Mexico Missouri message., 1903-10-29

invincible because they are just.
Paramount Issue.
The eradication of bribery is there
fore the paramount issue before the
people of Missouri. Let the Democra-
cy of Missouri speak in thunder tones
upon this mighty issue. The result OF
the fight here will give encourage
ment and cheer to the law-abiding
everywhere, or discourage and de-
press. It is not question who should
occupy this or that office, who should
be Governor. II partial friends have
mentioned my name In that connec-
ton they agree with me that the In
terests Of the public are above any
person. believe in the honesty OF the
great masses. They are against cor
ruption. They believe in the perfec-
ton of the government established by
the fathers. Our splendid educational
system has spread amongst them an
intelligence of the advantages OF the
political organization under which we
live. Their love of country and OF
party is beyond question. Let any
and at a moments notice million
sturdy hands will grasp the sabre and
the musket to defend the safety and
honor of the state and nation. And
that same spirit exists among the
people to protect the states safety
and honor from domestic foes. Our
greatest domestic foes are those who
would destroy by corrupt and criminal
methods the intent and spirit of our
institutions. deprive the people OF
their honest expression of opinion at
the ballot box, thwart their efforts for
just and necessary legislation, impede
and vitiate the administration Of the
law, and poison the fountains Of JUS
tice. The principal weapon of these
domestic foes is bribery, which is even
now beginning to be a serious menace
to the nation itself. It is not confined
to Missouri. Throughout the length
and breadth Of the land It exists. In
the prosperity of the people and their,
devotion to business interests they
have forgotten that eternal vigilance
is the price of liberty" But they are
ready to fight these domestic foes, not
with bullets, but with ballots and the
law There is as much patriotism in
the ballot as In the bullet. The people
are aroused to the condition of things.
They foresee the dangers ahead, un-
less bribery and corruption be stamp
ed out. They realize that It is not
question Of this or that mans candi-
dacy, but one IS nrinciple, the triumph
Of which personal consid-
CREATIONS. - MISSOURI IS the
patriotic r,nu IS ng against the
powers Of uuSoIs as we are fight
ing here Missouri the senti.
ment has spread throughout the land.
Other and important political Issues
require consideration and solution,
but above all issues there stands pre-
eminent the issue Of obtaining purity
and honesty in the making and admin
istering of law in every department OF
the government, municipal, state and
national
My friends, 1t is no exaggeration to
say that the eyes Of the world are on
Missouri, to see what the people here
are going to do on this momentous
question. If this great state, with its
glorious history, with its memories Of
illustrious statesmen, who have added
lustre to the pages of our country's
history, should shrink from the task,
then 1t might well be believed that the
decadence of the public conscience
has begun. But the people Of Mlssou-
ri are not going to retreat; they are
going to charge the stronghold of the
corruptionists again and again until
it is shattered by the shafts Of the law
and riddled by the mighty power of
public opinion. Let Missouri be dis
tinguished as no other state is distin.
guished for good government. Let
Missouri lead the other states and set
an example for them to follow. When
insolent corruption sneeringly asks:
What are you going to do about it?"
let our answer be given by hundreds
Of thousands Of patriotic Missouri
Democrats, who hate corruption and
despise wrong Then Missouri, the
fifth state in population, will be the
first In civic righteousness and Ameri.
can manhood. True Democracy means
the rule Of the people. It is time for
the people Of Missouri to do their own
thinking, and take the government
into their own hands, where it belongs.
With the Missouri Democracy true to
its traditions on the side Of civic hon
OF the hosts of error will vanish like
evil spirits at the dawn Of day.