The Van Buren press., 1874-05-12
VAN BuREN. May 4, 1874.
Mr.. J. s. puxHAx, Editor of the v. B. Press !:

one received from him. in which ventured
10 express the opinion that a majority OF the
| people Of Crawford county were IN iavor OF
sustaining Brooks as Governor. believing that
he was the choice Of the people as expressed
at the ballot box. and being opposed TO usur-
pation.. frauds and ballot box stuiilng.
The note referred to was probably shown
to Mai Sparks of the Herald. AS he published
a paragraph In his paper substantially en-
body ing its subject matter, and adding.
4" Crawford county is all right, This para
graph OF the Herald is quoted in your paper
of the 2sth ut. and commented upon. Ms con
ceive, rather dogmatically. In your com
ments. speaking of the person supposed by
you to have written the letter referred to by
the Herald. you say. Let him show his hand.
This Is n matter In which no one should be
afraid To speak out Ii Is a time when Arkan.
sas should know her friends. The only in
ference to be drawn from the last sentence is
that in your opinion, no man who Is In favor
Of sustaining Gov. Brooks. even upon the
hypothesis that he was legally and constilu-
tionally elected. is n friend to the State. II
such are your honest convictions, be them So
your right to entertain them will never be
questioned by me.
Allow me to say. however, in reference to
m, self, that If to be in favor OF maintaining
the sanctity and purity the ballot box. and
of installing In Office, whether high or low.
stitutes me an enemy of the state or OF The
people cannot help it; and assure you that
| am neither ashamed nor afraid to speak
out " OH this subject.
In conclusion, as / do not wish to trcspass
upon your time, allow me TO say. however
old-iashened it may appear that ! do not
and cannot subscribe to the dogma that "the
end jnstifies the means, but on the contra
ry, maintain, that all proper ends should be
attained II attained ut all. by the use, and by
the use only of proper means; and herein. l
imagine. is to be found the solution TO the
true cause Of division Of opinion in reference
to whether Joseph Brooks or Elisha Baxter
should be Governor.
Very Respectfully,
II. + THOMSON.
| Perhaps our reference to the assertion Of
Gen. Thomson, that Crawford county Is all
right" for Brooks. was n little dogmatical.'
BE that as 1t may. 1t was not very compli-
mcntary to the gentleman to write a"prl-
vatc letter to Mr.. Clendenning saying that
Crawford is all right for Brooks, when 1t was
not so. aud for him tell his friend Markham
to tell somebody else to 60 and tell Major
Sparks of the Herald to have 1t published.
There was no need OF sneaking under cover
of other gentlemen to fire shot at the Press.
We have no ill-will for the gentleman or for
his opinion on this subject-he has the same
right to express his that we have ours and we
certainly find no fault. The columns of the
Press would have been open to him il he had
asked it.
well knows. that the people OF Crawford
county with the present surroundings OF
Mr.. Brooks, Powell Clayton, MClurs & CO..
are not for him and do not sustain him In the
lnsurrectlonary proceedings recently insti-
tuted Gen. Thomason cannot go through
the streets of Van Buren,. where his labors
have been the most active. and find twelve
men that are for Brooks, Clayton & CO., while
on the other hand, he will find five times that
many for Baxter.
The issue, now, Is not whether Joseph
Brooks or Elisha Baxter shall have power In
the State, but whether Clayton, Mcclure &
Co. shall rule, or the people OF Arkansas shall
govern by free unrestricted voice at the bal
lot-1ox.
II Gen. Thomasen chooses, on an abstract
right, to array himself on the side of Powell
Clayton and his kind-and there is but two
sides in this contest-n opposition to the
large majority OF the Conservatives of the
| State, so be It," For ourselG we shall try
and coniinc our efforts and actions very close
to what W. deem the best interest of the great
mass of people Of the State, regardless Of hat
those may think Of us who look upon them
selves as the mouth pieces of the party, and
who think only accessory for them to speak
the word for all to follow Nothing we can
do shall lure the Conservative voters of the
County or the state of Arkansas into the snare
(bated with Joseph Brooks set by Clayton
4 Co. for their destruction.
And, In conclusion, we DO " subscribe to the
dogma that " the end iustifes the means, "
in this case-anything, most, rather than that
we should again be turned over, bound hand
ard foot, to the tender mercics Of the Clay
ton dynasty, for long years to come.
.