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

was the home OF Silas WOOdSOn, the
arst Governor the Democrats elected
after the stormy period Of the civil
war, The name Of Silas Woodson
h 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
srnors. 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 ad-
vocates of opposing theories were
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Ham
ilton. Jefferson believed in the rule
Of the people. Hamilton advocated a
restricted franchise and special privl-
ieges 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 nome" This
means a tariff for revenue only, and
not as q special favor for any indus
try. There is a growing necessity for
tariff reduction. The high tariff policy
makes the farmer pay a tribute to the
manufactures to the extent Of the diff
ference between what he would pay
for the protected articles he buys If
there we're only a 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 menacing in
dustrial welfare. 1t is hardly possible
70 suppress the trusts by one hand
while the other is feeding them with
the meat Of protection on which they
grow fat and arrogant. The doctrine
OF protection is splendid for special in
~terests. but It leaves the people out in
the cold. 1t is time now to give the
people some protection. Equal 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 nc
division among Missouri Democrats Oh
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 beer
reduced from S21, 76S, 100000 to $4,99S,
$500. represented by the school Ger
~tifcates. Other than these certificate;
there Is no bonded Indebtedness now
and the interest on these is by Law
paid into a fund to maintain the pub
lie schools Of the state and the Stat
University. These certificates are il
the nature of an endowment fund TO
public education in the state. Whel
Governor Woodson took charge of tn
reiRs OF government thirty years agl
the rate of taxation was fifty cents Of
the hundred dollars. 1t has been re
duced to eighteen cents IN the hun
dred dollars, and eight cents Of thi
is turned back to the public for edu
cational purposes.
The state debt of S21, 768, 10000
which the Democrats found whel
they came into power, has, togethe
with some S22,00O,000 in interest, beel
paid. The last Of the bonds were ia
ken up and cancelled under Goyerno
Dockery's administration, leaving thu
school certificates the only outstanding
financial obligations of the state. TIT
wonderful growth of the industries o
the state during the thirty years o
Democratic rule has been unsurpassed
Our railways, manufactures, mining
agricultural and other resources hav,
prospered greatly. Public institution
have been fostered and encouraged
The state University at Columbia hal
been made one Of the greatest inst
buttons Of learning in the UniteI
States. The old Confederate soldier
are cared for In a state home at Hig
ginsville. while the old Federal sol
dieH have a state home at st. James
Thus Missouri is caring impartial,
for the survivors Of those who wor
the blue and those who wore tn
gray. The training school for hey
ct B%Oonville; the Industrial Home 70
Girls at C~hillleothe; the home for tn
epileptic and feeble minded at Mai
shall; the normal schools at Cape Gil
ardeau, Kirksville and Warrensburl
would be a credit to any state. Tn
Lincoln Institute at Jefferson Cit,
provides for the education Of the nj
gro at state expense. The asylums a
ST. Joseph, Nevada and Farmingtoi
care for the unfortunate insane In tn
most enlightened and humane mannel
unadtcation ~ Corrttnkion tha leslo.