The Van Buren press., 1873-09-30
Stand Together.

We commend the very concliatory and
timely appeal below from the Little Rock Ga
seite TO all well wishers of the State:
We take il that there il but one common
desire among those of our friends who eppos-
ed the course Of the Gazette last year. and
those who stood by II through bad rs we'll as
guud report. Their interests "a common one !;
their differences were honest. All were and
are yet aiming at the same result, VIZ: the
restoration 10 the people of this state oi all
their rights. and the placing of all depart
meuts Of the government IN the haLds of
those elected by majority of the people. We
say this Is the result VIZ have been working
for ever since 1868, and the people OF .his
state. tie democrats and conservative citizens
generally. whose rights have been So inefci-
lessly trampled under foot, have been ready
to aiopt any means. TO pursue any policy that
proni,ed the most speedy relief We have
been wofkiBg to that end In oiir way; others,
equally - honest, differing with ns rs to pol
icy, worked in another direction. Perhaps II
is best that such was the case. with both
working to the same end, but from different
standpoint., we could not well fail in our un-
dertaking The skirnishing is now over,
however. and forgetting In what direction the
enemy was attacked in the past 1t behooves
us-ti.e conservative people of this state. and
the better element of the republicans. both
white and colored-to unite our forces again
for the final grand effort. About fifty mem-
bcrs of the legislature are to be elected this
fall. including nine senators. All agree that
the great thing o! all that is needed to purify
the affairs of this state Is constitutional con-
vcntion. That being true let us all, forgetting
the little differences which seemed to estrange
US for time unite our ferces upon men who,
should the legislature be convened, win call
convention at once, and let the people deter
mine the whole question of usurpaten for
themselves. Let US Tote for no man who will
not pledge himself 20 do this. This Is all we
have been fighting for-it is what our friends
who have opposed us desire. Whether We
were righ, in taking the course we did, or
whether those who opposed us were right is
not new a subject for discussion. Let that
pass. Now let our forces. reunited. work
with common purpose to elect members OF
the legislature who. il the opportunity Is pre-
scented. will get us out Of all of our troubles
in The sreedicst manner possble-through n
constitutional convention. Will our friends
who have been opposing us meet us Oh this
gronndy viii they shake hands over the
past and GO forward on this platform? We
have now reached point where IL becomes
criminal to continue our wranglings We
have reached place where it it Is necessary
thai cur forces be reunited for the final strug-
u, the election of members to the legisa-
turc who. should they be convened. will set
tie the whole question by restoring every
thing to the people, who can make such con
stitution as their wisdom may suggest. and
elect such officers, from governor down to
constable. as the majority may desire. DO
we join hands on this idea--democrats. con-
servaiives. and reform republicans? win our
friends at Fort Srith, Fayetteville. Camden
and Monticello. with whom we have differed
join their forces with ours on this line OF ac-
ton? If so, Let us begin to arrange for the
last and final struggle, and stand together