The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1902-09-04

to be held at our chief metropol-
itan city. the Republican leaders
should have inaugurated campaign
which compels the Democratic party
to compare the Republican record OF
public affairs, both in the state and
in the city of ST. Louis, with the rec
ord made during the period OF Demo-
cratic control. For The homer 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 comparison OF
records, there is not a Democratic Mis-
slurisn wor ny OF the name who hes :
tates for moment to accept this gage
OF battle. Sons of Missourians who laid
the foundations for our enduring and
ever accelerat ng prospe .ity will not
like cravens permit the administra-
tions of their fathers, who were hon
ored with Official trusts, to be SIAN
dered by the leaders OF party whicl
dishonored the credit OF the state,
recklsssly squanGer Il its resources and
maintained a code of Draconian laws
that would disg: aCe the Empire OF
Russia.
Defends Democratic Record.
am here to defend the Democratic
administrat! on of Missourfs fiscal al
fairs from the days of Governor S'las
Woodson until tnis good hour, These
administrations were characterized by
integrity, economy and ability.
II in etfn I allei ed by GU. ntette
of financial curios. and by certain
Republican leade s, Democrats stole
S34, 900 900 collected fer the payment
of the public debt. it is proper to iden-
t.fy the alleg d thieves.
No hone t, intel gent citizen be-
lieves that any cons derable amount
of money coulu have been taken from
the pubic treasury without knowl'
edge of both the fact and the ca prits
at the time.
| challenge the Republican press
and Republ can speakers to name the
men, IL there be su h, wno have been
thus faithless to public duty.
The names OF NJ ssouri's Democratic
offic ais. living and dead, are honored
by Missourians. They include lawyers
Of great ability, philanthropists of re-
nown. friends Of education, legislators
of high reput7, sold ers Of distinct on
| and busin ass men of admitted sagacity
Who among these are responsible fol
Tho o1IouoJ udic,ranonnioo" anH the
consequent alleged loss of money &c
the public treasury? assert that there
are none such, and no one is more
! thoroughly convinced of this fact TIA n
the very men who make these fal-e
charges.
Republican state Record.
The Republic n record in this state
and its more re, emf record in the adj
ministration of public affairs in the
city Of st. Louis. IS a record of intol-
erance. nismanagement and wantor
waste of the peoples money. The
rule of that party in the state was a
long night OF terror for law-abidinf
! and consel vative citizens.
1t was then the Republican par
tv. which now prates Of honest
elections" tramp!ed the principles OF
civil liberty under foot and a Repub
lean Governor controlled the entire
election machinery of the state. deny.
ing to Democrats the right of repre-
sentation at the polls. either as judges
clerks or chal e"geis.
1t was then Count RodmaT
burned Democratic ballots, in II
vain attempt to conceal the infamv
WI ith deprived General Shields, Ctl
Switzler, ami hundI eds OF other Dem
ocrats Of the Offices to which they had
been elected by the people.
1t was then registrars and board:
of review assembled a. the county
seats on the eve of elections
and, after careful computation
struck from the lists the names of a
sufficient number of Democ. attic vot
ers to insure Republican victories.
It was then General Frank F
Blair. that kni h " sold er who. with
conspicuous gallantry on many blttl,
fields, had upheld the Union cause
was disfranchised because he was q
Democrat.
1t was then for the first time In
| American history that the principle
of religious liberty we're rnthlessly as.
sailed by the al to Fa. her Cum
mings and other ministers OF the
blessed Master the right to preach tht
Gospel wi h ut TAX ng test oath de-
clared by the Supreme Court of the
United States t. BE- without precedent
in vicious partisanship.
1t was thin the sacred schoo
fund was diverted to un awful us s
and the annu'l distribution to the
counties made with parts an favor and
disci imina ion.
1t was then the fees earned ty
the various state departments were
treated as the personal perqui sites Of
the state officers, thus adding largc
amounts annually to Their compensa-
ton.
II was then the interest upon
the state moneys enabled state treas