The Russellville Democrat., 1884-03-27
HON. A. II. GARLAND.


Hon. A. III. Garland, Of Arkansas,
is one of the men in Congress reflect
ing honor upon the State he repre-
sents. He illustrates the apotbesm
of Epaminondas, uttered when sweep
ing the streets Of Thebes: "A man
can do honor to any Office, but no
office can do honor to any man.
Every sincere patriot should have
this republican sentiment craven on
his memory. Mr.. Garland has sure
ly studied and mastered 1t. As Q
Senator, he is great. commanding re-
spect and admiration: as a man, he
is simple, unostentatious, unpretend-
ing is his bearing and modes Of life
as the Arkansas plowboY that he was
thirty five years ago. Distinguished
honors conferred by the people, by
the press and by the courts of the
country, have changed the habits and
social relations Of Mr.. Garland in
nothing, and certainly he is as adj
mirable as man, as he Is confessed
ly great as an American Senator.
Strolling about the streets of the
capital or lettering in his committee
room, he is commonly supposed by
strangers TO be some tall, idle, indif-
ferent Western farmer, carelessly
contemplating the wonders Of Wash
ington. He and Coke, of Texas, in
their personal bearing, as in their
philosophy of government and rela-
lions to the multitude, and in their
social habits are singularly alike.
Then, too, both these men are con-
sentative Democrats. Mr.. Garland,
we believe, was the first of his asso-
ciates in either House to propose an
amendment to the Federal Constitu-
ton, after the recent greenback de-
cision of the Supreme Court, to re-
strict the money-issuing power of
the central government. Senator
Garland's home is in Little Rock.
Like Senator Coke, he was unani-
mously chosen by the Legislature of
1888 to represent his State in the
Senate, having already filed term
of six years. He was born in Upton
County, Tenn, within fifty miles of
Memphis, in 1888, and thus was
born in David Crockett's Congress
sional District, and while Crockett
was its Representative in Congress.
But Garland's parents, in 1888, when
he was only one year of age, remov-
ed to Arkansas. He was educated
at ST. Joseph's College, Kentucky,
and returning to Arkansas, began to
practice law in 1853. In 1856 he be-
came a citizen of the State capital;
served as an old Wing or Douglas
Democrat in the Seeding State Con-
vention of 1861; was member Of
the Montgomery Congress Of that
year; served in both branches Of the
Confederate Congress; was elected to
the United States Senate from Ark
ansas in 1867, but not suffered to
take his seat. He made the test
oath case as to lawyers in the Unit
ed States Supreme Court and won it.
He was made Governor OF Arkansas
in 1879, and succeeded Powell Clay
ton as United Safes Senator.
The above is taken from the
American Register, one of the fore
most journals In the land, which is
published at Washington City. and
shows the position occupied by
our respected Senator in national
esteem and reputation. But FOR the
fact that he is from southern state,
Senator Garland's name would
figure largely in the next national
democratic convention. If Arkan-
sas would further reflect glory upon
her own great name, she will call All
other son into companionship with
our Garland in the Senate, who will
step upon the same plane in social
culture, integrity, legal ability, and
fitness IN everyother way for that great
distinction whether he is an aspirant.
or not. She can employ no method
to advertise her greatness so effect
ually, as to call her great men into
her public service, put them where
their integrity and ability will re
feet honor upon their country and
attract attention to their state. Moth
ing can dwarf state in national dis
tinction SO quick as to have little
men in the national council. Several
good names have been mentioned in
with the U. S. Senator
ship from Arkansas, but the name in
our opinion which overshadows all
,ther in It's connection with all the
great qualities and fitness for the
great distinction of a seat in the U. s.
Senate is that of Judge w. w. Mans
ield.