The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1877-09-18

/. thuINlulttl ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WIN ou
people be benefited by the Gazette
deasY If so, will that Journal explain tt
us the simple word show p Now, these
are questions we want to know, and M
lodging. Helena World,
Time and time again we have tried tc
explain the great benefit that would ac
erue to Arkansas from % speedy settle
ment Of her old bonded debt. Arkansas
has no credit. She has never had any
from the fact that she has never been a
paying State For forty years she has
been piling up debts and never making
provision for even the interest on her
| bonds. Criminal Encouragement and
the shameless profigacy of her admins,
tration before the war, and the plumber
ing schemes of adventures during the
reconstruction period, piled upon her
mountains of debt for which the people
received little benefit. But it is not
worth while to consider h0ro we got in
debt. The people know enough about
that, and would prefer to hear some
thing as to the means to be employed to
relieve us of the weight that is crushing
us.
Now, what is il that influences the Ga
zErTR z The Gazefta hnlievas that it is
the province of journalsm-its highest
duty-to point out so far as it can, the
path that will lead to safety and prosper
ity. That ray Is not reputation. Tie
Gazette believes that if the creditors of
the State are willing to compromise, they
should be met half way. The Gazette
believes that our only safety is in get
ting possession of all evidences Of indeb-
edness that are standing against us. We
believe in such settlement as shall be
an eternal tinality. is it IL feeling of
honesty or individual ACKNOWLEDGEMENT? %
The imputation of individual aggran-
dizomcnt is unworthy of a place in the
columns Of the World, after the plain
statements which have been made in the
Gazette, that no member of its manage,
ment so directly or remvtely interested
in any of the bonds or scrip ofthe State
As to "iccling Of honesty" the public
will Judge. A feeling of very common
"honcsty" indeed, requires man tC
show Il willingness to meet his obliga
tons, when he is able to do 50 or to sub
NIT obligations of doubtful validity t.
honorable compromise, and the princi
pies of common honesty that we woulc
apply to business transactions as individ
uals we would apply to the State. "Wil
the people be benefited by the GAZETTE
ideas = We believe they will. Carr.
out the GAzETrEs idear, or, more pro
perly, the policy Of the Administrative
or de~ cortland. rs we'll rs that of tn
present government, and we secure
settlement which will be Just to ON
selves, satisfactory to both parties an
lasting time. Carry out the views of on
B66RRass and Ne Rt, are Forever in peril by tn
possibility of the rcopcning Of the que
ton. Carry out the GAzETrE's ideas an
we restore at once the credit of the Stat
immigration will pour in, capital wi
seek investment in q thousand channe
and reign of general prosperity will I
once begin. Carry out the idear of Il
rcpudiationists, and we shall still mo,
on at the same ''poor, dying rate" Ca
: ital and immigration will pass by us an
= beyond us to Texas, as they have fi
, years past. There is everything to gai
by following the plan of CONFRONT.
and no possibility of loss. By it we pa
| only the just debts of the State and V,
: get possession of the disputed bono
f which might otherwise harrass and in
+ rcdc our progress for years to come. h
| it we place ourselves right in the ey,
f of the worldfor it is an indisputab
= fact that no State can afford to risk IL
oaium of reputation when the door
$ compromise is open. When the poop
of Arkansas understand, rs they will n
derstand, that they are called upon
pay only the amount of their legrl i
, debtedncss--that they are to pay II,
t one cent for fraudulent or doubtfj
bonds-that by this plan they get pos
ession of all paper Of whatever kin
agar st thcm--that the arrangement
sat- sfactory to all the croditors--that Il
Sc ttloment will be for all time, and thf
: the amount required is within the
ability to meet, they will give the PR
, position their unqualified Endorsement
u We have answered tho Helena WorI
= without "dodging." IF the World has
: better plan than this, we are open I
eonviction--wc shall gladly listen IN
:. learn; If it has no plan moro feasibl
n and just, mono more satisfactory to a
: parties we expect to have its active n
sistanee and cordial cooperation in 70
warding policy which we believe wi
: result in the greatest possible good
, our people.--L r. Gazette,