Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1903-10-29
True Democracy.

the Democrats of this splendid city
j am reminded of the fact that this
was the home of Silas woodson, the
first Governor the Democrats elected
after the stormy period of the civil
war. The name of Silas Woodson
is held in high regard by all Democrats
for his sturdy honesty, his high char
acter and his true Democracy. He
was the beginning of the unbroken
line Of post bellum Democratic Gov
ernors, whose management of the
States affairs has reflected credit on
the party they represented.
National Questions.
In the early days of our government
citizens were divided on governmental
policies. The most conspicuous adj
yocates Of opposing theories were
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Ham
ilton. jefferson believed in the rule
of the people, Hamilton advocated
restricted franchise and special priv.
, leges. The Democratic party Of today
stands for the teachings of Jefferson,
while the Republican party represents
the doctrines of Hamilton. The es-
sence Of true Democracy is embraced
In these words: Equal rights to all;
special privileges to none" This
means tariff for revenue only, and
not as special favor for any indus
try. There is growing necessity for
tariff reduction. The high tariff policy
makes the farmer pay tribute to the
manufactures to the extent of the diff
ference between what he would pay
for the protected articles he buys If
there were only revenue tariff on
them, and what he actually pays for
them under our protective system.
The so-called infant industries have
been protected at the peoples ex-
pense until they are now the burly
giants Of commerce menaclng our in
dustrial welfare. II is hardly possible
to suppress the trusts by one hand
while the other Is feeding them with
the meat Of proteetipn on which they
pi ptsteFtlnn 4 neciei ln-
terests but II leaves the peop t,et II
the Geld It IL tine NOW % give the
people some protectiQ on. .dlQnaI rights
to all prohibits financial legislation
giving special privileges to any class;
that no people shall be governed with
out their consent; freedom of the
press; freedom of religion; and free
dom of the person. But there Is no
division among Missouri Democrats on
national issues We supported the
Kansas City platform and candidate
in 1900 and the Chicago platform and
candidate in 1896, and we believe we
were right then.
State Matters.
In state matters Democrats with one
accord are proud of the management
Of the States affairs by the Demo
cratic party since the sceptre of power
was placed in Governor Woodson's
hands thirty years ago. During that
time the bonded indebtedness has been
reduced from $2t ,768, 100000 to 81, 1885,
$4,000, represented by the school GER
tifcates. Other than these certificates
there is no bonded Indebtedness now,
and the interest on these is by law
paAu AAbO q Auhu W hApAASoAih sehC PND
lie schools of the state and the State
University. These certificates are ia
the nature of an endowment fund for
public education in the state, When
Governor Woodson took charge Of the
reins OF government thirty years ago
the rate Of taxation was Fifty cents on
the hundred dollars. It has been re-
duced to eighteen cents on the hun.
dred dollars, and eight cents Of this
is turned back to the public for edu-
cational purposes.
The state debt Of $21,76S.Oo0.OO.
which the Democrats found when
they came into power, has, together
with some S22OOO00o in interest, been
paid. The last OF the bonds were ta-
ken up and cancelled under Governor
Dockery's administration. leaving the
school certificates the only outstanding
financial obligations of the state The
wonderful growth Of the industries OF
the state during the thirty years OF
Democratic rule has been unsurpassed.
Our railways, manufactures, mining,
agricultural and other resources have
prospered greatly. Public institutions
have been fostered and encouraged.
The state University at Columbia has
been made one OF the greatest instE
tutions OF learning In the United
States. The old Confederate soldiers
are cared for in state home at Hlg-
ginsville, while the old Federal sol
dIers have state home at ST. James.
Thus Missouri Is caring impartially
for the survivors Of those who wore
the blue and those who wore the