The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1898-08-20
xIssouRrs NATIONAL GUARD.
Secretary Of State Lesueur Replies 10
Calumnies OF Republicans.

Secretary Of State Lesueur Replies 10
Calumnies OF Republicans.
From TIE Kansas Cny Tines.
Jefferson CITY, No, Aug. IA have
seen. during the last few days, several
expressions in Missouri republican news
papers like this from the ST. Louis Star:
III Missouri troops did not get any
nearer the front than the seashore It
was probably because OF their poor
equipment. and they were poorly equip
ped because misery democratic legisla'
tors would not appropriate the money
TO properly support ther..a The evident
purpose OF these paragraphs Is to prelu-
dice the Missouri soldiers now IN the
field, q large majority Of whom are
democrats, against democratic manage
ment OF state Affairs. IL Is In evidence
In the records OF the state that republi-
can Legislators In recent years have heen
fully as much ayerse 10 making appro-
priations for the national guard as have
democratic legislators.
In 1895, when the lower house OF the
general assembly Nas under republican
control, the democratic governor OF the
state, William j. Stone. In bis regular
message, when treating OF the %apprupria-
ton for the national guard, said: Il
desire TO recommend an increase OF
Sl7, 600 on this account. which, II agreed
10, will make n total appropriation OF
SIS, 900 The national guard Of this
state Is composed OF a body OF splendid
men, loyal, hw-abiding and patriotic.
The force has always been prompt to
obey orders and put itself at the service
OF the state. In time past II has rem
dered important service In the preseTva-
ton Of public order. The maintenance
Of q fairly well equipped militia is not
only in conformity TO our theory OF
government, bat 1t IS q positive necessity.
The theory Of our government contem-
plates that our chief reliance for q
military force stan be upon the militia,
which is a national as well as a state
organization With this strong recon-
mendation from q democratic governor
before them the republican house Of
tons originated, refused TO comply
with the request OF Governor Stone, and
instead Of appropriating $4,000 for the
state militia, as was asked for, II appro-
priated but 81, 200, or $1,000 less. No
one who Is familiar with the circumstan-
ces will for q moment venture the asser-
ton that the democratic senate at the
time would have refused TO cOncu with
the recommendations Of the governor If
it had the cooperation Of the republican
house.
1t is a homely saying that hindsight is
much more common than foresight. No
doubt if the republicans of the thirty
eighth general assembly could have
foTeseen that the war with Spain would
50 soon occur, and that the patriotic
impulse OF the whole people, regardless
OF party, would become s. prominent
there might have been a different color
TO their thoughts upon this question,
but it remains true that q democratic
governor pleaded for the appropriation
Of $500 for the militia, and that a
house declined 10 vote II and
responded with $1,000 less. II there
has been misery conduct towards the
militia, II Is c~hargeable as well TO repub-
hcan as TO democratic legislators, and 1t
is also true that the democratic legisla-
ture Of 1897 appropriated 81 1000 more for
the national guard than did the republic
can house Of 1895.
The democratic convention at Spring
field declared itself in these words: we
are opposed 10 q strong standing army,
for the reason and because IL might
become an instrument OF oppression and
a source OF danger to our institutions;
but we favor the maintenance OF an
adequate national guard, 50 thoroughly :
organized and equipped that ii could be
modified for actual service without
material delay. We congratulate the
national guard and volunteers In the
army and navy for their prompt and
patriotic response TO their country call
and declare that they are not only en-
titled 10 our thanks, but should here
after receive the generous support OF
our people. We further declare that
they should be fully reimbursed for any
necessary expenses incurred by them
between the dates when they were
ordered into camp and their final muster
into the service OF the United States
These sentiments find q hearty response
in the breast Of every democrat Of
Missouri. Like others, long continued
pcdCo Win lOItlRu COuulIlbo udy nave
lulled democrats into feeling that Amer
lea possessed immunity against war,
but the general unpreparedness of the
military has demonstrated to all the
necessity for an adequate national
quad, well provided with armories,
arms and equipments, which should be
frequently modified 50 that it can be
serviceable at the shortest practicable
moment. The call to arms has been
responded to with cheerful ~alacrity by
as well as republicans, by
southern states as well as by northern
states. The heroes developed by the
conflict on land and sea have come from
southern as well asfrom northern homes
and dresides. Ii we have had a Dewey
from Vermont, we have also had q
Hobson from Alabama. II Skaters
name is written In the pages Of our
history, 80 also is that Of the gallant
Wheeler. InvidiOus comparisons as
between democrats and republicans,
as TO patriotism or valor, are born
Of the brain Of petty politicians, who
aim their pop guns f~utilsly at the breasts
Of half the people Of our common
country. Very truly yours,
A.. A. LEsUEUR.