Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1903-09-18

sOrGid. These demand Of those elected
to office that they be served even II
the public interests suffer. If the off,
cial refuses to prostitute his Office for
the benefit of this class he Is put I'M
der the ban of their disapproval and
forever disbarred from holding any
other ONCE. that IL, If they have their
way about II.
II is the duty OF the STATE to pro-
tect the individual in the enjoyment
OF his rights. Citizenship carries with
it privileges. II is. however, a recip-
rocai relationship. The citizen Nv cs a
duty to the state. He must contribute
to its support politically as well as
financially. His other civic duties are
as morally binding as his taxes. Pa
triotism dOes not mean merely love or
country In times OF war. There Is as
much patriotism in the ballot as there
is in the bullet. The patriotism Of
peace Is as necessary to free govern
ment as the patriotism of war. Indeed
history shows that republics are in
more danger in peace than In war.
Where wars, pestilenCes and all other
Calamities combined. have destroyed
one republic, corruption has under
mined n score.
As the people are partners in the
state, it is well enough to take stock
now and then. II there is anything
wrong, let the people know it. II IS al
ways best to let the people know the
truth. To show a man that he has
been robbed is not to SANDER him. You
are charging the rOhbcr with Lisbon
csty, not the robbed. There are no
more honest people anywhere than
Missouriang. and they are determined
TO dislOdgc the vampires who have
fastened themselves on the sta'e.
We are told corruption exists in 9th
or states. That is probably trrc, but
we will let ;nc people of other states
do their own housccleaninp, while we
attend 10 Missouri. Let Missouri
SHOW" the other states and set an g
ample for them to follow. Let us make
Missouri the first of all the states In
civic righteousness.
While other cities may have been as
corrupt as St. Louis, and other states
afflicted with as many dishonest OH
Gals as Missouri, il is true that a. no
time or place has 20 much corruption
been laid bare as here. II seemed tt
be the usual and accepted thing. III
ST. Louis franchises were sold unbluSh.
ingly by officials, the money going not
into the city treasury, but into tho
itching palms of these public pilfercrs.
No bill of consequence passed the mu'
nicipal assembly unless the members
were paid for their votes. I'll" people
Of St. Louis elected thieves TO be max
ers of laws for them. In state affairs
dishonest Legislators have sold theil
votes to a scandalous extent.
The next highest official in state gov
eminent betrayed his party and his pco-
pie and turned ont to be a bOOdler
Legislators made a commodity Of laws
and passed or defeated bills for thcil
own gain, not for public good. The,
Haunted their corruption In the faces
OF the people and outraged every sens'
OF honor and decency.
The responsibility rests on the peo
pie ioI correcting this state of affairs
Unless The people do something abOu
it, all these disclosures will be of nj
avail. the epidemic Of bribery ha.
been checked, the people must dc
their part. No man who has the wei
fare Oi his state al heart can atfor'
now nOt TO take an active pari and in
teresL in public affairs. II The corrup
tiOaistS arc ever TO be annihilatcd IL
| Altgsaa.ri az az To ,lI ~ t,... !,
do it. II IL not liEcly that 20 muCl
ammunition 10 ~. AGAINST public plum
dcrcrs VII be found ahain for year
to come. Every citizens has n worl
to do in this critical period of tn,
states history. The good or i'll effect
of the Doodle disclosures in Missouri
depends upon what the people do abou
it. Let the action Of the people b
such that the name Missouri" vii
stand for civic honor everywhere.
Tho first duty Of the people in eacl
county should be to elect to the gen
cral assembly only men Of high in
tegrity, men who ran be honest in ac
ton. No a who Is in the slightes
degree tainted with the Influences o
ter how capable he may be. We do no
need so much brilliancy and wit fl
legislative affairs. but we do nee
more common everyday honesty. n,
ability In a public official can compen
cate for dishonesty. %Insincerity OF
the part of "A public official is a specie
of dishonesty. The man who denouncc
corruption in public and then in pri
vate makes secret alliances with cor
r%uptionists is not apt to be Of mucl
benefit to tho people in official posi-
linn Tho Nnnnln nrc cnIillpl 10 hnn