The Russellville Democrat., 1886-06-30
The Speaking.

the presence of the democratic can. didates for the legislature, Messrs. Sibley and Eggleston. These gen tlemen were present by special invi- tation of the club to speak upon the issues of the day and present their respective claims to the democratic voters of the county. Mir. Sibley led of Tn the opening speech with good compliment to the club as the first ln the county, and as having taken the right step to win and main tain success. Re looked upon the democratic party as the great con servator of peace and human rights throughout the land, and especially in our southern country to which 1t
 had given back it's rights which had been wrested from it by ruthless
 hand, and this section especially must look the democracy for good government and prosperity in public affairs. He dwelt with delight and
 pride upon it's record both before
 and since the war. Twenty years
 and more before the war how smooth
 the wheels of government run, not Q jar or clash, no strikes, no pres sure. After the war when differ ent party came into power, how different the situation2 He was re minded of the proverb, when the wicked rule the nation mourns, but when the righteous rule the people rejoice. During tue rule of republi canism the country mourned on ac count of the destruction of rights and the oppression of the people. But democracy reasserted her power and came to the rescue of the conn try and once more all was peace and the country rejoices. When the par ty came into power in Arkansas 1t found q floating debt of two millions of dollars in state scrip. Five mil lions of honest debt, and thirteen million of fraudulent debt. and state scrip worth only 20c on the dollar.
 It undertook the great task of reduc- Arkansas credit and honor, and of relieving her of this unbearablc bur. den with it's we'll known fidelity to her great name and the love of her people, and now the coast was clear. All had been cleaned up and put Tn shape. The fraudulent debt forever disposed of, and the honest debt put in an easy shape to manage, with money in our treasury, thing un heard of under republican rule, and state scllp worth $1 for $l. The speaker rejoiced that he was born . southern man and that his lot was cast with the southern people. He was glad he was not born in Massa- chusetts. Touching on the subject of taxation he expressed himself m favor of the least possible rate Of taxes consistent with the public good, and also favored small exemption of personal property from taxation. Was not in favor of taxing all of a poor mans bread and meat and cot ton seed aud corn and fodder was in favor of Q small exemption to coy CT these things, and tighten taxes on the poor man of the country. He was in favor of calling a constitu. tlonal convention, which, however, was beset with the one serious ob jectl0n-the expenses of it-which would amount to $100,000. He was in favor of repeating any law which would allow foreign money lenders to come into our state and exact of our people as borrowers a waiver of the right of valuatlon and apprais- ment of property taken as security. and after this done to keep one fifth of the amount to be loaned on said property as commissions and charge s per cent. interest on the full amount including the 20 per cent. deducted. Favored enactlng law restricting the railroads to reason able freight and passenger rates and abolish discrimination and extor tions by the railroads to which they resort to offset the taxes collected of of the state. He did not want to oppress or cripple the railroads, but was not in favor of letting them oppress the people by excessive tar itis, and wanted to see them bear their equal portion of the public bur. dens, and will advocate Legislation to this effect.
 At the conclusion of Mir. Sibley's Gpeech which waa tlaIivaraI oot al