The Russellville Democrat., 1875-03-18
DIR. WINFIELD's ADDRESS
To Both Houses of the Esner- al Assembly Jus. before
 AdjourHment.

is-ENTLEMEN i OF THE SENATE AND 1 HOUSE OF REFRESHMENTS l LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
 At your request l appear be- fore you, not to make political speech for I am no politician but I am here as the Arkansas beggar, asking aid for the Arkan- sas Female college, and you have done me the honor to invite me to address you a few words before parting. One member suggests no collection. I would inform the honorable member that the collection is just over. l have been for over a quarter of a cen tury missionary of the gospel in this state, and have never inter- fered in party politics. Ihave an office higher than that men can give me. I seek to improve the country by aiding in the cause of education and preaching Christ crucified. I congratulate you that your labors arc so near an end. You have toiled on through q dark and dreary night, and now the morning comes bright and beautiful. Dark has been the storm cloud that hung over politi- cal sky for many long months. The thunders have roarel furious ly, the lightnings have flashed fearfuIlv, and the winds have been
 boisterous, but, thank God, He has spoken, and the storms have obeyed Him, and now there is n great calm. Our sky is clear-the sea is calm, and, after the storm of nearly ten years, once more the ship of state is out on placid wa ters, and with as brave captain as ever trod the deck of such q vessel-our own Garland will lead us by the help of Providence, to port of great and lasting pros perity. No truer patriot, no greater statesman, than A. H.. Garland ill all the south and west. Once more we are free people; :; once more we live in free and united states, and in q united coun- try. Long has the oppres- sor's heel been on our necks-- 1 long has been the effort to degrade southern chivalry and southern pride. Long have l felt like all alien beneath my native sky, and an exile on my heath; but once more | am freeman and now l can, for the first time, stretch my hand across the bloody chasm of ten wears, and claim kindred with every part of our country. l should like to take Judge Poland by the hand, and call him my fel- low -citizen. There is a grand fu- ture before Arkansas. Let us bury the bitter memories of the past. Let it's history be written only in tears. Let us begin the work anew. Recognize every man as a friend and citizen who comes to stay and work, and neither beg nor steal. Let there be no prej
 udice of caste or complexion
 Let there be no geographical dis tinctions. Let us all be friends
 smoke the pipe of peace; bury
 the tomahawk. In twelve months
 from to-day the colored people
 will find that they never had . better friend or a truer man than
 our Garland. We now arise tC
 our work. Our forests are to be felled, our mines to be worked
 our lands to be titled, our colleges
 to be built. We must invite peo
 pie and capital from abroad. W'
 have fine timber, the highes
 mountains, the best mines, tn,
 richest lands, the prettiest wo men, the finest looking men ant
 the grandest scenery in the world but the laziest men. We want enterprise, industry and capital ' and we must have them. Arkan , sas must be represented at ou 2 grand centennial next year, an' l we venture to say when the roll Q
 states is called, no name will en
 list longer and louder applaus than Arkansas. l congratulat . you all on the happy terminatio : of our troubles, on the return c ] peace; bury all animosities, carr,
 the glad tidings to your homes F to your neighbor, greet your fam :. flies. let all be hannY. bury th