The Van Buren press., 1870-11-01
Boles vers. Edwards.


DEAR Press -
Will you permit ati old Republican to
call the especial attention of the voters
of this Congressional District, to the two
candidates now asking our support for
that important position. And as don't
essay to write often for the public, l hope
you will allow me to use farmer style
and language.
Now, sir, let me premise by saying,
that we profess to be opposed (as par
ty) to trichery, to bargain and sale in Of
Jfce, bribery, maJeasance in office, and
corruption generally. Well, if We are
sincere in these professions of honesty
of purpose, ! entertain the opinion that
we have good opportunity now offered
of showing our candor
Let me ask who are the candidates for
Congress?
Hon. Thomas Bolcs is one and Gen.
John Edwards the other. Who is the
best Republican "By their works ye
shall know them" is the language Of IIo-
ly Writ. What are their works. Might
| not say that cardinal principle in oul
creed is, that Republican must have
been at the right time a Union man. Was
Judge Boles such until it was more popu
lar and profitable in his neighborhood to
be so l answer he was not. Did he,
Boles, exert himself, when the Confede-
rate authorities occupied the Territory
around him, but when the Federal army
was in SO to 100 miles from him, to prove
his loyalty to the Union? No, sir. But
the little Deputy Conscripting-or lick.
spittle position in the Southern Army
with an energy he has not shown since,
he hunted down and doged the Union
men and Rebels who refused to fight I'm
ion men. But let us follow this candi-
date further. Has he been true to repub-
can principle since? We cannot bring
many affirmative charges against the
Judge while in Congress, for man 50
egregiously ignorant as Boles is, is too
diffident and imbecile to attempt to say
or do much in such body as the Ameri-
can Congress. Hence, but few efforts.
We will mention only two--a positive
and negative effort. He proves to be
neither true Republican nor friend to
the common people, (The only people
who have ever taken any notice Of him,
except to spurn him. When the Little
Rock and Fort Smith Railroad charter
was granted, the Representative in Con-
gress from this District, looking to the
true interests Of the people, had it incor-
poratcd in said charter, "that all citizens
settling upon Railroad lands should have
the same at $3.50 per acre." And during
last session, when Boles was there at al
enormous expense to us--the taxpayers
to look after ohr interests, with moth
ing else to do, it is said and believe
commonly believed, that before glitter
ing prize was presented, Mr.. Boles on
the subject That when the proposition
was introduced to repeal the clause of the
charter restricting the company, Bolcs at
first, as / said, opposed it but suddenly
and without additional light, as far as we
know, Boles turns round, and ifhe didn't
vote for the repeal, lodged the question.
ask, in all candor, can We endorse a
man who thus betrays us at such times
as we most need his help?
But 1 have said he made an affirmative
effort-what was that? Well you have
heard the senseless twaddle about two
dollars day and roast beef, and then
about forty acres land and mule Well
the presumption is, that Judge Boles in
dulged in such promises in order to OBJ
tain the votes of the colored people at
the last election, and therefore he intro
duccd Bill to give to the colored men
over 81 years old forty acres of land.
Now, Mr.. Editor and voters, wish to
ask few more questions. First, | ask,
white men are you willing that the public
lands should be given away to the blacks,
while we must do without, being many
of us liable to buy, Is this republcanism
or is it unmitgnted demagougery And
to the black man | would ask, do you be.
levc Bolcs better friend to your race
and color than to his own? or do you
not know? lie well knew this Bill would
be voted down by a unanimous Congress
and he aimed TO come home and honey
fuggle you by telling you he introduced
it.
But must conclude as am going be
yond my limits. =,
Now. who is General Edwards ?? Well
can't tell where began to know HIM,
but know this, from then till now: he
has been an honest man and Republican
and if aught like reproach has ever fol
lowed him in or out of the army, never
heard it. He is honest and competent
and deserves the united support Of the
REPUBLICAN PARTY.