The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-02

, Tortance in the eradication of bribery than
anything else When the people are indif-
| ferent corrupt men feast and fatten at the
public expense: the public is plundareI On
| OF thieves. When public sentiment IS thor
| ouGh!y aroused ii Is Il dangerous time for
| public plunderers to ply their trade
! EYES OF THE WORLD
| ARE on MISSOURI
| "ihiS is the most critical period In
the history "f our state. The eyes of
| the world nrc On Missouri to sec what
the people of Missouri IRE going TO do
nbout II. After all these exposures
there can be honorable. conciIia-
| tion. Every citizen must either march
under the flag of dcrcncy or the ba =
| ncr q; iniGuity. The fight Is no cnSy
/ one of the cOrruptiOnists are to he
! overcome. They are intrenchcd be
hind millions OF dirty money and un-
told political Influence.
Every good citizen has a work to DO
Duty done in private life g as c-editable
: as the faithful carrying out of official OBJ
legations in the public service. DO your own
thinking. and become a missionary in the
cause OF civic honor among your fellow
citizens. You Will be- opposed only by the
prejudice Of ignorance or the prejudice OF
interest. The prejudice Of ignorance can be
overcome for ii is from the heart. the
prejudice of interest cannot be changed, 10.
i; Is self-will.d.
Elect 20 your General Assembly only
men Of known integrity Men not passive
~ honest. hut aggreSsIveiy honest. MANY
men can h" honest inact.vely. but we need
in legislative affairs men who can be honest
in action. Select representatives who Will
not tolerat" Il corrupt lobby: men pledged
10 stamp out bribery from public office; men
who VIII not allow the touch of the IN
dean dollar to c"ntaminate legislative halls.
men VII" are brave enough tn speak out
4 Il
pos" venality. not conceal ii.
Men whom the lust ot gold docs not kill
Men whom the su1ils or office cannot buy.
Men Thp have opinions an. Il Will
Men who have honor: men who VIII not liz.
Missouri is on trial before the world
Her fair maine Is al stake. Good citizens
must defend her from thus" VINO would de
haUCh her honor to selfish ends. There have
been many fights Tor freedom in the history
OF civilization. and the battle is not vet end
ed. Peace hath haT victories no less re-
nnwncd than war. The overthrow of cor
ruption here would be the greatest battle
won for good government in the tide Of
times. \ fearless and righteous decision
upon this mighty issue Will give encourage
meut and cheer to the lava abiding every
where. Grid up your Ions for the night and
let the deere" b. announced and enforced
that the 'boodleTs must go
The corruptioniSts have insolontly dc
handed of tn" people. What are you going
TO do about it" An answer will he given
by hundreds of thousands of patriotic Mis-
snurians, who hat" corruption and iespise
WRONG. ana Wn'n II -. the forces of sNil
will be buried under an avalanche of civic
righteousness. Missouri tho fifth State in
population, will then ne the first in civic
honor and American manhood.
MY friends | am not on alarnist when
| say that If these conditions he permitted
to 20 an in city. State and nation then the
d, ath Of the nation itself is but II question
%. time. Like. in the Republics of Old that
attained pinnacle If greatness and We're
undermined by corruption, ours viii follow
the same course and have the same his
tcrical record Sine. the dawn of creation
e. ycrnna,1ts innumerahl. h.ve VI ti,.sI ana
died: dvuasties have ioravaJ aud dia,l.nl
Crrmhl3d, Reuubiics with Is sp'nr,lii posi-
hiiitics MS ours have existed ana tottered
OF tho st,r, Of fine ,yHrIJ to- oLIivin,
,Ii.o, ,r.re ,.,Si.r,,ir.i h,. ~ NC IN
giii:r rrr,'ti,,, ~. .brI ~ WIN
history ret,.ai iteaIf" va 4 '''''