The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-12

4ouAouy Known LOT evils of tliS G
acter. They cannot be cured by hfN.
Ing them. The disgrace is not In
their correction but In submission to
them with supine indifference.
1t Is well for state to parade its
virtues and not parade Its faults, and
1t should not be forgotten that the
highest civic virtue is the overthrow
OF civic depravity. Grafters, whether
In st. Louis, Philadelphia, Chicago,
San Francisco or Pittsburg, always
endeavor to have 1t appear that a
fight against them is a SANDER against
the city in Which they operate. Grim
inal wealth when assailed tries to
hide behind the skirts OF legitimate
business, and claims that business is
being attacked. According to their
argument grafters should never be
assailed lest some assume that all in
that city are grafters; and lawless.
ness in business should not be fought
lest it be suspected that all business
is lawless.
But so far from injuring Missouri
the reign Of law has helped her, for
during the past four years immigration
to the state has Increased twenty
five per cent more than in any other
Ike period; lands have advanced in
value fifteen per cent more than. in
any other four years; manufacture;
and agricultural productions have
made unprecedented strides; every
city, town and county in the state is
increasing in population and wealth. A
commonwealth can have no better
reputation than to be known as a
state wherein the people rule through
their laws, and where corruption Is
not countenanced.
In the work before you there is no
use for the sword, but there is a
stern demand for that courage shown
by Americans on so many battle
fields. The spirit they exhibited as
soldiers OF war we should show as
soldiers Of peace In the noblest work
to which the patriot can be called
the supreme and sublime effort to
bring little nearer, day by day, the
time when brotherhood and charity
shall rule instead of avarice and
greed; when special privileges In ev-
cry form shall be destroyed and equal
rights of all enthroned as the ruling
principle OF public, and the guiding
principle OF private life.
The most conspicuous fault Of mum
icipal governments In the United
States today is that they are gov
ernments by the few and not by the
people. There has been improvei ent
In the last few years, but there re-
mains much to be done in the direc-
tion OF better things. AS rule in
all large cities there is boss" or a.
set OF bosses and by the word
"boss' do not mean leaders that
organization must have, but one who
dictates nominations for Office, and
controls officials after they get into
office for personal interest. They
generally have behind them the pub
lie service corporation and the saloon.
They are the connecting links between
the criminal rich and the criminal
poor. They rule because the people
do not rule.
There Is more aggressive rotten
ness and less aggressive patriotism in
all large cities than anywhere else.
If the patriotism could be made as
aggressive as the rottenness the
problem OF good municipal government
would be solved by the people taking
the government in their own hands.
If corruption exists anywhere the
people are to blame. If corruption is
to be eradicated the people alone can
do 1t, What is needed is more of the
kind OF patriotism that fights for city,
state and country every day; the
kind of patriotism that will go into
battles of peace as readily as into the
battles of war.
Some eight years ago a banquet
was given in the city Of st. Louis,
which was attended by some of the
leading business men. After the re-
mast was over. the band played
America and the audience stood and
sang the familiar words, AS the last
strain OF that song died away one OF
the men with tears of patriotic de-
light trickling down his cheeks said
"Oh. that could die for my coun-
try!" Just three weeks after that