The Russellville Democrat., 1891-03-19


 came, and they barred their bosoms to tie storm Of shot and shell that swept over devoted land. They are not here now as beggars, for, sir, you never saw Confederate soldier begging, sir. God did not make them that way; they would die first. It is not an act of mercy, but of justice. Gentlemen say the Confed- crates fought for what they thought right. say they did not. They fought for what they knew to be right.
 Gentlemen say they think the peo pie would not approve. I say, sir, no man in my county will oppose, and more, sir, say if any man in my county is so low, de- graded, vile and mean as to oppose me because vote to take care of the battle scared rem nants of Lees aud Johnson's army. I say to you that do not want his support, and that kuch man is be- low the notice of any decent man, but, sir, thank God, there are no such men in Little River county. Mir. SD aker, soon all the poor, maimed soldiers will soon go down to the republic of dust and ashes and be no charge upon the state. We will not be called upon to sup port them long. Let's take care of them while they are living, and not wait till they are dead ana then shed tears over them. The last roll will sotn be called, and none of our dear old defenders will be left to us. I appeal to every Republican on this floor. The general govern- ment takes care of the wounded ol one side, help us to take care of the other. say to you, sir, that the great Napoleon never lec braver men than those that followed the fsg of the Host Cause.'' Sir, I say to yoa that they fought with more than "Spartan courage" they fell with more ssthsn the professed patriotism of Brutus,' and 1 am now in favor of paying them their reward for their four years service.
 Mr. Mitchell said:
 Mr. SpCaker-I confess that have come to the conclusion to SUD- port this bill with diffidence almost bordering on distrust.
 I am not sufficiently skilled in word painting to portray the un- equsled gallantry displayed by the Confederate soldier that challenges the admiration of the civilized world, unsurpassed by the bravery of Lconidas st Thermopa'a, or by the chivalry of Sidney ou the battle fields of Europe.
 My people are not parsimonious but 1 doubt whether they want this bill enacted.
 But am constrained to it's SUD- port, because 1 was beneficiary of bounty of my father fellow soldiers. My father fell in our common cause, and those of his comrades who returned to their de- vastated homes, crippled and maimed, and all poor, because none were SO Dase or sordid as to enrich themselves while patriotism de- mandcd their services. They assist ed my mother. I have felt that 1 was sort of charge on them. They sent me te school, and they have lent me helping hand in my every undertaking. They have looked with compassion upon my faults and forgiven my youthful indiscretion, and no slsnder concocted in the add C. pated brains of besotted idiots will ever find credence with those that knew my father where mems souls were tested.
 These men have not asked favor, but proud man does not wait to pay debt of gratitude as dear as honor, as life itself.
 Mir. Bonner said that the lapse of twenty-five years did not alter the obligation. It is still upon the state, and should be fulfilled. #
 Mir. Hardison thought the ex- Con- federate soldier was entitled to pension.
 Mir. Henley opposed the bill. He was opposed to giving Confederates pension. That was why he op- posed the bill.
 Mir. Walker spoke in favor of the bill. This measure of long delayed justice should be no longer delayed. Arkansas is as prosperous now as she ever will be. This bill appeals to this body as a matter of justice long delayed. When the cruel dogs of war had ravaged the fair South land and the lone chimneys and fencelsss farms stood as landmarks of this bosom of destruction, our poverty stricken people could do nothing for her gallant, crippled Confederate soldiery, but now, when her beautiful farm cottages have been replaced between those monumental chimneys, and our farms are waving with the golden grains, and our cot ton fields are blooming like the rose, there is now no longer solid reason for delaying this act of simple jus tice.
 MT. Carlton spoke against the bill He loved the state of Arkansas, but