Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1902-09-04

, itan city. the Republican leaders
SHOULD have inauguIated a campaign
which Compels the Democratic party
to compare the Republican record OF
public affairs, both in the state and
| in the city of SC. Louis. with the rec
ord made during the period of Demo-
cratic control. For the honor of my
state | should have preferred that the
! dark chapters of the Republican rec
ord both in tie state and in St Louis
should have Teen forgotten. They de
serve the oblivion Of infamy; but since
we are challenged to a comparison of
| records, there is not a Democratic Mis-
| sJurian wOr by of the name who hes
! tates for moment to accept this gage
of battle. Sens of Missourians who laid
the foundations for our enduring aud
ever acceleiat ng prospe ity will not
! like cravens permit the administra-
! tons of their fathers, who were hon
: Ored with Official trusts. to be Sian
/ dortd by the leaders of party which
/ dishOnored the credit of the state.
! reCklesSly squanderod its resources and
/ maintained code of DracOnian laws
tat would disgrace the Empire of
| Russia
Defends Democratic Record.
| | am here to defend the Democratic
! administration of Missouris fiscal al
fairs from the days Of GOvernor : las
Woodson until this good hour. These
administrations were characterized by
integrity, economy and ability.
IT, as in effe t alleged by a gu ntctte
OF financial Curios. and by certain
Republican leaders, Democrats stole
S3i,OO0,000 collected fer the payment
of the public debt, it is proper to idcn-
tify the ALLEGED thieves.
No honest, intelligent citizen be-
| lievos that any cons derable amount
of money could have been taken from
the public treasury without n knOvl-
edge of both the fact and the Cu.prits
at the time.
! challenge the Republican press
and Republican speakers to name the
men, If there be surh. who have been
thus faithless to public duty
The names OF Mssourl's Democratic
offc ais, living and dead, are hunored
by MissOurians. They include lawyers
of great ability, phianthrOpists Of lo-
nown, friends CT education, legislators
OF high reputp, sold ers of distinction,
and business men of admitted sagacity.
who among these are responsible for
the alleged discrepancies" and the
consequent alleged loss of money To
the public treasury? assert that there
are none such, and no one is more !
thoroughly convinced of this fact than
the very men who make these fall
charges.
Republican state Record.
The Republican record in this state.
and its more recent record in the ad-
ministratiOn of public affairs in the
city of st. Louis, is a record of intol- .
eranCe, mismanagement and WantOn
waste of the peoples money. The
rule OF that party in the stat was a
long night of terror for law-abiding
and conservative citizens.
1t was then the Republican par
ty, which now pratcs of honest
elections" tramp'od the principles of
civil liberty under foot and a Ropun-
lican Governor CONTROL d the entire
election machinery of the state. deny
ing to Democrats the right of repre-
scntation at the polls, either as judges.
clerks or chal ergeIs.
1t was then Count" Rndman
burned Democratic ballots. in the
vain attempt to conceal the inlamv
which deprived General Shields. ca.
SwitZler and hundreds of other Dem
ocrats Of the offices to which they had
been elected by the people.
1t was then registrars and boards
of review assembled a. the county
seats on the eve OF elections,
and, after a careful computation.
struck from the lists the names Of IA
sufficient number Of DnmOcj attic VOt-
ers to insure Repub lean viotoris.
1t was then General Fr3nk +.
Blair, that kni h " sold er who. with
conspicuous gallantry on many battle
fields, had upf rld the Union cause.
was dsfranchised because he was
Democrat.
1t was then for the first time in
American history that the principles
of religious liberty were ruthlossIv as
sailed by the d nal to Father Cum
mings and other ministers of the
blessed Master the right TO pr-a"h the
Gospel wi, ut tax ng test oath de-
clared by the Supreme Court of the
United States t. b. without precedent
in vicious partisanship.
1t was then the sacred school
fund was diverted to unlawful usns.
and the annual distribution TO the
counties made with partisan favor and
discrimination
Ii was then the fee earned "
the various state departments were
treated as the personal peruui sites of
the state officers, thus adding large
amounts annually to Their compensa-
lion.
ii was then the interest upon
!h6 StatD ElSn6yS clio s.ata treas