Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-01-02
ADDRESS TO DRMoORArs
Resolutions Adopted by Missouri Dem
Ocrats in st Louis Monday.

The members OF this convention,
representing the county organizations
OF the Democratic party Of the State,
and called together to promote united
and aggressive party action, renewing
their mistaken adherence TO the great
principles OF Democracy as e1unciat-
ed in our latest National and State
platforms send greeting to the Dem-
ocrats OF Missouri.
Nearly thirty years ago the Demo
cratic party came into control Of Mis-
souri,, succeeding the Republican
party, which for a period Of years held
unrestrained possession Of every de-
partment OF our State Government
That period OF Republican ascendancy
was characterized by profigacy, cor
ruption and partisan intolerance I'M
exampled in the history OF our coun-
Try, save alone in the shameful carpet
bag reign which for many years hung
as a pail over the Southern States.
This period of Republican miSrule
in Missouri was distinctly a period OF
exorbitant taxation, both State and
local. The enormous revenues extort-
ed from the people, instead OF being
wisely used In the building OF the
State, we're wasted in reckless expen-
ditureS. Not only were the ordinary
revenues thus wasted, but school
moneys provided for the education Of
the children of the State, and securi-
ties held to indemnify the State
against obligations it had assumed in
developing the resources Of the Com
~monwealth, also fell prey to the cor
rupting greed and extravaganza Of
those evil days.
This indictment would not be COM
plete If we did not state here the
recorded fact that during this period
OF high taxation not n dollar was
levied upon the "public-Seryice corpo-
rations'' Of the State, but the entire
burden was put upon the individual
citizen.
When at last this odious epoch
was terminated by the restoration Of
the Democratic party to power the
} credit Of the State was so debased
that the States securities were hawk
ed about at a renious discount, and
7 not a single monument Of progress
could be found that the moneys Of the
people had been wisely and honestly
expended. Not only so, but this
wretched period Of extravaganza and
{ misrule was characterized by partisan
! bigotry and intolerance without
I parallel, when for partisan reasons and
; partisan advantages proscriptlve laws
) were enacted which denied TO citizens
+ the right to follow honorable vacations
{ and which placed the election machin'
. cry Of the entire State in the hands Of
e OF the party in power, denying tC
Democrats any representation at the
polls, and which power was used Will
e a brutality that shocked the con
K science Of every honest man in thu
! State.
In striking contrast to the indefen
= sible record Of the Republican part.
. We point with proud satisfaction t
y the splendid record Of the Missour
Democracy.
I'll We have lightened the burden o
taxation until the rate now levied 4
: only one-half what it was during Re
D publican administration, and nov
y is the lowest tax-rate imposed by an.
q state in the Union.
y The enormous bonded debt pile
81 upon the people as the result Of th
u fraudulent disposition by Republican
G. officials Of securities held by the State
~aggregating in principal and interes
q s45, 1900, has been reduced from yea
u to year until the entire amount, ex
cept the s4,5O0, 600 held in trust 70
" the school funds, will be fully pal
Is during the next fiscal year; and thi
N great achievement has been accom-
plished not by increasing, but Will
constantly decreasing, the burdens Q
10 taxation.
D. The credit Of the State, which ha
been so debased that 6 and 7 per cent
bonds begging markets at a dlse0un
of 20 per cent, has been restored an
exalted until to-day Missouri 81 pc
sh cent. call bonds will sell in anymarke
at a premium, and the credit Of tn
' State is substantially at par with tina
60 Of the National Government.
ne Without adding to the burdens 0
taxation, the Democracy has steadil.
increased the school fund, held as
a sacred trust for the education of GU
I'D children, until now 1t is the largest 0
any state in the Union, and wisely in
vi vested in the securities Of the Stat
itself, and thus placed beyond th
chance OF despoliation or depletion
In this connection we call especia
u attention 20 the fact that Democrats
n administrations for years past have an
nually returned TO the people one
y third Of the revenue collected 70
ie State purposes, to be used in the sur
port Of their district schools, thereb
We reducing the burden OF local taxatioI
for that purpose.
While recognizing the principle O
~ just and equal taxation, and while !
has always been the policy Of tn
~ Democratic party to encourage tn
investment Of capital in the develop
" ment Of the state, yet, believing tina
Y every property interest should bear II
W. Just proportion Of the public burder
we have imposed taxation upon a
Az corporations, many Of the most in
p0rtant Of which had theretofor
IN wholly escaped taxation under r,
ay publican rule. And in this connel
tion we call attention TO the pert
an nent fact that, while striving alwaJ
to be fair, the taxable valuation lai
lOh CDfPoIdLlOus III eliasouii - hdbtI
~ ally larger than that Of any Of the So
~ rounding states.
During the entire period Of Dem
cratic control, within which time mi
rs lions have been collected and d
buFsed, the proud fact stands TO OF
credit that no one can truthfully poir
10 the loss or dishonest use Of a sing
dollar Of public money.
The educational, e~lcemosynary az