The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-03-22
Force BIII rhreatened.

"hCH "CiShcu III tlit Ddldnce OF puDl(
opinion some of the republican leaders
Of the lower house of congress, deter.
mined to maintain prestige at all
hazards, have agreed to overhaul the
election laws of the south-at least
the committee on rules has reported
favorably on a resolution looking to
that end. The fact that conservative
members OF the party hold such action
to be a grave political mistake has no
effect on the radical element Of that
organization, who would retain power,
even at the point of the bayonet and
at the cost Of being held up to the
world in the light of fayoring the
negro as the social equal Of the white
man.
The object Of this resolution is the
final passage Of a force bill, which
will mean a denial to the southern
people Of the right to manage their
own affairs and settle their own
racial difficulties. In fact, it is a
premeditated plan to force into
the respective governments Of the
southern states such disgraceful con-
ditions as those that followed the
close Of the civil war, a review Of
which is unnecessary here.
Discussing this action by the con-
gressional committee on rules, Gov.
Dockery, in his Office at Jefferson
City, said:
81 fear the proposed partisan action
Of the republican house Of representa-
tives will undo much that was accom-
plished by the wise, gentle and patri-
otto nOn-sectiOnal policy Of the late
President Mckinley. His broad-mind-
ed policy destroyed the last vestige OF
sectional bitterness. The proposed
action OF the republican house is only
she foreruuner Of another "force
bill
Other leading statesmen OF the ma
tion are similarly outspoken and the
democratic party is up in arms
against this threatened outrage.
This is not purely a sectional ques-
tion, but one that goes to the home
Of every good citizen in the entire
country. 1t menaces the safety Of
She Preside and tends to cripple CON-
merce, II strikes at the peace and
quiet Of a great producing people who
have laid aside the gun for the pillow
and the uniform OF the soldier for the
garb Of the Industrious commoner-a
people who buried their animosities
long since and returned TO those
walks in life through the pursuit Of
which they have been instrumental
in building up the greatest CONNER
clal country under the sun. The
smoke of battle has cleared away,
leaving an unobsured sky Of peace TO
canopy north, south, east and west,
dotted at night with myrlads Of stars
that jolOusly twinkle their approval
OF the unity Of spirit and manifesto
tion Of brotherly love so apparent ev-
erywhere.
win these v%ultures Of political rot
tennesS al Washington-these wolfsh
feeders upon public spoils-these un-
patriotic mel who are putrid blurs
upon the body polite OF this coun-
try-be allowed to disturb these
blessed conditions? Are we to be.
lieve that American manhood will
submit TO so fragrant an outrage as
that which is now threatened?
We do not believe so.
Let not the fires OF sectional hatred
be Tekindled. Let us continue to
cherish peace and reverence justice.
Let us continue to nurture that love
OF home, sturdiness OF character and
faithfulness to republican institu-
lions that have made Of us the envied
% all nations-the one beacon light
in the governments OF the world that
entlces to our shores him who des-
pises oppression and loves liberty.
Since the black vapor OF final con
gict consequent upon the great inter
neclDe strife OF the sixties curled heav.
enward and lost It's identity in aerial
yastness at Appomattox the southern
people have labored on and on with
stolld determination TO achieve
Through The peaceful callIngs Of men
Though prodded time and again by
just such cruel shafts II PARTISAN ha-
tired and malicious injustice as is pre-
scnted in this latest infamous con-