Arkansas true Democrat., 1860-05-19
Mir. EpIroR-Those who were present

Mir. Ep1ToR-Those who were present at the late State convention may remember a set speech, delivered with great deal of self complaceney peculiar to "your orator." which was vehemently applauded by the disorganizers. To some this speech was not new It was delivered in sister State with some change of party names against Gen. Jackson and his army of of- flee holders. It was redelivered in Arkan- sas against President Fillmore In 1854, in the State convention it was reproduced, and in 1860, it is brought forth again. This would be no demerit, if 1t was not of itself miserable mess of sophistry, and only allude to its frequent delivering to let those who heard it for the first time, know that it is part of a slender stock in trade regular old stager who is made to do duty on every possible occasion. It is the same old coon, though the tail may be painted sky blue to hide the rings Indeed, its author is man of many words and few ideas, and 1t behooves him to nurse and coddle any idea that he may accdently get into his head.
 The points made, or attempted to be made were these:
 l. An office holder should not take part in politics or have equal rights in conven- ton.
 2. That office holders were prompted by interests or selfish motives.
 The sophistry of the first position is ap- parent. It Is piece of federalism that will not stand the test Democracy is equality. All free white men have equal rights. It starts upon the line of equal rights. It starts upon the line of equality and holds that no accident of birth, no transmission of blood, or position makes one man better than another. A demo- cratic convention is an assemblage of equals -a meeting of peers-a congregation of democratic delegates from democratic people, Every delegate on that floor was entitled to equal rights, equal privileges and equal honors. The attempt then to declare any one delegate ineligible to any honors, or less entitled to them than others, was creating caste dividing them into superlorS and interiors, was aristocratic III its nature and undemocratic in it's tendency. Whenever in politics or religion man says to others Stand aside, for l am holierthan thou" set him down for deme- gogue and a Phalisee. If your readers will look at 1t, it will be seen that the at tempt was to degrade some that the others might rise by contrast. Setting this aside, there was another fact. Each of the dele gates was sent by democratic constituency and to attempt 10 lower the representative was to attempt to lower the people, Whether farmers, mechanics, or office holders, they and each of them was the peer and equal of any lawyer there, and a: deserving of any position of honor as any orator of them all.
 But the pretence for this movement which is the second position is calumny To assert that office holders are corrupt k to slander body of men as pure as others and as at least one-third of our people art either seeking or would accept office, i implies that they too are corrupt or desire to become so This humbug of praying not to be led into temption applies equally to all men in or out of office. 1t is ia vorite assertion of the :" outs," that office holders are not to be trusted. But in party politics it seems to me that the fact of s man having been honored with an office i: an argument in his favor. If the people have had confidence in him and entrust hin with their business; if the Executive has contided important trusts to him, surely this is evidence that he is an honest man It is humbug, bamboozling buncombe, tC suppose that because a man Is made post master, register or agent, he becomes { scoundrel, is the veriest stuff ever prateC by a noisy demagoguo. And these same fellows would eagerly accept one of these offices, or seek 1t for one of his kith anc kin. An honest man is the equal of al other honest men, whether he makes hi' living by tie blow, the tools of the mechanic, the pen, or draws salary iron government for work and labor done. A all times and at all places, and especially Ill a democratic convention he is the equa of any aristocrat who, because he is { lawyer and lives by the miStortunes o others, attempts to sheer at men and de 1 grade them.
 But enough. l have alluded to thi aristocratic sentiment because the dioor ganizers are trying to make capital of it il national politics.
 ours, ELOM.