Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1899-04-06
WHAT MISSOURI NEEDS.
Purified Politics and Clean Journalism
Some Things Suggested by Dr..
h. K. Hinae, of Mexico.

IN material resources, embracing
soil, minerals, coal, timber, water
courses, mineral springs and railroads,
Missouri stands near the head Of the
list Of states OF our American re-
public. The development OF these re-
sources has but fairly begun, and the
ineoming new century will find her
forging to the front, not satisfied to
occupy second rank In ali the galaxy
of states.
How is 1t when brought into COM
parison with hsr sister states In moral
and intellectual equipments7 Her
public school system is equal to the
best; her State University ranks high
In the scale; and her academies, sem
inafles and colleges compare favora-
bly, with most Of the statea. Taking in
TO consideration the comparative
youth of our state, our attainmsnte
are marvellous, and 1T Ia with COM
mendable pride that we boast of our
citizenship az Missourians.
What lack we yet rs q great state to
put rs in the front rank to which we
aspire7
There are many things that Mis-
souri, needs, but wish In this paper
to indicate and emphasize but two,
which I think would 90 farther than
anything else to give us the promi-
nence We covet.
PURE LIVES OF our PUBLIC MEN.
The men we put in office is the pulse
by which we may correctly gauge of
the moral health of our body polite.
This stream does not rise higher than
the fountain source from which IL em-
anates. "Like priest, like people, !" is
no truer than IKE people, like repre-
sentatives Of the people in places Of
public trust. While not an infallibie
index, as rule, the character OF her
public servants is tho best index Of
the moral status Of any people. So
then, when / say that one Of the
great needs OF great state like ours,
is purity in the lives of her public
men, it lie equivalent to saying that
the great need is the purifying the
sources OF ber political life.
This leads Us back to the primary
question of the qualification for the
franchIse--the education of the masses
on the question OF voting. Ia re-
public like ours, where the people are
the source Of power, this is most vital
question OF confederation. The study
Of politics should be In the curriculum
of every school from the county pri-
mary to the State University. No citi-
zen has the right TO ignore this study
or abstain from an active participation
In ell the machinery of public eIections.
Every man should be q politician. Pol
itIca is proper stndy for every Chris
tian, and "Ohristian politics" legiti-
mate term in the nomenclature OF all
proper education. We profess to be
aOhristian people and our government
is founded upon Christian principles;
and to be consistent we ought TO carry
our Christianity into practical politics.
l know no greater need to-day than
that this should be done. Political
parties are indispensable in republi-
can form of government, and loyalty
to party is all right so long as we
subordinate party spirit to Christian
principle.
Constituted as is our government, I
believe it is the duty of Christian men
to ally themselves with some political
party and operate through these for
the betterment of society. This is not
TO be done lavishly, but under proper
conditions for the purpose of purify
ing politics and guiding party organ
ization to the highest ends. have
little patience and less faith in the
Christian who ignores all politics, sits
idly by lamenting the evil of political
parties and the injustice Of existing
laws, and yet is too holy to mingle In
the strife of political elections. The
Injunction of the Savior is ito be Ia
the world, but not OF the world"
Christian citizenship and Christian
statesmanshlp are associated virtues
and must not be allowed to die out In
our land. Men who have been placed
In public position by the suffrages OF
their fellow citizens ought TO feel
under obligations to carry out the will
of the best elements OF their constitu-
ency. They ought to be men of clean
hands and pure lives. AS representa-
tive men, they ought to be an index
OF the beet elements of the society
from which they emanate. know of
nothing that would place our great
State on a higher plane 10 this COM
petitive race for eminent standing than
this purity of life In our public repre-
sentative men, from United States
Senator to that of Sheriff of the county.
AZ rule Missouri has had good rea-
con to be proud of her Senators and
Representatives in Congress, her Gov
ernors and other state officers. Inn
moralities and impurities in those
Offices have been the exceptions to
the rule, and when these exceptions
have occurred I know of nothing that
has seriously affected our standing as
a state or brought greater shame to
the faces of our citizens. Intemper-
ance, Ilcentiousness and profanity are
supposed to be the most common sins
of public men. There is no excuse for
"No Eye Like the