Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-10-01

ried the torch OF Christianity into es-
cry land,
The fathers OF the Republic we're
extremely cautious In selecting the
commanders OF the Continental army.
yet after having distinguished himself
for courage a hundred times, Benedict
Arnold became a traitor. Neverthe-
less. the faithful officers and soldiers
of the Continental army saw the ban.
ner OF England supplanted by the
Flag OF Freedom upon the battle
ments of Yorktown. Those who re-
manned faithful were not condemned
because n wretch had sold his honor.
THE CORRUPT LOBBY MUST co.
But, my countrymen. II corruption
Is to be finally eradlcated we must
attack the evil at It's source. The
knife must go to the root Of the cam
Ger. The corrupt lobby must be driven
from municipality, State and Nation.
On July 9Th, in a public speech. ]
said this and added. That worse than
the bride taker is the bride giver, be-
cause more dangerous stand upon
that statement.
Back of all boodling Is the effort
Of some one to gain an unjust priv
ilege or escape a Just demand, either
through legislation or the lassitude or
Ignorance of some officer. According
Ily. the officer or legislator Is cajoled
with flattery, awed by power or may
even be corrupted. In any event, the
people are cheated.
The existence of an organized lobby
at the State Capitol during the recent
sessions of the General Assembly is
a matter of common knowledge. Os'
ensibility this lobby was engaged in
protecting the railway corporations
from what they were pleased to term
unjust legislation" The charge has
been publicly made that these "legisla'
tive agents" inspire bills attacking
various business interests in order tc
compel their employment to prevent
the enactment into laws of the very
measures they themselves originated
Nor are they thus satisfied. Wher
wholesome legislation is proposed By
an honest legislator, these wolves are
ready to pounce upon II, and by pre-
venting its passage compel II possible
Its honest author to withdraw his op
position to some unjust measu II
order that his own bill may pass. 81
the members OF the lobby soon become
mere Hessians ready for any employ
ment, experienced In evil. skilled II
deceit, II IS but necessary that the,
find a few plant tools among thu
members Of the legislature In ordei
to exert a powerful influence upol
legislation.
They become the purveyors o
legislative poison. They tempt tn
weak; they trap the unwary
they meet In the dark, conspir'
behind closed doors and plot Will
honest men sleep. They combine tn
cunning OF the fox. the appetite o
the wolf and the subtlety Of the spide
with the instincts OF the hyena- WheI
Int Is necessary their touch is as sol
, as the gloved hand Of a woman. ]
|, Il suits their purpose they a d.
stroy without pity. Their voices ca
} be as tender as the whispers OF a Low
} lorn maiden in the ear OF her swee'
; heart and they a utter threats wit
the hiss OF a serpent. They pre-
D nounce eulogies upon virtue whic
would do credit TO a saint, and she
crocodile tears over the misfortune
, of the victim whom they have dragge
+ 10 the gates OF perdition- But ar 9
: times and in all seasons they are th
enemies of society, of law, of orde
a and Of good government They al
D the most dangerous conspiratol
against the Republic.
S The professional legislative lobb'
e list is such a combination and ha
monious blending Of impudence, d
ceit, treachery and scoundrelism {
=. %entitle him among the assembled VI
u iians of the earth to stand without
rival and without a peer"
y We are told that the remedy fl
corruption is to select honest me
to office. True, II we could alwal
h look into the heart Of a candidat
] read his soul and divine his futur
y we need not then select any but Il
honest and the brave, and the GU
!" would be complete. But we are n
= thus gifted. You have sought in Il
. past to select honest men. You b
y 1ieved Lee was an upright citlze
e Mistakes have been made and M
10 be made again. Your judgment W
T. not suddenly become infallible. Y
D. will certainly in the future get son
t men who have an Itching palm"
n We cannot always discriminate |
)f tween the honest and the dishoneI
In the crowd which cries, st
lie thief" the thief Is frequently CO
u cealed; and the clearer his guilt t
I. more pious is his c~ountepance; I
ie greater his fervor and the lustier I
u lungs. Just now, we have sor
II strange reformers in Missouri.
y The greatest step toward the era
IT tcation Of corruption is to be found
y the destruction Of the lobby. Here
the chief source of the iniquity.
81 / had infinite power and wanted
stop all evil I would first kill {
NJ devil and then turf my attention
70 the lesser scoundrels. II Beelzeb
h were gone roguery would lack its
9 spiration-
10 / say now, as | have said befo
yet the bribe glver as well as I
II bride taker; get them both. tn
le ought to be chained together. I
more dangerous than the bride tai
is the bride giyer. Let us Scout
a both from legislative halls. The br
taker must go, but the profession
n c~orrutionists must be driven from
"a capitol
70 Can the lobby be expelled
ie awer that 1t can.
ID In the first place. all excuse
In the maintenance Of the lobby sho
! be removed. The veto power sho
Q be used against every measure int
duced for a sinister purpose and
d. the same time It should be clea
Ia understood that improper interferei
4 By any corporation or individual, "