The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-11-01
REED ON EERENS' AMBITION.
Missouri WaRts ne Millionaire
Senator's.
WHAT RICH MAN WAS EVER A HEROa
What Soldier. Savant, Siatesnan, or
Poet From Their Ranks.

In a recent speech Mayor James A.
Reed reviewing the qualifications OF
Col. Kerens for the Office Of senator
said.
"If / were TO ask what are Kerens'
qualifications for the office, the an
swer is Money. If you inquire
what public service he has performed
the answer must inevitably be, he
has accumulated money, What are
are his talents? He can make money.
He is not an orator, but owns bank
stock. He is not statesman, but he
is railway director He has never
rendered the country a service, buthe
can issue railway passes, The abb
sence Of all qualifications, all genius,
all public service is excused by the
presence Of money. Wealth is to take
place Of all else. Money Is to supply
all Deficiencies. | make no outcry
against riches, wealth should not be a
disqualification. The men who have
worn with grace the judicial ermire,
those who have adorned the forum
and led upon the field have with but
few exceptions been poor men. Few,
indeed, are the instances where the
vastly rich have rendered great SER
vice to the state.
1t was country lawyer who fred
the hearts OF the colonists with the
cry Of Liberty or Death
1t was planter Of moderate means
who led the colonial hosts to victory.
1t was Virglnian, so poor that
when he SURRENDERED the Office OF
president he feared the attachment
for debt, who penned the Declaration
Of independence, rounded out the
constitution, established the priuci-
pie OF free speech, built the great
University OF Virginia aud bequeath-
ed US the priceless jewell Of religious
liberty.
II was the railsplitter Of Illinois
who struck the shackelS from the
limbs OF millions Of slaves.
1t was tanner Of obscure birth
who organized and led to victory the
greatest Of the armies Of the earth.
The son OF impoverished IRISH inn
migrants defeated the flower Of the
English army at New Orleans, and
destroyed the national bank trust 10
the day OF its arrogance and power
And Lee and Jackson, Price aud
Longstreet, Hampton and Wheeled
and Fitzhugh Lee heroes Of the Con-
federacy, we're all men OF but moder-
ate means.
What rich man ever was herog
What page OF history is bright with
the heroic deeds Of the vastly rich.
What universal benefaction has fallen
from their hands? What invention
Of theirs has Illuminated the triumphs
Of the age? What single great SOL
dler, savant, statesman, orator, poet
or writer has come from their rankss
The republican party in Missouri
contains many men of ability and
splendid attainment. Why then are
they set aside? Why are their claims
unconsidered? There is but one au-
swer--they lack that which the
republican ma nagement most desire
an exhaustless bank account
i II Kerens did not have money, think
you his name would ever have beea
considered in connection with sena-
torla hOnors? Would his hack ever
been deemed tbe proper place for the
robes OF this high ottice? The answer
from every candid mind must be 10
the negative. Every intelligent man
in the state knows thai the barrel is
more potent than the brains * The
aspiring mind, He is expected 10
bridge the yawuing guilt between
medloerity and state mansLlp with
gold.
Geo. FarAr. formerly contractor
Of this CITY, died Of Rright's disease,