Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-12-03
A ROUSING
DEMOCRATIC SPEECH
Congressman w. D. Vandivei
Speaks in St Charles for Folk
and Good Government
he Addressed a Representative Crowd Of
Democrats on October stst, who FIRE.
quentiy interrupted with Applause ths
Sentiments He Expressed.

people as honest and patriotic as
am take q different view. But hear
me, and then say whether ! am right
or wrong. only ask you to believe
me when say that have no selfish
motive and no self-interest to serve.
What ! say 10 you is from the heart
Of Missouri Democrat, seeking only
what is best for my party and my
State. Though less than fifty years
Of age, have been n Democrat ever
since my great-great-grandfather fol-
lowed George Washington to victory
on the field of battle and Thomas JEFF
fsrson to political triumph and ever.
lasting glory on the soil Of old Vir-
ginia. I have breathed the pure air
Of Missouri for forty-six years. l
have watched her grow from the
ninth state in the Union to the fifth
In rank among the great common
wsalths Of the Republic. | am proud
of every page of her glorious history,
and cherish q Just resentment against
the person or party who by calumny
or corruption blackens her fair name.
Here, then, are two things that are
dear to my heart-my party and my
state.
It is for their honor that | speak to
you tonight, If I speak Of persons
or candidates it is not that ! care for
individuals. My appeal to you is on
higher ground. plead for principles
and not for men, plead with you FOR
the honor of the party and the state,
and not to ask you to reward any man
for anything he has done politically
or officially.
Let us examine the conditions con-
fronting us. No sane man can fail to
see that we are passing through a
critical period. 1t is not too much to
say that Missouri Democracy is fac
ing new and strange conditions. A
crisis far reaching in its consequences
is upon us. II We meet It bravely and
honestly, all is well. II we pass this
crucial test, the honor and dignity OF
great party will be preserved; the
confidence of the public will be re-
stored and strengthened; we VIII come
forth stronger than ever. and with
deep rooted confidence in the triumph
Of Justice and virtue over rascality
and wrong, we shall take a new lease
Of power, and Missouri once more as
sumo her proud prominence amidst
the shining galaxy OF American com
monwealths.
II, on the contrary, we waver and
falter; II we truckle and tremble; II
we distrust virtue and put our faith
in the princes Of political trickery
We shall either go down to defeat OF
force our way to temporary triumph
with badges of shame W IN our brow
for the methods necessary to attain
ii. Democracy was founded by
Thomas Jefferson upon confidence In
the virtue and intelligence of the peo
pie. and whenever that confidence IL
lost. the foundations OF our party
are destroyed. When any unworthy
expedient is substituted for 1t we nc
! longer deserve success, nor can per
manent success be hoped for. have
no respect for the man who tells me
that the Democratic party must hold
| on to the tricksters and trafiicers
who carry the election in our large
cities. The bulwark of the Democracy
is in the country, and shall never
consent to trade 1t of for the support
Of vicious and corrupt tricksters who
make commerce Of the bsllot in every
large city in the land. But the awak
ened conscience of honest people II
the cities will bring them to our as
sistance also whenever we convince
them that we are in dead earnest
about good government and reformi
and honest people are in the majority
even in st. Louis.
let US lay aside the weight and the
sin which doth 30 easily beset us,
and we shall find that renewed vigol
will animate the hosts Of Democracy
which stands for honest government
and faithful administration in city ant
country alike. It also stands fol
equal protection of rich and poor alike
and equal opportunities for every mar
of whatever rank or station in life.
Thousands OF honest men In cit.
and country are looking to US to-da!
and waiting to see whose votes we ar'
going TO bid for in the next campaign
Every candidate Of every party tol.i
you he wants the honest vote, ant
OF course he does; but II in private
he courts the boodler while in pu' III
he curses him, you must not think I
strange If his sincerity is suspected.
Besides this, you must remembe
there are forty thousand independen
voters in Missouri who hold the bal
ance OF power and are usually witt
US, because they believe in our sin
cerity. Shake that confidence, ant
we can no longer hope to hold them
You tell me that no Republican
votes for a Democrat I know be,
ter. have personal experience wifi
them. know that more than fy'
hundred OF them voted for me in tn
last election in my district. | am
strong partisan, but am not SO mar
row as to believe that all Republic
ans are liars. Nor am l SO much d
q fool as to believe that the grea
body Of independent citizens Wit
stand between the two great politica
parties can be whipped into line IN
less we merit their confidence.
would not nominate a candidate 4
please the opposing party; nor woull
I nominate one to satisfy the politica
tricksters In my own party; but
would nominate one that is wanted b.
the masses Of all parties, the peopl
who are to elect him.
Now. coming directly to the ques
ton which wish to discuss, let mi
say that we have the best opportunit!
that We have had in many years 3
put the Democratic party on higl
ground We have many good men fl
the state. honest and able, whom un
der ordinary circumstances I woull
gladly support for the Governorshil
OF the state. But in the presen
emergency one man looms up 81
high In the public mind that all eye
are turned towards him. The masse
Of the people, those We must depeni
upon 20 elect the ticket after II 4
nominated, almost with one accorI
have risen up 10 demand the nomina
ton Of q man whose candidacy di'
not originate in his own mind, no
with the politicians who make proh
out OF politics, but with the peopll
themselves. fAppiause)
And want the Democratic party q
aunrouriafa az a Dart Of its worllnl