The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-10-31

steal the livery OF heaven 10 sol'o p"
devil In IS no Democrat" That doc
trine should be as Democratic no" q
II was when Tilden Numbered against
the civic evils Of his day. The oodie
is neither Democrat nor Republican,
he is. above all, a public enemy.
Enforcement Of Law.
The Democratic party stands for
law and order. The failure to enforce
the law begets corruption. The laws
are made to be enforced, moi to Do
disregarded. II the law be bad. the
remedy is to repeal. not to ignore.
When some laws are not enforced, lack
Of respect for all law is engendered-
There is entirely too little respect for
the majesty of the law in America.
The reason is the laxity with which
laws are enforced. Too often officials
are SO bound up by e~ntangling promises
made to secure party nominations OF
elections. that when they get IN otiics
their hands are tied. The doctrine
that all are equal before the law
sounds well, but has a rather startling
effect when put into practice. Inc
prosecuting officer will find himself the
subject of the most vicious personal
attacks from those he is trying to
bring to justice without malice or Ill
will. 1t is easy enough to bring up
some wretch who picks a pocket or
steals a loaf of bread, but it is quite
another thing when the law is put
against those who clean out whole mu-
nicipal larders and plumber the people
Of an entire city or state.
l would like to see the law admin
istered in Missouri so evenly, so fairly,
so Justly that no man will be above
or below the law. | would like to see
the law enforced without regard to-
party friendship or kindred. | wouldN
like to see it so that if a prosecute
ing officer in any county will not
carry out his oath of Office he will be
compelled to give way for some n
else who can. Then we will have in
Missouri Equal rights to all, special
privileges to none"
Now is the Time.
If the corruptionists are ever to be
overcome in Missouri, now is the
time. 1t is not likely that so much
material will be found against them
again. l want the Democratic party
to have the credit of accomplishing
their complete overthrow. All these
exposures will be Of no benefit unless
the people do something about it. Eva
cry individual Democrat-for l speak
to you particularly now-has a worry
to do. The corruptionists are shrewd
and they have millions of money. They
will try to deceive you. They will
present subtle arguments to show that
they are in favor of good government
with the usual but" Even the
boodlers themselves may d~enounce
boodling in public. But how sincere
are they? Their reformation is too
sudden to be lasting; their highest de-
sire is to soothe the people into a false
sense of security so that they may
have further opportunity for plumber
ing. There is nothing the boodler
fears SO much as an aroused public
conscience. The boodlers are strong,
their r~amifcations are startling; thefr
influence in beth political parties is
great. They are well e%ntrenched and
are fighting desperately for their po-
Iitical lives, but with the manhood
of the Democratic psrty united in patri-
otto ~endeavor, they will be routed and
overwhelmed. There are some pessi-
mists who believe the corruptionists
will control the Democratic party. I
do not believe It. When one goes
over the state and sees the Missouri
Democrat in his daily life of sturdy
honesty and recognizes his sterling
character, built on the rock of princi-
pie, transmitted to him by his fathers,
all doubts must disappear, for with
that reservoir of virtue to draw from
the result of the fight for good gov.
eminent cannot be in doubt.
AS to the ~Governorshlp.
A great deal has been said about
the governorship of Missouri. This
is an honor that any man might we'll
covet and no man refuse. l have been
asked as to my position in reference to
the mentioning of my lame for that
high Office. To you, my friends, ]
have no hesitancy in saying that If my
party, In the exercise of is partiality,
sees fit to name me for that place,
should be recreant to my duty were
to do otherwise than accept. | do net
claim to have done anything to en-
title me to this distinction. Nor would
l take 1t as a reward for my humble
e~ndeavors to bring about a better
condition in municipal and state az
fairs. l have, in the place Of trusI
assigned to me, tried to do my duty
under nay oath Of Office to my city and
to my state, How we'll l have sue
ceeded I cannot say, but l have done
my best, and, after all, the most thai
any man can do in public and private
life is to do his best. l want no com,
pensation for doing my duty other thar
the approval Of the people. The gov
ernorship offers tremendous oppor
tunities for the accomplishment o.