Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1903-08-21
PALMYRA SPEECH.
Eight Thousand Persons in Crowd
Addressed by
ST.LOUISPOPULAR CIRCUIT ATTORNEY
Tells Them That Issue Between
Good and Bad Government
Is Clearly Defined.

ACI vi thS DII1'IVdI SIcdheiS VI u l
day al the meeting under the auspices
of the Confederate Monument Associa-
ton Of Palmyra on Saturday, August
Is. Folk for Governor" was the key |
note Of the meeting, and was expressed
by the buttons and badges wOrn by
thousands, and In the greetings given
the circuit attorney as the next gov
ernor."
Mr.. Folks declaration, 81 am a DEM
ocrat,' was the most vigorously ap-
plauded of any in the day.
Mr.. Folks speech lasted for Nm hour
and a half and was AS follows:
You have asked me to talk to you on
good government, but be;or we enter
into that subject it Is ven to call to
mind the purpose of the monument as
sociation under whose auspices this
meeting is held. This OCCASION marks
the beginning Of 4 mo- .ment to fit
tingly honor ten brave Missourians
who met their death during the civil
war near this beautiful little city
They gave up their lives a~Ourageously
on that mellow October day Al years
ago. The proposed movement is to do
homage to the dead, no. 20 stir up the
embers OF a bitter past. The people of
all times have honored their heroic
men with memorials ar monument
and 1t is entirely appropriate Thai the
memory of those who d;6d for the
cause they believed to b. right. should
he kept alive in this manhcr. Thirty
nine years have SOEe by sincc the star
Cf the confederacy set al Appomat-
toX, and the ragged foil wcrs OF "a lost
cause. with sad hear s returned to
ruined and d"solate HON IS. The BRAY
cry Of confederate soldiers ON field of
battle has never been sur asscd in the
annals Of the world, bul as great as
was his. the sublime courage with
which after the war was over. they
10 up the duties OF civic life. has
been the admiration Of all mankind. 1t
takes as much courage +, face life A.
l. does to face death. and the confed-
crate soldiers showed IDth kinds OF
courage In the highest decree.
The evening bells of lie are tolling
for the survivors of that fierce on
iiict, and one by one they are being
laid to rest in their 81 camping
ground In the soft twilight of time
The a~nrlinoSities OF former years have
subsidized; the fires Of hatred kindled by
thai strife are dead, and from the
ashes has arisen the red rose of pa
trio,ism that blooms to-day for "A init
ed country. The deeds Of those who
wore the gray and those who wore the
bluc are now common heritage of "A
great nation. To-day some are eX-con-
federateS. some are eX-fcderals, all are
Americans. The soldiers of Lee and
the soldiers of Grant can not commend
h good on both sides. and unjustifa-
~.e acts on either side can find no
honest defenders
The position Of Missouri in that en-
counter was IN Of armed neutrality
Some who live here could agree with
the farmer who resided in the vicinity
OF Culpcpper. Va, whose possessions
lay In a district where both Union and
confederate soldiers foraged. The old
fellow n day surveyed the streaks in
lac soil where his fences once stood.
and remarked with much feeling: Il
haven't took no sides in this yer war,
but I'll be dogsed il both sides amt
took me"
The cOnfcderates and fcderalS both
foughi for good government according
2 to the conception OF each, They con
tended for the same principles viewed
from different standpoints. In the bat
tie now being waged In Missouri
against public evils, they should all be
on one side. Missouri has been In the
front In many great movements, and
to-day she IL leading In the fight for
good government being made all over
this land OF ours. The Missouri COM
promise" was al one time an import
ant political issue. This contest can
have no compromise with public plum
derers. The Missouri idea" which
other states might follow. IL unrelent-
ing exposure and punishment of Off
cial thieves, and that public once must
be held for public good and not for
private gain.
II a band Of thieves had come to 81.
Louis and looted the city there would
.lave been great CONSERVATION The
city was ~plundered for years by thieves
80 cOnscienceless az TO make All Baba's
gang seem tame. These did not swOOE
down on the city and capture II by
force and arms. They were given
charge Of the municipal affairs by the
people who elected these pilferers Ia
lie the makers Of laws for them. ~
state affairs untaithful public servants
have betrayed their trusts and prosti'
tuted their positions to a s%candalOus
extent. They have made a commodity
IouJuiotinu and ma aaed or daYaatar