The Van Buren press., 1874-07-14
Col. ]. E. Crayens.

son county, with pleasure. Our offence
seems to be in publishing an article from
the Little Rock RepuJlicon, headed
"wILL THEY" in which this gentleman
and other Democrats are asked if " they
will follow the lead of Garlsnd, Eng
lish, Woodruff, Compton and Others OF
this kind, or the lead of the other Hind
in which Clayton, Brooks, Mcclure Co
cut prominent figure. We are glad to
know that there is one, who the Repuhli
can puts the question to, AMI would tole
into this Radical trap, hat is ready
to respond and deny the leadership and
advice of this corrupt organ and the men
it represents.
The Democratic party is good enough
fer Col. Cravens--it is good enough for
us, and it would seem from the result OF
the election for Constitutional Conven
tion, it is good enough for a large ma.
jority of the people Of the State of Ar
kansas We want no New Party "
built up in the interest of Brooks, Clay
ton a. Co, having for its end the boost
ing into Office few constitutional office
seekers, at the expense OF the welfare of
the masses Of the State
So tar as the contest in johnson, for
Delegate to The Convention, is concerned
We gathered our information from the
Clarksville Enterprise. That be represent
ed the Brooks side and was brought out
in the interest of that patty in opposition
! to Gov. Baxter. We do not wonder that
so shrewd gentleman as our friend Cra
vens should not wish to be caught in the
company Of "Old Joe at this time
Jordan, you must lay it to the very pc
culiar circumstances by which you hay,
been surrounded We would like to see
every one that the Republican puts the
question to in the article referred to,
make as bold aud broad disclaimer of the
whole Clayton outfit, as the following let
ter of Col. Cravens;
GAINESVILLE, ARK, July s, 1874,
j. s. DuNnAM:
Dear Sir--Iu your issue Of the 7th
inst, you see proper to class me among
the .taiMyat .toA0Uers Of Clayton Il Co
Now, | desire to say to you that such in-
situations from friend or foe are not
agreeable. Heretofore i had reason to
believe you to he my frend-now, what
shall | say? You ought to know that
have as little admiration for Clayton d
! Co. as any man in the State, unless you
have reason to believe me untrue to all
the acts and professions OF my life.
Strike from your heart its baser passions
and sean my whole career, then point to
single foot print leading toward the
radical camp, except to offer battle,
y ou must be crazy or Baxter. wild. BaX
ter and Brooks are both republicans,
their quarrel is not our quarrel, and We
as democrats and members of the body
polite in giving judgment between them
prejudice Any difference of opinion
thus arrived at, should be dignihed as
honest, and is no cause OF quarrel. am
led to believe however that you do net
so treat the matter, and hence this unnat
ural fling. 1t will be remembered that
we supported Brooks in 1872, because OF
his advanced position ON the enlranchise
meht question only, not because he was
of our party The support given to Bax
| ter since by democrats is not because he
is of our party, not because he has done
exactly right, but because he has done
far better than Clayton or lladley, and
far better than we expected Now, that
the hopes OF the true people are likely to
b realized in the establishment ofa good
government, by the Constitutional Con
venton soon to assemble | think it bad
policy to allow the honest difference o.
opinion as to the rights OF these. two
men, to disrupt or disorganze the demo
! crate party in the selection OF servants
to administer it. Is there a sane or sound
democrat in the State who, in the com.
ing campaign, would select Joseph
Brooks as our standard bearer? No
Wa they then select Elisha Baxter
No, and for a like good reason they are
both republicans. Let fight after fight
ensuc, elimination and recrimination be
made, still there will exist and should be
made distinction between the demo.
cratic and conservative element of the
State, and those who gave aid and coun
tenance to the wrongs and injuries Of re
construction, broad as the milky way |
do hope that your good sense aud pa
trotlsm may be and is 50 stable, that you
may not as citizen or journalist eudeav
or to wipe it out. My efforts have been
to urite aad solidiry this element. and
make broader and wider the distinction.
IL cannot be supposed that this fling is
made at me, on account Of my being a
trIckster or chronic Office seeker, because
you hive in private conversation said to
me, that would never get office, for the
want Of 6razen faced seeking | did not
then treat it as n compliment without
merit, for j never held n civil Office that
paid one dollar, nor military commits
sion that did not cost blood, You also
misrepresent me greatly. when you say
that represented the Brooks element
here in the late election Ny opponet is
an honorable good maa and scohed and
scorned the idea of being Baxter candi.
date did the same so far as Brook,
;s onpcnrnoJ Tho .lo.,tn, Ia ,,,,o