The Van Buren press., 1870-10-04

The sooner they learn this truth, the bet
ter for them-and before they engage III
the chase Of the Tiger they had as well
calculate on the sadyantages of being
Chased by that animal Cheers. IL is
interesting to notice and hear the charge
tha. We are not Republicans. because we
are in favor of
UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE
The able,t journalists and statesmen in
the Republican party endorse it, and no
one opposes it save those who fear that
if the people had fair shake they could
not remain or get in offices they have no
ability TO fill Cheers. | have never
IN any manner favored disfranchisement,
and a year ago Yesterday when Mr. Ho
race Greeley did me the honor to address
me personal letter for publication on
that question, said in commenting on it
in an editorial article
We are and always have been opposed to
anv prescriptions 1t Is false to every instinct
of humanity and to every teaching of politi-
cal history. But In Arkansas the question Is
not nor before the people, nor can it be deci-
dcd by them until the Legislature meets, and
when tttaL lllllc tbllfS We Nildll IdNOl HtI
merely their restoration to the privileges of
but shall most gladly urge the
eradication OF every disabling clause from the
Statutes and Constitution ofthe State"
Such were my sentiments year ago,
and stand to day where | was then.
BoLrs AGAIN.
The course which pursued editorial
ly was the subject of bitter abuse from i'd
lots who think that the deluge viii follow
their death, and a strong fight was made
in Yell county, to have the Republican
County Committee denounce me, because
| had refused to aid the conspiracy for
the Militia, but the committee, composed
of old citizens and staunch Republicans,
not only issued an address, which wrote,
in favor of the principles enunciated in
your own platform, but adopted without
a dissenting vote the following resolu
ton:
"That the thanks Of the Union Republican
Executive Committee Of Yell county be- and
they hereby are, rendered to Col. II. l.. Nc
Connell tor his sagacioHS. patriotic and able
management ofthc Dardanelle Times"
This action was had May u, and was,
as had intended it should be, wither-
ing rcbuke to the unscrupulous conduct
of those who had attempted to get out
the Militia cheers and was regarded as
an endorsement Of my advocacy Of Suf-
frage and Reform. Cheers.
CLAYTON.
This course had been adopted by me
before Governor Clayton made his fam
ous October speech, and when he did
make it, endorsed his propositions most
heartily. receiving afterwards letter
from his Excelency dated November
10Th, 1869, in which he said;
MY DEAR SIR:
"Your valuable communication of October
20th is received. | am very much pleased and
indebted TO YOU for the able support you have
given me in your review of my little speech,
/ see that YOU understand the situation. There
is no question but that | touched the right
chord at the right time. and the effect upon
the public exceeds, by fAr, my expectations.
The Republican press have, as general thing,
given me hearty support. The doctrine. or
rather policy, is right and mean to act upon
it in good faith. It is the only policy that
will carry the Republican party safely
through the next campaign
Cheers
| have Of late been associated with
those on other matters who have made
violent war on the Governor, but as you
know | never myself joined in it, and |
tell YOU now that the Governor viii cause
all the mistakes he may have made to be
forgotten, and the people to rally around
him If he will now recollect that our pol
icy "is the only policy that will carry
the Republican party safely through"
| Loud cheers
Col. Mcconnell declared there was no
more significant indication ofthe wisdom
Of that policy, than the fact that whilst
all the Republican Conventions Of the
State had alluded TO the importance Of en-
franchscmcnt so soon as possible; none
had dared to oppose it, and the coHserya-
tor Of the public peace-thc Executor Of
the Laws--had announced that the tran
guilty of the STATE justified him in adopt
ing this policy. Nearly q year had G.
lapsed since Governor Clayton had made
this defamation, and if it was true then
it was doubly true now Enfranchiscment
was demanded not only by Republicans
who regarded the observance Of plghted
faith, but by those who recognized the
fact, that if the franchise was not opened
by the Republican party it would be con
fcrrcd by the Democracy, whose ranks
would bereinGorced 10y the thousands Of
young voters and by the increasing i'm
migration that came here without any of
the local prcjudices and with desire to
do everything to improve the state,
I Cheers Colonel Mcdonnell then quo
ted from the New York Tribune, Chicago
Tribune, Missouri Democrat, Cincinnati
Commercial, New York sun and forty
other leading Republican newspapers TO
show that Universal Suffrage was due the
Nation, not ouly because Of It's quictude
but as a party measure to preserve the
Republican organization, and read speech
es of Carl Schurz, Gratz Brown and
other leading Republican statesmen, in
support Of his position. He believed
that this great principle should be enun-
ciated by Republican Conventions and de-
fcnded in good faith by Republican can
didates. 1t was right and il was essential,
therefore, it was polite cheers and no
party could command, nor indeed did it
deserve, success that sought to oyade the
issue hy a cowardly silence. Cheers
We had declared that when the State be-
came tranquil all would be enfrauchiscd,
aud the time had arrived when those dec
larations should be verified. The greater