The Russellville Democrat., 1875-09-16
 Hon. R. w. Johnson.

Hon. R. w. Johnson. A late number of the Fort
 Smith Herald contained a commu-
 nication signed "3S," speaking
 very highly of Governor Garland,
 and ying the people would re-
 ward him, and urging Hon. R.
 w. Johnson as the most suitable
 person for Governor Garland's
 successor.
 We have none but the kindest feelings for Mir. Johnson, who was
 for many years resident of this county, and who in times past served the state we'll and faith fully. But it should be borne in mind that with the commence ment of reconstruction Mir. John son gave up his residence in this state and became a citizen of the District of Columbia, where he has continued to reside from that time to the present, practicing law in connection with Gen. Albert Pike. Mir. Johnson was absent during all the long, dark days of reconstruction, and escaped the ills which his more unfortunate neighbors had to bear. He took no part in the long struggle which finally ended in our liberation. We have no fault to find with him for this, but simply mention it to show that MT. Johnson is not resident of the state, and conse- quently it would be out of place to recall and make him Governor.
 There are many worthy and competent men who remained in the state and took part in the effort to free the people from rad realism; who by reason of having been here through all the differ ent changes and phases which we have seen during the past seven years are more competent to dis charge the duties of Chief Execu- tive of this state than Mir. John son. We have entered upon new era-one of progression-and Arkansas can take no step back ward. The man who takes the place of Garland must be young, active, progressive and conserva- tive, thoroughly imbued with the spirit which animates the present administration, acquainted by ex- perience with the changes through which we have passed during the past few years, and one who has been of us and with us through all our vicissitudes and trials. As well might the legislature, in 1876, elect Judge Parker, of the United States Court or the West ern District, to the U. s. Senate as for the people of Arkansas to elect Mir. Johnson Governor. The proposition of the correspondent of the Fort Smith Herald relative to Mir. Johnson is simply absurd.
 We say this in all kindness. We do not believe Mir. Johnson expects or desires his name men, toned with the Governorship or any other office of the state-and we write this more in his vindica- tion than otherwise.
 The foregoing from the Pine Bluff Press has our hearty and unqualified approval. We en- dorse the position taken, and share the feeling in which the ar ticle is written. We cannot now ignore the claims of those who have been with us through the brunt of the battle, and whose eX- perience of the past eight years makes them thoroughly acquaint- ed with the needs of our people, for the sake of honoring others for what they have been. MT. Johnson has been in times past, an honored citizen of our state, and is today loved and respected by our people, but there are others who by virtue of their noble ser vices in behalf of our state have claims which Mir. Johnson hlm- self would not ignore, and cer- tainly his friends should not do him the injustice to push his name forward.