Mexico weekly ledger., 1904-09-08

"0 SupPoTl OF Inc ticket, and
present a united front to the opposi-
Ton. Let all good Democrats forget
personal differences, and remember
only the good of the party and the
weliare al the state. We want all of
tne decent elements Of the party unit
Cd, but We do not want harmony with
the corrupt elements, and we must not
give up any of the principles for
which we have contended. These prin-
cfples OF right and justice are the foun-
dation Of true Democracy.
MANAGEMENT OF THE STATE.
The Democratic party has been in
power in Missouri for thirty-one a
mas the management Of the state by
mat party been good or bad? Our op-
ponents sneeringly say that after
thirty years of Democratic rule, we
now proclaim that the eradication of
corruption is the paramount issue. 1t
Is true that the Democratic party pro
poses to stamp out corruption, and has
made It's cure the paramount issue OF
thls campaign. | am proud to belong
70 q party that is courageous enough
TO do that. Do our opponents mean to
charge the Democratic party with re.
sponsibility for boodling Of indtyidu-
ais in Jefferson City? II a party is re-
sponsible for the corruption that goes
on under its administration, and for
Doodling done by individual members
OF that party, then there should not De
a greasy spot left of the Republican
party, under the administration Of
which the carnival Of corruption -four
ished in st. Louis. st. Louis boodling
compared with the boodling at Jeffer-
son City was as a cyclone to a sum-
mer's breeze. Both were bad enough
TO startle the world, and should arouse
every honest citizen to the necessity
of stamping bribery out. But to charge
either party with the responsibility for
the shortcomings of Individual men,
bers of that party is a mere bandying
of words. l do not like to hear men
say there have been SO many RepubIi-
can boodlers and so many Democratic
boodlers, The boodler is. neither Dem
ocrat nor Republican; he is a Grim
inal. The counting of Doodle noses
serves no practical purpose. The main
question is, under which flag are they
marching now l will take up this sub
ject later on. Suffice it to say at pres
ent that neither party as such is re-
sponsible for boodling, but there is
honor due the party that stops it. This
the Democratic party is doing.
RECORD OF DEMOCRACY.
What has been the record of the
Democratic party during its lease of
power in this state. The people are
partners in the affairs of state, and 1t
is well enough to take stock now and
then, to let them know how their af-
fairs have been managed. The Dem
ocratic party must give an accounttef
its stewardship. Here is the record:
When the reins of government were
put in tne hands of the Democratic
party thirty years ago. Missouri was far
down in the list of states. Under a
careful fostering of public enterprises,
encouragement of industries and eco
nomical government. Missouri has be-
come the fifth state in the Union in
population, and first as a producer Of
ali things necessary to the happiness
and comfort of man.
STATE DEBT.
The state debt thirty years ago was
$21, 768, 900. This has all been paid, to-
gether with interest amounting to $22,-
900, 900. The last bond was taken up
and cancelled under Gov. Dockery's
administration. The only outstanding
financial obligations of the state are
the school certificates, amounting to
S4,13S,000, which are in the nature Of
an endowment for the cause OF
education in the state. I am not one
Of those who would hold a party of to-
day responsible for things done by
that party thirty years ago. | do not
believe In living in the past, but in the
present. / do not think 1t necessary
to go into the infamies of the Drake
constitution, whereby women went to
prison for praying, lawyers and doc
tors for practicing their profession,
and ministers for preaching the Cos
pei. Every falrminded Republican
now admits the injustice of that In
strument, and classes it with the mis-
takes of the long ago. The following
statement in the state Republican
platform, however, renders it neces-
sary, in order to be Just and fair, to
examine briefly the origin Of the state
debt. l read the following extract
from the Republican platform:
WHEN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
7TRST CAME INTO POWER IN THIS
STALE, THEY INHERITED A DEBT
| OF $S6, 900, 1000, EVERY DOLLAR OF
IT CREATED BY THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY. IN SIX YEARS THE RE-
PUBLICAN PARTY REDUCED THIS
DEBT TO $21, 00G, 900, WHILE 1T HAS
TAKEN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
THIRTY YEARS TO PAY OFF A
PORTION OF WHAT REMAINED.
From 1851 to 1857, while the De-
mocracy was in power, the states
credit was loaned to certain railroad
companies, to aid in the construction
Of railroads. 1t was common practice
at that time for state governments to