The Russellville Democrat., 1888-08-23
ADDRESS
Delivered by Gov. s. F. Hughes to the CountyDemocracy Coun-
 cil, at Little Rock. July 20. 'SS.

MT. President, Ladies and Gentlemen
 1 sincerely thank the County De mocracy Club for the distinguished honor of the invitation rendered me to address you upon this occasion. 1 am gratitied to meet so many of my fellow citizens, and I am especially glad that so many fair ladies honor, grace and brighten the occasion by their presence. With every lovely scene, with every bright picture, with every conception of truth, of loveli- ness, of purity and virtue we, associ- ate the honored name of woman. While man. striving for preferment and dominion, decends to bitterness and asperity, and sometimes fills the land with bloodshed and desolation, woman, with her suitability and charity strews the pathway of human existence with the flowers of affec- tion, of truth and beauty, and, with her tact, her tenderness and smiles alleviates it's unhappiness and brightens It's joys. Mir. President, l am always pleased to work in the Democratic harness, to battle for the principles of liberty, equality and the reform and the reduction Of the tariff, and an economical admins tration of the government, advocated and demanded by the Democratic party. It is the duty of Democrats to put on their armor and rally to the support ot the nominees of their party, State and national. The Democratic party of this State has nominated ticket worthy of its sup port. The head of that ticket IS good citizen, true man and was a brave soldier, is sound and sterling Democrat, thoroughly identified with the best interests of the country, and has always been found in the line of duty in the various public positions he has filled, and when elected gov ernor which he will be, he will faith fully discharge the duties of that of fee. Let us roll up for our State ticket majority that will cheer and encourage our Democratic friends in the national campaign all over the union.
 There are but two organized pollt. ical parties Tn this government-the Democratic and Republican parties My friend, Dr. Norwood, is the candi- date of the Republican party, made such by the indorsement and recon mendation of him by the Republican State central committee, at Little Rock, on the 17th inst. and this yer flies the idea, that all ways out O the Democratic party lead into tht Republican camp. His success: would be the success of the Republi can party.
 I understand that Dr. Norwoot has been Democrat, a Greenbacker and that he is now member of th' UnIon Labor party and his utilization with and recent Endorsement by th' Republican party of the State consti tute him Republican, and we have seen from his speeches that he is . protectionist, and that will not g down with the Southern Democrat. and tue farmers of the country who's, interests unquestionably lie in tar if for revenue only. It seems tha' the doctor wants to be governor, ano that he is wiling to be most any thing in politics to succeed.
 And this reminds me of that boy who wanted the squirrel A gentle man, who had beautiful pet squir- rel, met three bright boys who each besought him for it. Re said to them boys I am going to give this squirrel to one of you, before I do you must tell me what your politics are. One said.promptly, am Democrat, sir; another, I am straight republican the third, cunning little fellow, hesi- tated, but being pressed to declare his political status put his finger be- tween his teeth and said: "I am most anything to get the squirrel"
 So the doctor may be most any thing to get the governors office. But the people of Arkansas do not want that sort of man for governor. About the doctors Republican con tingent we are fully posted, as they administered the State government of Arkansas from 6S to "A, when they became disgusted and quit. But they left indelible footprints, and we can track them still. And as they now propose to come in under the wing of pr. Norwood, let us con slider what manner of men they were, and what they did, while they ad- min;stered the State government for six years.
 When they relInquished their hold Tn Arkansas in "A, there existed 8 lack of confidence in public affairs, and unessiness, uncertainty and dis satisfaction, resulting from their misrule, nal administration of the State government, peculation, plum der, prostitution of the government to personal ends, and state of finan- cial bankruptcy, that beggars de- scription. We submit facts. Let the record speak.
 The public debt of the State, which in '67 amounted to about $3,250, 900, had been increased under Re publican rule about $l4, ,000, ,000, and the State had erected no public buildings and had made no public improvements that ought to cost ov- CT $100.000 were in the form of Ar kansas treasurer's certificates of in or "State scrip" some of which bore 5, some per cent, per annum interest It was receivable for all State, county and municipal taxes, except the tax to pay the in terest on the pubic debt, and though thus secured, being virtually a lien