The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1903-09-17

II
it privileges. It is, however, = recip-
rocal relationship. The citizen owes 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 OF
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 . score.
AS the people are partners in the
state, 1t is well enough to take stock
now and then. II there is anything
wrong. let the people know 1t. 1t 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 robber with dishon-
esty. not the robbed, There are no
more honest people anywhere than
Missourians, and they are determined
to dislodge the vampires who have
fastened themselves on the state.
We are told corruption exists in 9TH
er states. That is probably true, but
We will let the people Of other states
do their own housekeeping. while We
attend to Missouri. Let Missouri
"show" the other states and set an ex-
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 o.
Gals as Missouri. 1t is true that at no
time or place has so much corruption
been laid bare as here. It seemed to
be the usual and accepted thing. In
st. Louis franchises were sold unblush-
ingly by officials. the money going not
into the city treasury, but into the
itching palms of these public pilferers.
No bill of consequence passed the mu-
nicipal assembly unless the members
were paid for their votes. The people
Of st. Louis elected thieves to be max
ers of laws for them. In state affairs
dishonest legislators have sold their
votes to a scandalous extent.
The next highest official in state gov
eminent betrayed his party and his peo-
pie and turned out to be a boodler
Legislators made commodity of laws
and passed or defeated bills for their
own gain, not for public good. They
fauAted their corruption in the faces
OF the people and outraged every sense
Of honor and decency.
The responsibility rests on the peo-
pie for correcting this state of affairs.
Unless the people do something about
1t, all these disclosures will be of NO
avail. The epidemic of bribery has
been checked now the people must do
their part. No man who has the well
fare Of his state at heart can afford
now not to take an active part and in
terest in public affairs. II the corrup-
| tionists are ever to be annihilated in
Missouri, now is the accepted time to
do it. 1t is not likely that so much
ammunition to use against public plum
derers will be found again for years
to come. Every citizens has a work
to do in this critical period of the
states history. The good or ill effects
of the Doodle disclosures in Missouri
depends upon what the people do about
it. Let the action of the people be
such that the name Missouri will
stand for civic honor everywhere.
The first duty of the people in each
county should be to elect to the gen.
eral assembly only men of high in
tegrity. men who can be honest in ac-
ton. No man who is in the slightest
degree tainted with the influences of
corruption should be trusted, no mat
ter how capable he may be. We do not
need so much brilliancy and wit in
legislative affairs, but we do need
more common everyday honesty. No
ability in public official can compen-
safe for dishonesty. Insincerity on
the part of public official is a species
of dishonesty. The man who denounces
corruption in public and then in pri-
Yate makes secret alliances with cor
ruptionists is not apt to be of much
benefit to the people in official posi-
ton. The people are entitled to hon.
est treatment, and the practice of po-
litical parties putting planks in plat
forms merely TO catch votes should be
condemned. The principle should be
recognized that honesty is the best pol
icy in public and private life. Do not
elect a legislator whose private char
acter will not bear the closest scru-
tiny. Evil will come out sooner or
later. II q mans private character
be bad 1t will show itself in time In
public life.
An oficial does not have to steal
from the treasury In order to be dis
honest II he appropriates to his own
use the powers which he holds in trust
to be exercised for public good, he is
Just as. dishonest Is II he were to put
his hands into the public treasury and
filch from 1t the public money.
In the beginning Of our government,
1t was found that public affairs could
not be well administered without party