The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-09-26

every possible safeguard tor
he prevention Of frauds, and provid-
.ng drastic penalties for those who
it,
Democracy has sought to make the
preparation Of such crimes as diff
cult as possible and the punishment
as sure, and it now declares that if in
spite Of these laws fraud is still per-
petrated at either the election or the
primary. we favor such amendments
to the law as will permit the open
ing of the ballot boxes for the sue
cessful prosecution of those who vio-
late the laws provisions.
The right to cast a free ballot and
have it counted as cast is the first and
greatest right of the citizen. 1t is the
foundation upon which our govern
ment rests. ''The mild and safe cor
receive of abuses, which are Topped
by the sword Of revolution where
peaceful remedies are unprovided.o
This right must and shall be pre-
served inviolate; it must be preserved
at the primary as well as at the polls.
PRIMARY's NEW CONDITIONS WILL
BE MET.
The direct primary was new to the
people OF this State. Like most new
laws, it had imperfections that be.
came manifest upon trial. These i'm.
PROJECTIONS the Legislature will hay,
opportunity to remedy. Two thing.
must be made certain; that every citi
zen viii have the right to cast hi
ballot as he pleases, and have it hon
estly counted; and that the membe
OF one political party will not be per
mitted to take part in the nomina
tons Of another.
The primary on the Democrat
side was hotly contested. 1t was BIZ
natural that some measure of disar
pointment should result, but this
far better than the situation of OF
Republican opponents. They had n
primary. A coterie of political boss,
met in secret session at Jeffersc
City, and not only named their tickt
but levelled the Thunder bolts of the
wrath al ali vino dared oppose the
right to dictate. An honorable ma
filling the high Office of Assistant A
torney- General with distinction, W
compelled by Mr.. Hadley to resi-
his place because he would not be
to the will of this political machir
It is far better for a party to fig
its battles in the open, leaving to
I people the right Of selection, ey
though the fight may bring so
scars, than to purchase harmony
s@ervile obedience to political dictat
4 ship.
SMALL VOTE A REBUKE TO REPUI
II CAN SLATE FLYERS.
II The small vote cast at the prii
ries by the Republicans is an ind
81 ton Of how little the rank and fiji,
II the party were interested in the
III cess of the ticket chosen for II
81 by the machine.
n The Republican platform court
81 comparison Of Democratic and
publican rule in Missouri, and
gladly meet the issue.
THE DARKlDAYs OF MISSOURI
From 1865 to January, 1871, ]
souri, was under control of tie
publican party. The history OF Il
dark days is too well known to
repetition. 1t was the time of
test oath and the Drake constitu
1t was the time when ministers
priests were driven from the p
ont to the Jail because they would
Iican swear that never had they held a
y IN ly feeling for some friend mare
Stole beneath a southern battleaag; it
the time when gentle women
ms torn from the school room, COW
IN II and imprisoned because they az
souri, ted they cherished in their h
udge love for a father or brother fig
for a principle he believed to be
nised The office of the lawyer was cl
Mis- the director OF the bank was
PEELED to resign from the board
the the juror taken from the court !
> tue who could not wear under the
'tates and penalties Of perjury they
l ITS never sympathized with %relatiy
stat friend who upheld the cause Q
his IS Confederacy, 1t was the time
when the best citizenship Of the Stat,
e the prohibited from exercising the
nents' of suffrage; when corrupt loca
that cials elected by a minority
.nator they selected as the only citize
lieids' lowed to vote, saddled enormous
peen issues upon many counties W
and consideration to the communit
blican ,v,e The time when bribery ra