The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1904-09-08

exposures whatever prior to two and a
half years ago? ! defy the Republican
managers, who are so free in finding
fault. TO point to a single instance where
a boodler has ever been exposed or pros
ecuted by a Republican Official in Mis-
souri, There has been none, no, not
one Everything that has been done has
been done by the Demo ratio party.
FRUIT REPUBLICANS OFFER MIS-
SoUEL
Does Missouri wan. the fruit st. Louis
Ii was under r .publican rule in ST.
Louis from 1888 . 1871. that corruption
reached its highest point. Then II was
viIat tine city grew ripe anu went 10 rOt.
The corruption OF that era unearthed
since has astounded the civilized world
Conditions In the lawmaking body OF the
city were so wretched that even the
Globe Democrat the Republican organ,
In March, 1885. spoke Of the Republican
administrative as p follows SI;cppr THAT
FRANCHISES OF ALL KINDS ARE
OBTAINED BY BRIBERY, AND
THERE Is REASON TO RELIEVE
THAT THE FELLOWS WITH IICN
Fh1R P4 bdfssoN rs N2 70 T ENFl6 Or
TO ANY OTHER PARTICULAR CLASS
OF ORDINANCES. WHEN BILLS ARE
INTRODUCED, THEY ARE CLOSELY
SCANNED TO SEE IF THEY oFFER
6 az r ShAEHE k sSb Hose a6 WHICH hiH
SEEM TO PRESENT SUCH AN Op-
PoRTCNITY ARE HELD UP UNTIL
A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY ~
PAID FOR THEIR PASSAGE. THIS IS
TiON OR MALICIOUS SURMISE, BUT
OF COMMON UNDERSTANDING; AND
THE VICTIMS SUBMIT TO THE ROB
Berry BECAUSE THAT is THE ONLY
WAY IN WHICH THEY CAN SECURE
WHAT THEY WANT"
Corruption was king. Combines in both
branches OF the municipal assembly sold
laws TO the highest bidder Public IN
stitut'ons were neglected; public ouild-
ings went into decay. sewers were un-
made; streets were unkept Taxes were
high and the citys finances low. Cit
liens CROPPED about at night with no ngnt
to guide their footsteps except the pale
rays of the moon or the fickering CLEANS
OF hand lantern. OFFICIAL debauehery
at the protests OF an indignant public.
Developments since then have SHOWN
that Rome in her most venal period was
innocent compared TO st. Louis under
this dynasty Finally the. people rose
up and overthrow that regime through
me Democratic party Now II is solemnly
proposed to cure corruption in missouri
by turning the state over to the same
organization that ran st. Louis In her
corrupted and darkest days! When Christ
was on earth no pointed to the produc-
tlops of Nature and declared that the
same relation existed between the visible
results of human efforts I'VE shall know
them by their fruits Do men gather
grapes of thorns or figs Of thistleSf Even
so every good tree bringeth forth good
fruit. but a corrupt tree bringeth forth
evil fruit" The people of st. Louis gath
cred from this tree the thorns or de.
based public service. Do the people OF
Missouri desire to transplant the tree TO
jefferson City? Can 1t be expected 10
produce figs there when 1t gave thistles
10 ST. Louis? Shall Missouri be run as
ct Louis was run? God forbid! Mis-
souri, tasted of that fruit once, and those
were the blacklist days In the history OF
'"e S'"'' CONCLUSION.
Some Of us are Democrats, some are
Republicans, all are Missourians. Let us
be Missourians before Ne are partizans.
The rank and file OF the DEMOCRATIC
party is honest, and the rank and nile OF
the Republican party Is honest. IL dair
ger from foreign aggression should arise,
Democrats and Republicans would forget
their differences and join hands In night
ing for the honor OF Missouri. Let that
same spirit prevail in defending the state
from domestic foes who would by bribery
thwart justice and enthrone iniquity.
Democrats and Republicans, as you
would do battle for the state against the
enemies of war, i ask you to protect your
state from these enemies OF peace. Every
citizen Is a soldier In the army or peace
for liberty in the history Of the world
but the fight now going on In Missouri
Is one of the greatest for human rights In
all the tide of times 1t Is battle for
government by the people against the
bighting influences of corruption In pub.
Ito "a
between evil and good in every sphere OF
| life. Everything that Is good must be
| fought for: the bad Will take care o.
| itself The difference between virtue anc
| vice, truth and falsehood Is the samt
as between the wheat that Is sown ant
the thorns that grow wild on the high
way. The useful grain must be protected
and nurtured, while the thistle will flour
ish anywhere. So 1t Is In government
private r the me battle Sbt f aga n
right Is never quite finished. Eterna
| vigilance Is ever the price OF liberty.
The Democratic party must be eithel
indorsed or repudiated for the stand J
has taken. If the Democratic party Y
indorsed other political parties will d.
like the Democratic party has done, ant
the reign of Doodle will be at an en'
throughout the land. If the Democrati
party Is condemned, then no other part.
Is apt to fight corruption. and venalit!
will hold undisputed sway. Those VIII
believe in free government are lookinl
TO Missouri to see 1t indicated by
righteous citizenship Missourtans. wha
will your verdict be on this mighty issue
II is for you to say what message 20,
will send to the world. Will it be on
that will give encouragement and chez
to corruptionists everywhere, or one tina
will strike CONSERVATION In their ranks
May your action be such that the host
of error will be vanquished, and the
the morning of a new day will daw
in our political life.
Then the glad acclaim will be hear
from one end Of the land to the othel
Sound the loud timbrel Ger land an
DER sea,
For Missouri has spoken-and the peopl
| are free"