Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1902-08-21
AUDRAIN DEMOCRATS.
A Peculiar Situation Con-
fronts YOu--COn-
slider 1t.

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zcns. We are confronted with Il
condition that does not happen
once in Il century, if it ever hap
pcned before. The question to me
is "A very grave one, and its conse-
quences, if certain things sought
to be done are accomplished, so
far reaching in its ultimate re-
suits, that it deserves the most
careful consideration and honest,
faithful action.
IL is not question of sympathy
for others, but of justice and right
to ourselves. BY an untimely and
shocking tragedy, that stunned our
whole city and community, one
having received the nomination
of the Democratic party for Rep
resentative was remoued, and the
question of who should fill his place
naturally followed. But who?
Was not this important question
prematurcly raised and agitated
by some over-anXlOus and i'll adj
viscd friends! Would it not have
been the better part of prudence,
and in keeping with good taste
and Il due consideration for the
feelings of the unfOrtunatcs to have
eliminated all personal and politi-
cal questions for II reasonable
time! No citizen but who lamcnts,
with the profou ndest grief, the re-
suit of this unfortunate affair, but
it was one of those affairs in which
the public took no pant nor could it
take any part; nor was it concern
ed as to who was right or who
was wrong. In fact, it is Il uucS
ton that is to be considered by
the courts. 1t was purely per-
sonal, or private affair While the
persons might have belonged to
different political parties, yet pol
tiles cut no figure in the case.
Now the grave question is,
should the Democratic party do a
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thing that ip itself would seem to
justify one of those parties to the
condemnation of the other? For
my part (and | am only speaking
for myself | could not ask one of
these parties, to the unfortunate
trouble, to become Il candidate,
believing that his good sense and
finer sensibilitieS would revolt at
the idea of his being placed in II
position where he would be con
tinually reminded of ii tragedy
that could bring nothing but re-
greet from every point of view.
In the second place (were it y
| could not ask my best friends to
become party to the unfortunate
situation by taking up and becom-
ing sponsors for my personal
griefs. No, | would not ask them
to compromise their personal
friendship, or political prefermcnt,
in this way
The noble people of Audrain
county are law abiding citizens,
and these parties have appealed to
the courts, and YOU will have done
your whole duty, my fellow-citi-
Hens, to see to it that justice is
done. But, says one, "this is
not taking sides 1t cannot be
otherwise. just the other day II
party in Mexico was asked to sign
a petition, and from just and con
sideratc reasons, refused. He was
then accused of being friendly to
the other party thus showing con
clusively that it is the motive of
the parties circulating the pcti-
tions to have the one party en-
dorsed and the other condemned.
Again, it is put before the pco-
pie ms IA vindication of the former
representative. 1t seems to me that
such course would be setting Il
bad precedent, and one that the
people will regret some day, if
they set it. Would be sorry to
think there was some sinister and
selfish motive in this beyond SYM
pathy-that prompts any one to
take advantage of such conditions.
| | ,pt uS hone NOT