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

aalous extent These developments are
an indication OF a diseased condition OF
the legislative service. Corruption works
Ike q mole underground, and does not
come into the sunlight TO proclaim its
corrupt purposes. Il is the most difficult
Of all offenses TO secure evidence Of, and
where one case is brought 10 light, in
the nature Of things. there must be many
others that can never be fully ferreted
out. These alarming conditions are the
direct result Of the Indifference Of the
people TO Their own business for the
people In giving attention TO public AZ
fairs are attending to their own business.
SERIOUSNESS OF BRIBERY.
When one reflects on the conditions Of
PEBBLE ses4ti4s4e4ft-ts4 4eet-ef-
few years ago and thinks OF what "a
Is to-day the change Is remarkable. IL
has not been long since bribery was con,
sidered a matter OF course Ofheials sod
their votes and pros,ituted their trusts
without hinderance. Then came the eN-
posures and the awakening. The public
conscience was aroused TO the enOrmlty
OF the crime. which. II tolerated, would
undermine government itself. For while
other offenses violate tho law, bribery
strikes at the foundation OF all law.
Under our form OF government, all au-
thority Is vested In tho people ana bN
them delegated TO those who represent
the people In official capacity. IL there
be an offense greater than all others, "
is that OF him, In whom such sacred
trust has been reposed, who sells II Tor
his own gain and enrichment II all
official acts were for sale, there would
be a government, not OF and Tor ana oy
he people. but government OF and Tor
nd by the few with wealth enough 10
purchase official favors. The givers and
takers Of bride are the greatest enemies
we have to deal with to-day. The otn-
cial who sells his vote Is a traitor TO his
state--a traitor OF peace, more DANGER
Gus than tho traitor OF war, History
shows that where wars and an other ca
lamities combined have destroyed one
government. corruption has undermined
a score There can be no more serious
nrohlem confronting any people than the
eradication OF corruption. other ques-
tlons concern the functions of govern
ment while this goes to tho very eN-
lstence Of government Itself. No govern-
ment can long exist where bribery is
tolerated In ignoble silence
THE MISSOURI IDEA.
Until the exposures and prosecutions in
ST. Louis, n bribery case was practicalN
unheard of, There have been only Few
cases reported IN the books during the
entire history. OF our country, IN the
past three years there have been more
prosecutions for bribery than In the pre-
cedlng century OF our cOuntrys history.
Following IN the lead Of Missouri, many
states are wacing war against corruption
and manN IllleS are nenllUS Nne l'uWtiS
II evil The Missouri idea Is known
everywhere as meaning the unrelenung
exposure and punishment of gvors and
takers of brihes Cntil recently bribery
was not included In any treaty between
this and other governments At the In
stance of Missouri. the treaty with Mex
co has been amended SO as to include
bribery. new treaty has been made
with the Netherlands making bribery eS-
'raditahle. Negotiations are In progress
NTH NJ hAr close those
Countries to fugitive givers and takers OF
orlbes, TO the Democratic party OF MIS-
souri, belongs the credit OF inaugurating
his movement Some argue that MIS-
souri, Is being injured by these exposures
# corruption and talking about II. No
greater mistake could be made. The cor
ection Of civic evils Is the highest civic
,lrtue. The past two years nave been
he two years Of all others that should
ause every Missourian TO hold his head
higher as the citizen OF n state that Is
aking the lead in the fight for good gov
rnment. now being made all through
he land. Instead of there being any
hing to be ashamed Of there Is every.
hing 10 be proud of because Missouri
scourging public evils-Missouri,
through the Democratic party, Is setting
n example for other states to follow,
he more boodlers are fought here the
nore the name Missouri" will be SYM
nym OF civic honor everywhere.
ENtORN ENT Ot THE LAW.
do not think a boodler who calls him.
elf Democrat Is any better than a
oodler who calls himself a Republican
9th are criminals II there be any diff
erence | should say prosecute the Dem
crat FIRST because he claims TO be a
hould be torn from him who dares to
Sc 1t as a shield for wrong doing. l do
OF believe In closing our eyes to evil,
or fear that by making fuss about It
10 party can be hurt by getting rid of
ascals. No state can be DETAINED by
ae enforcement OF law. The injury
'oud be in the disgrace Of liberation; 1t
an not be In correction. The only way
stamp out corruption is to crush II
henever and wherever 1t shows Its head
n there be wrong doing, even in the
Democratic party, ] do not believe In
s,aiting for the opposition to attack US
)r 1t. but we should be brave enough to
pply the surgeons's knife ourselves. The
emocratic party of Missouri, In showing
nat 1t can and will do this. has given
Violence 1t is entitled to and should re-
,ive public confidence and support
.EMEDY IN THE PUBLIC CON.
SCIENCE
Boodlers do not care for our laws sc
ing as they control our politics. They
not know good from bad; all they
now is politics. But they do know goot
ct to learn whether boodling Is bat
olitics or not. Show them that It Is
I'd more will be accomplished toward:
he eradication of bribery than could b.
one by putting a hundred men behin(
rison walls. They do not fear the pei,
cntiary so much, as they hope to es
lpe that through some hook or crook
ut they do fear an outraged public con
ience. They look without terror on in
ctments OF grand juries. but they trem
10 as they hear the distant rumble o
opular Indignation. Boodling can b
,opped by the ballot as well as by tn
'-ison. Its remedy lies in the hearts o
ne people. The laws may be all right
1t II the people are Indifferent, boodlin
Ill flourish; but on the other hand,
10 people are aroused to the enormit
, the offense, bribery can be stopped
zen though not a single ,,S oife y, 49,, b
said to be the most perfect system Q
WIS ever devised by man, yet while thi
,de was in operation Rome was under
: lined by corruption. The laws were a
ght, but the people were not. A d.
sive vote Of the people OF Missouri o
10 plain issue of Doodle would do mol
IAN anything else to stop bribery b
lifting the foot Of public opinion on Il
sck. and showing that 1t Is good po
les for political party to really ngl
eruption.
THE TIME I5 NOW.
The people are sovereign, and have
their power to correct things TIL
ire wrong, or by indifference allow the
f 20 on. Through ignorance OF exis
g conditions the people may innocent
astray. but federation Of known abus
criminal.