New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-04-06
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Letter From Li,ue Rock, Arkan...

LITTLE Rock, March 20.
10 me Editor Of the Ns,C National Fra:
| enclose an extract from the Red River Posi-.
which think worthy of reproduction in your
columns The Post is stsunch Republican
Journal, published in Lafayette county, in the
southwestern part OF this State:
While taking a stroll through town last
fFIday, we CHANGED TO pass by the school.horse
'oF coiored children; "A glance satisfied Is
through the windows We could see the children
buSlly engaged al their studies Tbopgb tbe
common school fund was not sufficient 70 nav a
teacher for longer period than three months
yet our coored citizens have determined 10 keen
their children at school, and have continued thc
same as a pay school, This action on tue rary
OF the parents OF these children is truly bread
cast upon the waters that will return many
days hence, when the coming descendants If
Ham Will be an educated and mentally improvei
race, who will not only vote, but he able 70
pass Judgment intellgently, upon the political
affairs OF their country
we must confess that If the Anglo Saxon
race, generally evince as llttle interest IN t.t,
matter OF schools as Lewisvillans do at present.
our taith IN the continued ascendancv of that
race would be terribly shaken. We do not like
10 say unpleasant things, but must do our duty
alter US should be qualified for the future ,bev
cannot shirk the responsibilities that will de.
voive upon them as men and women, fathers
ana mothers. This part OF Arkansas cannot
always remain "A comparatively new country
anu IN less than hve years the iron horse Will
come, bringing in his train Immigrants kv the
thousands, who will here compete with your
sons "a merchants, physicians, lawyers. me-
chanlcs, etc. VIII you give your children sd
least common school education, and do your
best TO prepare them for the stirring and actiy,
future that is rapidly crowdng upon them
Our heart sank within us. last Friday. As
we passed the building formerly occupied bv
the white school There was no SIGN of life
within; no children on the play ground. with
loud, merry voices but there the building
stood, lonely, deserted, and apparently he,
elected"
l suppose that by the time this letter reaches
you, you will have had an opportunity of at
least seeing the Arkansas monster" Senator
Clayton. think you would do well to inter
view him, if you can make it convenient. |
venture to predict that, instead of finding him
IN any way approaching the Democratic descrip-
tons heretofore given of him, you will be favor
ably impressed with his frank, easy. soldierlv
bearing, and fall ia love with him at first sight.
In connection with this mention, will state
that among the last official acts of Governor
Clayton was the appointment Of several col
ored men to responsible positions Among
those appointments were those Of Hon VIM.
H. Grey, of Phillips county as circuit clerk OF
that county; Hon. j. T. White, assessor Of
the same county and Hon. j. NJ Mason, pro
bate Judge of Chicot county. The departure
of the SenatOr-eiect on last Saturday was the
occasion for a demonstration, which | regard.
from its being entirely spontaneous and i'm.
promptu, as one of the greatest honors ever
conferred on public man in this State
Cur new Governor, Hon. Ozro A Hadley
is one of the Senators from this District. and
assumes the duties of the Office by virtue OF
his being President of the Senate. Person
ally, he 10 a man of imposing presence, digni-
fed and agreeable manners, and wholesome
and healthy IN his appearance. Politically.
ne IS decided Republican, but is probably the
most generally acceptable in the party. Even
the Democracy allege no complaint against
him except that he is damned Radical"
Intellectually, also, he is the right man in
the right place, being decidedly the best cuI
tivated man in our Legislature use the
expression best cultivated" to imply both
mental acquisition and the art of displaying
the same to the best advantage head and
shoulders above any of his legislative asso-
ciates in oratory we'll rs statecraft The
fitness of the man for the position is so obvious
that his succession to the place was discounted
several days in advance, and created almost no
sensation. PuI,sEr