Sharp County record., 1890-05-01
We annually raise

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of the world our lumber to the value
of $7,OOO,OOO. The great furnaces
of Pennsylvania at Johnstown (which
has furnished the horror Of the nine
teenth century, draw from the MINES
of Independence county Their sup
plies of manganese. Here are $780,
100000 worth of produce of the
earth, the mine and the field that we
contribute annually to the happiness
and wealth of the world.
These things are produced by the
labor and energy of the people who
live in the First district Of Arkansas;
and yet you are told that they are
nothing but desperadoes, bandits and
villains; that these people are engag
ed day IN and day out and year after
year in running off from the country
its labor and its people, 1t has been
said truly that ole that hath a wife
and children hath given hostages to
fortune" Now, if that people, by
their daily toll, their industry, their
energy, and their thrift, contribute
to the happiness and comfort of the
people of this country, and to Its
wealth 500, 100000 worth Of produce
year after year, then | ask You If
they have not by this energy and
their industrial interest given "hos-
tages to law and order?"
There have been a great many
generalities dealt in during this dis
cussion, and l will deal with them. l
submit that those l present are Stub
born facts and stubborn figures,
which l array before you for your
consideration. These people who
raise the cotton, who manufacture
that lumber, the honest toilers of the
land, are my constituents, and are
abiding, faithful and true. |
am not here as the apologist for any
violations of law; but | am here, sir,
to stand and in the name of that
district that has been traduced on this
floor to demand of any man on that
side of the House if in his district
there has not been any violation OF
law.
Nay, more; If there is any district
represented here, any constlts2lehe
in which there has been no violation
of law, where men go unwhipt OF
justice--if there is, I ask that he rise
in his place and name the district,
name the constituency, and till you
do that, gentlemen, I ask you to hold
your peace as to the people who, i'll
their own way, are earnestly striving
to build up their fortunes and work
their way from poverty to affiuence
and comfort in the First Congress
sional district of Arkansas. Simply
that and nothing more.
Gentlemen as you have been told,
you have been drawn from the facts
and figures in this case and from the
merits Of this controversy to the dis
cussion of affairs that are in no way
connected with the matter at issue.
You have been regaled here with the
recital of a riot that occurred IN
Crttenden county in July before
the election in November, that had no
more relation to that election than
had the battle of Waterloo. You
have been told of murders commit
ted in another county more than six
months after the election, that had
nothing more to do with my election
than the revolution in Brazil. The
reason for this, you have been told,
is because the facts and figures will
not bear investigation, will not sus>
tain the majority report.
Now, | wish to call your attention
briefly to the statement of two prop
ositions made upon this floor by gen.
tlemen as to that district.
The gentleman from Wisconsin
Mr.. Haugen and the gentleman
from Pennsylvania Mr.. Dalzell)
both told you here In gilt tering gen
eralities that Mr.. Featherston, By my
own showing, had in that district
$4,000 voters. If misstate the gen.
tlemen I hope they will correct me
at this time and place, In connec-
tion with this there is a startling
picture presented to this House.
And what is it? They &C on to har-
row up yonr mind by a recital of
troubles. They battle the eyes of
this House In tears over the wrongs
that have been perpetrated upon
the followers of Mr.. Featherston in
that district by the Democrats,
Now, I want to submit to this
House this spectacle Of American
manhood and desire to know if you
are here asking sympathy for them
because they are oppressed, because
they are driven about by 1900
other American citizens, having no
greater facilities or privileges than