Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-09-29
ARKANSAS.
The Grand Democratic Ratification
Meeting at Little Rock on Satur-
day Last-Spseehes and
Resolutions.
4 Real Old,Fashi0ned LOVe-PeaSt-
What Leading Politicians Have
to Say Of the PrOspects-A
Cheerful Outlook.
From an Occasional Correspondent.l

| LITTLE Rock, September 26.-Beine
a brief sOjOurner In this, the metropolis Of
Arkansas, and having seen it announced in
the Gazette, Of this city, which seems to be
the organ Of the Democratic party Of the
state, that y. H. Garland, Democratic nOmi-
nee for governor; ". W. Wiltshire, Demo
-. cratic uOuiuee for congress- from this the
third district, and several other prominent
Arkansas politicians, would address the Eco
pie In the statehOase yard to-day, We deter
mined 10 20 and hear them. About ten O'Clock
this morning a brass-band commenced play
ing on markham street in front Of the Little
Rock Gazette Cfhce and very soon proceeded
10 the statehouse yard, where 8 stand had
been erected. There was not 50 large crowd
as We expected upon such an occasion, and In
I q city OF about twenty thousand people. At
night, however, Is the most appropriate time
/ for pablic speaking in cities, and there being
but one state, and In this county lPulaski)
] but one county ticket in the field, We think
/ caused much less interest % De taken in the
/ pending canvass than there would have been
| II both parties had state and county tickets
TOOK to be . erman, and q very good one Colonel
! Clarke, OF this city, who looks and talks like
| q plain, Ols-ime Arkansas Democrat, called
] the meeting 20 order; and having been made
l chairman thereof, announced lhs order or
/ speaking and READ out the names or promin-
] ent gentlemen, who were invited TO come up
! ana take seats on the stand, among whom
/ were Governor Baxter Judge Rose, Colonel
! sam Williams, Hon W W. Wiltshire, ana
| others, OF Little Rock: Colonel Stewart, Of
! Arkadelphia, Colonel Pomeroy and Colonel
/ Nj. Mcmillan. Of Clarke. CoIODel Garland,
! whom we wished much 70 near and " no " fls
/ announced as the frst speaker, was not pres
! ent, which caused, We noticed, expressions OF
] regret from many. A cau was then made for
/ McMillau, a humorous-look1ng, bali bald
/ headed gentleman, who made a little talk,
! more about the late congressional convention
! at ClarksvLle than anything else, and partic-
ularly the leading part he himself took there
10, having in bis pocket and voting thirty
seven times, six or seven counties. BE made
made no attempt ~ an argument, seeming 70
think that every Democratic candidate would,
as a matter OF course, be elected. From
his general style, manner and ex-
preston, be has evidently enjoyed himself
around on the circuit in the agricultural dis
trictE, with his brother attOrneys, in the Ar
kansas saddlebags practice. de could no
doubt have made much better speech II he
had tried, and thought Il necessary. The next
speaker was Colonel SteWart-we think he
was cailed-irom Arkadelphia. He made a
short, plain, sensible speech, somewhat OF the
Baptist preacher style, and from the great
number Of times he called the name Of Demo-
crat and Democratic party, We very readily
concluded that he was an old Jehenonien
and States-rght Democrat, whom the war,
with the destruction OF slavery and the other
changes IN our social and political economy,
has changed very little, II any. There are
many such venerable and honest relics OF the
past. Like Mcmillan, he urged every one to
vote for the new constitution and the Demo-
cratic ticket and then would follow peace,
prosperity and good government. Judge W.
~. Rose was then Introduced by the chair
man. He said be was Just down from the
ClaI ksville convention, and was not prepared
70 speak. He made some very appropriate,
well timed and very senpible remarks about
the new consultation and the great superior
ity OF il as compared with the one II
would supercede n adopted, as he did not
doubt IL would be by a very large vote. He
did not seemingly attempt 70 make a speech
Judge Rose 10 q man OF great legal attain
ments, Il ~ said, and We would infer from his
remarks, more OF the lawyer than the poll
ucian. His dress, general style and appear
ance, remind you Of frst-class Presbyterian
preacher, something not perhaps frequently
observed in the general make up and presen-
tstion Of an Arkansas lawyer. Mr. Wiltshire,
nominee, As we said, for congress, followed
Judge Rose. He was, IL seems, elected OF
counted in" on the Baxter ticket, one year
ago, but, as he sustained Baxter IN his gubsr-
material contest, and bis war with Brooks
last springs, all the other members Of congress
from Arkansas were against him At Washing
ton, aud he was therefore unseated and
Hines, a carpetbagger and Brooks man, was
earnest and argumentatiye speech OF any we
heard. He Is . staunch, plain, seif-reliant
looking man, and though a carpetbagger, be
washington, that the Democrats nomi-
mated him yesterday for congress,
feeling thai there was = debt Of gratitude
due that ought 10 be paid him. he read sew
eral seotioDs Of the constitution, and contend
ed that Il IS much better instrument than
the old one, msde IL lc6S, and said that BY the
old one two-thirds OF the officers were ap-
pointed by the governor, but by this one they
we've all 70 be elected by the people; that lhe
old one Is an ofhce constitution but that the
stitutlOn and that the new constitution guar
antees, fully Is can be done, the equal
rights OF all men before the law, without re-
gard 70 race or color. While perhaps not e
man Of mo-e than ordinary ability, Mr.. VII
shire no COubt, viii make an active member
OF congress, judging from the manner IN
which he pulled on his coat and went into his
subject soon after the commencement Of his I
speech. He invited Mr.. Hines, his Repubu-
him into the canvass, or, - he called n. soa
the road 70 Washington" Having, |
as We are tod, the fun support
eral Republicans OF both colors, e is thought
by those who are competent 70 form a correct
opinion that he will be elected By a very large
majority. The chairman then announced
that Colonel sam. Williams, Mr.. Howard and
General Newton would adore~s the people
after night in the criminal cour' room, IN The
Beniam block. When we entered the room
Colonel Williams was speaking 20 q good sized
crowd, which we took 70 be composed very
largely OF business men. He made rather
familiar, practical talk IN favor Of the new
constitution, which, from the well-known
character and good standing Of the man. was
llstesed 70 with interest, and received with
much appreciation. Mr.. Howard was next
called for, and made, as we think, Ire speech
Of the day Il was calm, pointed, able and
earnest argument, devoted mostly 70 the new
constitution as compared with the old one.
The expressive views, the liberal sentiments.
and the forclble, chaste language In which he
ing, We should think, % men OF both races and
both parties. He gave a brief account OF
the eduN--a DtAls itttas og AoAouct ddIthuGf
assisted by him, which was very interesting
~ showing That the people were coming 10
hear them As they never mad before, the
audiences being large and composed OF both
races. SIR. Howard is q northern man, we
learn, and practicing lawyer in Little Rock
since 1865, and We infer from what he said, he
has all the time been identified with the
democratic party, and opposed to Clayton
and his party Of oppression and class-legisla-
ton. IL would be Ereat benefit 20 the south
N she had many thousands OF men from the
north engaged IN all The avocations OF life
whether hey v3ief the Republican OF Demo-
cratic ticket, II tney were in principles and
Howard seems 10 be fTom the speech we heard
Ilfm make. we len Just before Mr. Howard