them to their maximum capacity, and
| the administration has been at times greatly
| embarrassed on that account. But nOtwith-
am able to state that all the public institu-
tions of all kinds are in excellent condition.
most OF them In far better condition than they
have been for many years.
PUBLIC ORDER, ETC.
In January, 1895, at the cOnvening of the
Thirty eighth general assembly. iL my aHnu;4.
message of that date, took occasion to review
the occurrences OF the preceding two years,
constituting the first half OF this adminiStra-
tion. Those were trOublOuS years in the United
States They stand almost unparalleled in
quency, the wide extent and vehement pur-
pose, OF the industrial upheavalS that shook
The country. During that period We had the
| "Coxey movement. the great coal strike, the
great railroad strike under the leadership OF
the American Railway Union, and numerous
other strikes OF less Importance, but scarcely
less significance. To preserve the public
peace and for the protection OF life
and property the authorities Of dozen
states surrounding Missouri in every
direction found it necessary to call out
their military forces; AMI in some of The states
even the army OF the United States was en-
piOyed-althOugh have always thought and
coutendei that that action on the part Of the
national government was unnecessary and
could not be justified except under the most
latltudInarian construction OF the federal con-
Stltution Not only were the states referred
to converted INTO great military camps but
they were the theater OF frequent scenes Of tu-
mutt and Slnguinary conflicts. Although Mis-
souri, had several large cities within her Dor
derS; although she had y go men employed in
operating her railroads, and lO,OOO in operating
her coal mines; and although she occupied the
very center Of the region where the storm
ragged the tierceSt, she stood. if not serene, at
least comparatively unmoved amid Shocks that
strained the powers OF her sister states to
their utmost limits. In this commonwealth
there were no lawless disturbances ex-
s.anT ~ farrr md
hose of little moment anu OF short
duration. No lives were lost, no blood was
spilled. no property destroyed, and soldier
was put INTO the field. While cnti ely prepared
to employ extraordinary force if necessary,
preferred 10 rely the civil authority TO
maintain the pcace-and we were happy TO
find that authority sufficient for every cmer-
gency. No man more than ] appreciates the
Importance, or more earnestly advocates the
maintenance of Il thOroughly-di~ciplined and
well-equipped military organization: it is a
great conservative force, and is necessary i'll
all large communities to meet extraordinary
emergencies. but l am utterly opposed to an
inji>criminate or haSty of the military
power in civil affairs. believe it will rarely
happen in this country that the civil officers
and the posse cOmitatuS will not be abe to
preserve Orler and protect the rights Of
all. Our people should not be accustomed
To the habit OF using or relying upon
the military. Such a habit tends to de-
stroy the self-reliance and independence OF
the citizen. to unduly eXalt the military and to
diminish the dignity of the civil authority.
The frequent use Of military force accuStOmS
the people to its presence and bcgetS a grow
ing disposition To rely upon it. Whenever the
disposition to depend upon the bayOnetS of the
army for protection becomes fixed in the minds
OF the people, We will have reached point full
OF danger to our institutions and TO liberty
itself infinitely prefer policy which will
preserve that rugged manhood and sense Of
Self-reliance which teaches the people that
they are abundantly able to take care OF them
selves. / believe, generally speaking. that the
people OF Missouri, are inspired by that spirit
of patriotic independence to which refer and
to its presence here, in a form so pronounced,
l chiefly attribute our comparative escape
from those lawleSS outbreaks that have so
afflicted other communities.
During the biennial period, 1856, now just
closed, nothing of unusual import has occurred.
The population CT the state has been greatly
augmented by immigration. 1t Is impossible
to state the number OF persons who have moved
into the state during the last two years or the
last four years. 1t is well known. however,
that during these years large numbers OF i'm
migrants have settled in the state. They have
located IN every section, although by far the
greater number have gone into the southern
counties and into the city OF st. Louis Large
areas OF hitherto unOccupied lands have been
taken up and converted into farms and or
chardS; and the population OF st. Louis has
grown from city OF l5l,710 in 1890 to city
fairly estimated at 7oO0DO at this time. The
census Of 1890 gave the population Of the state
Dental vote '' Of 1892. reckoning f i've
inhabitants to one voter, the population was
vote OF 1896 exceeded that of 1892 by 1880:
and calculating from the same basis, of live to
one. this vote will show an increase in popula-
lion since 1892 OF 5T200, The population OF the
state is now estimated at 3.370.I65 The wealth
of the state has also been largely increased by
importation, investment and Improvement Of
property. During the whole period under con-
sideratiOn 3I2 miles of railroad have been
laid. many valuable mines discovered and
opened up, large number OF C rStly buildings
have been erected in our principal cities and
multitude OF other valuable improvements
made-improvementS which add greatly to our
aggregate wealth and serve to meet the grow
ing demands Of our commerce and business.
These improvements - these substantial
face of the most adverse con-
ditionS. not only prove the enterprising
spirit Of our people, but they stand. many OF
them, as real adJrnmentS to the state. In the
last two years production in all the principal
industries has been abundant. and the business
affairs OF the -ople have gone steadily along
without interruption from any cause. There
have been no upheayalS. no turOulent cOmmO-
tIOuS, no excessive or unusual violations OF
law TO mar the public peace. The local condi- |
tionS within the state have in all respects been
favorable to the highest measure OF pTOSperi
"; and IL the people have not enjoyed that de-
gree of good fortune which the circumstances
about them would seem to warrant, the failure
is due to causes not created by them or in any
wise connected with the government OF the
state, but is due TO causes which our people |
alone can not remedy.
TRAIN ROBBISG. ETC.
While all have said above about good order |
is true. do not mean to say that crime has |
become less frequent than formerly. l believe |
it Is true in Missouri. 1t is equally true IN |
al! the states, that crimes committed for gam /
such as larceny. burglary and the like-haVe |
been increasing for several years The grow |
ing length of che criminal court dockets and |
the rapid increase in the number OF convictS |
sent to penal institutions furnish conclusive |
proof that the number of crimes committed be- |
comes greater every year. This is doubtless |
largely due to the severe and long PrOtracted |
depression in business and the consequent |
lac. Of employment. No doubt want has driven |
many to crime.
In this connection l desire to call special at |
tentiou to the crime OF train robbery. During |
the last three years several Of these crimes |
have been committed. Trains have been |
stopped and express cars ritied, and O one Uc- |
caSlOn conductor was shot aud seriously |
wounded. l care neither more nor less for |
other corporations or citizens, but |
the crime is one which calls for |
more than ordinary attention, and the neceS- |
Slty for Its Suppression is great that it 4
should be visited by the most extreme punish |
ment. 1t is u crime perpetrated by masked |
deSperadoeS, who go prepared to commit MUIR
der II 1t is deemed necessary either 10 success |
or escape. Not only are those in charge of |
trains subjected to great hazard. but tie lives |
of pasSengerS-women and children as well as
meu-are put in jeopardy. 1t is a crime which |
for reckless desperation and bold defiance OF |
law stands almost without parallel. Il sur
passes all others in its detrimental effect on
queucy, an impression becomes widely current |
that life and property are unsafe within the
jurisdiction where they prevail. 1t is a
crime which should be absolutely eXtirpated.