Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1903-08-21

mentions only two crimes for which
the president may be impeached-trea-
son and bribery. Bribery Is treason
the treason OF peace. II all official acts
were for sale then Il government Of the
people could not long exist. II would
be a government of the few with
wealth enough to purchase official IA
vor. No more deadly blow can be
aimed at the commonwealth than
through bribery of officials.
The abuse of constitutional privileges
is a matter for serious consideration
by good citizens. The self-inCriminat-
Ing clause of the constitution IL being
used to protect public plundereds from
exposure ana punishment. II IL proper
that the individual be not compelled to
incriminate himself, but he should not
be allowed to protect others under a
privilege personal to himself, The con
stitutiOn should be so amended az tn
compel the giving of testimony before
grand juries. n exempt the man who
t~estifics from prosecution by not allow
ing any truthful testimony he gives to
be used against him. There can be no
reasonable objection to this. except
from those who fear exposure. As the
law is now. the subpoenaed witness Is
the sole Judge AZ to whether his answer
might incrlminate him. and he can re-
fuse to answer on hat ground. Still II
he does answer truthfully, nothing hat
he says can be used against him in any
prosecution. This condition of the law
puts an unnecessary burden on justice
which could be relieved by an amend
ment compelling the giving of testi-
mony and guaranteeing immunity from
incrimination.
Good government demands that there
be "A constant search for corruption.
Some think We should not hunt for
vice. but | do not believe in waiting
until II becomes so fragrant as to be a
stencil In the nOStrils of deCcncy before
taking action. If corruption exists
the sooner II Is discovered and checked
the better for the state. Corruption
does not come out in the open; II we
would find 1t va must lOOl for II. Ev-
cry engine that goes out over a we'll
regulated railroad is inspected before
it starts, to de,rC, defects. II any there
be, IT inspection reveals everything
sound. then no harm Is done; II a de
feet Is found loss OF life is prevented.
II would be folly to wait until "A train
Is wrecked by "A defective wheel or
axle before making an inspection. So
there should be an unccaSing searching
for official corruption in order that 1t
be stamped out il it exists. before 1t
endangcrs civic life. II is we'll enough
10 display our virtues. but correction
Of public evils Is the highest civic vir-
tue. IT investigation shows all to be
well, then certainly there can be no
cause for complaint. II ON the other
hand corruption is found, 1t can be
nippcd in the bud before II becomes
strong enoug" TO defy the people of "A
great state.
While other cities no doubt have
been ~ corrupt as 81. Louis, and the
officials of other states as venal as
some OF those in Missouri, j, Is true
that at no time has 50 much official
corruption been laid bare as here in
our own day. Those who believe in
free government are looking to Mis-
souri, 10 see il indicated by IA righteous
citizenship Those who contend the
people are incapable of self-povernment
likewise await the outcome to prove
their theory. The Indifference of cleo
tors has always been the weakness OF
a republican form of government. To
quicken them 10 action Is a question OF
supreme Importance.
The people of Missouri are confront
ing the gravest crisis of the history oi
the state. VIII the people take the
government into their own hands Oi
will they permit further opportunity
for plundcring? n corruption is ever
to be annihilated in the state, II mus,
be done now. The C~Orrnptionists arr
shrewd; there Is nothing they fear Nc
much as an aroused public conscience
II Is always their effort TO luil the PEG
= pie into "A false sense Of security by
honied words and high sounding
phrases. Dcmctrius, the shrinemakei
G of Ephesus, saw In the gospel of the
true God an end to his profitable bust
u He did not of course publicly put his
protest IN this ground, but he RAISED
y n mob against those who taught thu
e new doctrine, by appealing to thu
Ephcsians to stand by Diana, thu
e goddess OF the Epheslans. Ill
real interest was mercenary. bu'
. he c~raftily appealed to the 70
ligiOus sentiment OF the people Il
n accomplish his purpose. II Is Away
80. Oficial plunderers and their allies
e no not directly defend corruption
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