The Van Buren press., 1876-10-10
Plain Talk to the Boilers.

We extract from tho Fayetteville
Democrat, SO much Of an excellent arti
Gle on the situation In Arkansas" - 70
lates more particularly to our Congress
ional District. 1t takes . calm, impas.
stoned, and unprejudiced view Of oul
situation, and we wish democrats--meu
who love the party more than self-to
read it carefully. and give it their con,
sideration
In the Little Rock Congressional Dis.
trict there is trouble--a cloud comes
over the picture. The convention was
not harmonious, and the result is two
democrats, both sound and able-Stuart
and Cravens-in the field. Friends are
being estranged and embittered, and the
party is likely to be rent asunder. The
prize is within reach OF the republicans,
and they will, at once, take steps to Sc
cure it. 1t is not worth while 10 inquire
now who brought about this, who is to
blame, or what the causes. We have to
do with results. We must remedy evils
which we know to exist, without adding
fuel to the flame by accusation and re.
elimination. 1t is in the power ol
Messrs. Cravens and Stuart, and they
should at once address themselves to the
task OF settling the difficulty. The de-
mocracy Of Arkansas, outside the Third
District, by their unanimity and harmo.
ny, demand that there should be but one
democrat in the field in the District. II
is a crying shame that this spirit of per.
sonalism should SO get the better Of men
that they should imperil the interests OF
democracy, by leaving the capital dis
trlct an easy prey to the enemy. Col
Cravens has no better friend than the
Democrat-nonc who desired his nomi.
nation more; Judge Stuart We have al.
ways regarded as democrat of ability
and integrity, but we cannot, speaking
from distance and from an impartial
standpoint, sanction the course they have
taken. We tell them plainly, yet in all
kindness, that grave and fearful re-
sponsibility rests upon them. We say to
them that the democracy Of Arkansas
will hold them to strict accountability
for disasters which may follow. Let
them at once break the breach. 1t is
bad enough, in all conscience, to have
radicals represent democratic counties, as
in the case of Crawford and Sebastian
counties-to have radical congressman
from the capital district, overwhelming
ly democratic, is blunder which the
people will be slow to forgive. Let
Messrs. Cravens and Stuart adjust this
difficulty at once. If necessary, let them
both withdraw, and let some sound dem
ocrat be put in the field, who will restore
peace and harmony. If they cannot
agree, let them have the matter settled
by the members of the State Central
Committee outside their district. Or let
them chose three, or five, or any num-
Der of friends living outside their dis
trict to whose arbitration all their differ.
ences shall be submitted. Will they do
this There are many ways by which
these troubles can be adjusted.
We have no desire to intermeddle with
the politics of the third district, yet,
since the difficulties there affect the par
ty throughout the State, we claim the
right and believe it our duty to speak
with view to heal wounds that may
prove fatal to the party. Now, let our
friends Cravensand Stuartaddress them
selves to the work of reconciliation.
Let them rest assured that it is not o
question now ofwhose faultitis who did
wrong, or who committed the first Of
tense-but it is a question of party pres
ervation and integrity which rises far
above and beyond all others. The man
or men who would turn this district over
to the tender mercies of radical, with
the bitter memories OF the past fresh in
our minds, will be buried too deep for
any resurrection. So, gentlemen, stop
your warfare on each other, and turn
your guns on the common enemy-and
let the party in solid phalanx march
forth to victory. And as by harmony
and unity we succeeded in redeeming
Arkansas, so let us address ourselves to
the work of regeneration of the nation
by polling for Tilden and Hendricks a
larger democratic majority than ever
given by the State.
In this connection we wish it borne in
mind, and distinctly understood, that
Judge Stuart has offered every induce
ment; made three written propositions,
either Of which could have been accept
ed by Col. Cravens, if they had desired
harmony in the party. The last PROPOSE.
ton in writing, was that the delegates OF
the convention should re-assemble on the
basis asked for by Col. Cravens' friends,
and to assemble at any point that his
(Cravens) friends should designate, and
there to make new nomination. Sign.
ed to this proposition were the names Of
friends Of both sides, as follows:
In the interest of peace and harmony
and in order to maintain the unity and
integrity of the democratic party Of the
Third congressional district, we respect
fully recommend the adoption of the
above proposition on the part of Col
Cravens.
THos. G. PEEK, Sol. F. CLARK,
CHAs. COFFIN, J.N. SMITHEE,
THos. FLETCHER, ID. McCABE,
r. J. CHURCHILL, S. l.. GRIFFITH.
Judge Stuart, finding the great press
ure for harmonious settlement of the
difficulty in this matter after his arriva
in West was so persistent, made another
nroposition for a settlement, And tha'