Mexico weekly ledger., 1904-09-08

= ANAE LAAetEItlu4 ana 1Dcs GOl com
into the sunlight 10 proclaim its cerrup
purposes. 1t Is the NEST difficult OF a.
offenses TO secure evidence of, md Wher'
n case is brought to light In the natnrl
that a never be fuliy ferreted out
These alarming conditions are the direci
result Of the Indifference Of the peopll
g their own business r9r the people II
giving attention to pubis Affairs are Al
tending TO their own business
SERIOUSNESS OF BRIBERY.
When one reflects on the conditions ol
public sentiment on the subject Of bribery
= few years ago ard links Of what 4
is to-day the change is remarkable Il
has not been long since bribery was con,
sIdcred a matter Of course Officials sold
their votes n prostituted their rus
p0snreS and the awakening. The public
conscieace was aroused to the eAoruiy
OF the crime. which. II tolerated. would
undermine government itself For while
other nenses violate the law, bribery
strikes at the foundation OF all law,
Under our form OF government, all u.
taoTlty Is vested In the people and ey
the people In ef1ciAl capacity. II there
be An oneuse greater than al others, Il
IS that Of him, IN whom such a sacred
trust has been rerosad who sells 1t for
his own gain and enrichment. II all
official acts were for sale. there would
be a government, not Of and for and by
the people. but a government OF and for
efNA " AAE Wv a = YAH N4-AAA ~
purchase official fa9ors- The giNers and
uakcrs Of bribes are tie greatest enemies
We have TO deal with to-day. The off,
cial who sells his vote Is a traitor to his
state-a traitor OF peace, more danger
Gus than the traitor OF war. History
shows that where wars and all other ca
lamities combined have DESTROYED one
government, corruption has undermined
a score, There can be no more serious
problem confronting any people than the
eradication OF corruption. Other ques-
lions concern the functions of govern
istence Of government itself. No gavern-
menf can long exist where bribery Is
tolerated in .gnoble silence.
THE MISSOURI IDEA
Until the exposures and prosecutions In
St Louis, a bribery case was practically
unheard of. There have been only a few
cases reported IN n hooks during the
entire history 81 ee- country. In the
past three years there have been more
prosecutions for bribery than in a pre-
ceding century Of our countrys history.
Following IN the lead OF Missouri, man
states are waging war against corruption
n many ciUies are dghting the powers
OF evil. The Missouri idea ia known
everywhere as meaning the unrelenting
exposure and punishment Of givers and
takers OF brides Until recently bribery
was not included in any treaty between
this and other governments. At the in
stance Of Missouri the treaty with Mex
leo has been amended 50 as to include
49, ~
with the Netherlands making bribery ex-
traditAhls- Negotiations are in progress
with other great powers 10 close those
Countries TO fugitive gfvers n takers Of
brides. To the Democratic party Of Mis-
souri, belongs the credit of lnauEUrating
this movement some argue that MIS-
souri, Is being injured by these exposures
of corruption n talking about il. No
greater mistake could Be made. The corr
rection Of civic evils is the highest civic
virtue. The past tive years have been
cause every Missourian to hold his head
higher as the citizen Of a state that Is
taking h leadstn the fight for good gov
eminent. now being made all through
thing to be ashamed of there IS every
thing TO be proud Of because Missouri
is sc5aTStng pubic ey1ls-Missouri.
trough thH Democratic party. is setting
The more boodlers are fought here the
more the name Missouri" will be a syn
onyr OF civic honor eEerywhere-
ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW.
I do not think q boodler who calls him
eelf a Democrat is any better than a
hogdler who calls himself a Republican;
both are criminals. II there be any DIFF
ference ! should say prosecute the DEM
ocrat first, because he claims TO be a
Democrat The cloak o. Democracy
should be torn from hin who dares TO
use Il as a shield for wrong doing l do
rot believe In closing our eyes 10 evil.
- NENA 49, =
the party or the state may be injured.
No party can be hurt by getting rid OF
r~ascais No state can be DETAINED by
the enforcement q law The injury
would be in the disgrace Of liberation;
Il can not be in correction. The only
way 20 stamp out corruption Is TO
u whenever and wherever 1t
doing. even In the Democratic party. /
Go not believe in waiting for the opposi-
ton 70 attack US for IL, but we should
b brave e1oash 70 Apply the surgeons
Of Missouri. IN showing that It can and
will do this. has given evidence Il Is
entitled 70 and should receive public con-
hdencs and support
SCIENCE
Boodiers do not care for our laws so
long 40 they control our politics They
not know o from bad al they
from bad politics They have
yet 20 learn whether boodllng Is bad
or not Show them that 1t 10.
The eradication OF bribery thai could be
by putting a undred men behind
prison walls. They do not fear the PEN
50 much, as they hope TO es-
cape that through some o or crook,
but they do fear an outraged public con-
They look without terror on In
ilctments Of grand turies. but they trem-
as they hear. the distant rumble OF
HtEa=@A AHAA=E AAHANA 0AkAAAA6 as - 1
by the ballot as well as by the
prison. Its remedy lies in the hearts OF
the people. The laws Inay be all right,
but IL the people are Indifferent, boodlin
sfl flourish. but on the other hand, II
people are aroused to the enormity
IF the onense. bribery can be stopped.
though not a single offender be
punished. The Justinian Code Of Rome
Is said to be the most perfect system OF
avs ever devised by man, yet while this
ode Was in operation Rome was under
by corruption The laws were all
lgnt, but the people were not A de-
,isive vote OF the people Of Missouri on
he plain issue OF Doodle would do more
the foot Of public opinion on its
neck, and by showing hat it is good
for a political party to really
light corruption
THE TIME is NOW.
The people are sovereign, and have It
are wrong. or by Indifference allow them
o go on. Through ignorance Of exist
ne conditions the people may innocently
astray, but liberation of known abuses
S criminal.
II corruption is ever TO be permanently
,verthroWn in Missouri. now Is the time
o do It. 1t is not likely that so much
ammunition will be to use against
hem again. All OF these exposures will
'e without benefit unless the people do
something about IT,. Its ramifcations are
and backed with millions of
money. But with the manhood OF Mis-
souri united in patriotic endeavOr, there
an be but one outcome. IL any one
let him travel over his state and
es the Mtssourian In his daily life Of
turdy honesty. n recognize the ster-
ing characteristics Of his nature, y he
VII realize with this reservoir OF civic
'irtue TO draw from the victory Ia GER
ron rtrr pu,opr re nrcrcr0.