The Green Forest tribune., 1893-01-26
GOV. FlsHRAcK's INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Delivered Before the General Assembley, at the
State Capitol, Saturday, 18th inst.


State Capitol, Saturday, 18th inst.
Gentlemen the General Assembly,:
1t must be with a feeling of sincere pride that
every true citizen of = rkansas contemplates the
remarkable progress which our state has made
in all that is healthiest and best in cviliza-
ton, since 1874, when her government was re-
stored to her people
Among the many facts upon which may con-
graduate you the following few deserve especial
mention:
In wealth AID population according to the re-
cent census, Arkansas has increased during the
last ten years, at larger rate of percentage than
any other tate of the Union which was admit
ted at the time or prior to the time of our own
admission into the sisterhood of st ates And
this despite the policy of our national govern
ment, which, according to the census just pub
lishcd, has enormously enriched the cities and
the manufacturing interests at the expense of all
others, and more particularly at the expense of
cur agricultural interests.
OF the baneful effects OF this policy Arkansas,
together with her sister agriculture States, has
been q victim, but the States Of Mass achusetts
and Illinois fur lish such striking examples in
illustration it may not be out of place just here
to call attention to the startling disclo sures of
the census report, which show that, notwith-
standing the immense growth of Chicago and all
her other cities, the aggregate wealth Of the State
of Illinois has actually decreased upwards of
S59, 900, 600 within the past ten years That al
though the nine great farming States of Nebraska
Iowa, Illinois Indiana, North Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana are fifty
eight times as large as the small manufacturing
State Of Massachusetts and have seven times as
many people, yet Massachusetts has grown in
wealth during the last decade upward of $40 900,
600 more than all nine of these great States COM
bined, while right alongside the home market
offered by her factories nearly 2 GOO of her own
farms have been abandoned aud more than two
thirds of the deople of Bostoa-97 per cent. COL
stituting nearly the whole laboring population of
the city no homes, but live i'll rented
houses.
! This is a startling state of facts and conclu-
sively proves that it is ga condition and not
theory that eonfronts us, ald as Arkansas has
suffered much from this policy, may be par
doned for expressing regret that President Har-
rison while enlarging in his recent message upon
! the enormous growth ofour manufacturing and
urbane wealth, failed to call to the attention OF
his fellow citizens the fragrant injustice OF a
policy which begets such one-sided growth so
at war with every principle of political economy
as well as with what constitutes genuine national
growth.
In the school enrolment of her youth Arkan-
gas has increased from two to fifty times as rap
idly in rate Of percentage as the States admitted
prior to or contenperaneously with herself
The recent geolo sical SURF eys and the invest;-
cations of our agricultural bureau have discov-
cred that the physical resources of our State are
unexcelled, ifindeed they are equalled by those
of any equal area the continent, AID that ua-
der our peerless climate there exists here the
most inviting field for the horne-sceker and in
vostor, whether in search OF the pleasures or the
profits of life.
It's conceded by those most competent to
Judge, that our State is in advance of any other
State il the Union in regard to her temperance
laws and laws prohibiting the carrying OF con-
cealed weapons.
When Federal court was established in the
Indian Territory west Of US and it become neces-
sary to frame body of laws for the regulation
o. that country, the national congress, two years
ago, wilhelm control of a political party adverse
to that of a majority Of our people, and having
before it the laws OF thirty eight States to selec,
i from adopted its entire code from the statutes
of Ark ansas, thus paying to our system Of legis-
lation compliment as just as it is unprecedented
and one which emphasizes the gno ance of those
who are accustomed to sneer at Arkansas,
which exists only in their uniformed aud biased
imaginations. So thorougly did this missovcrn-
ment of Reconstruction teach our people the
value of good laws and good government. that
terrible incubns has proven blessing III disgulst
and will serve to admonish at least the present
generation what in government is to be avoldec
if not what is to =. adopted.
Our election laws, the process of evolution
have reached i this State, not perfection it ii
true but co dition of equality and fairness thai
challe ges the admiration Of the honorable par
OF even the bitterest political opponents CT thu
predominant party and silences the criticism o
all but such are too ignorent to distinguish
between the virtuous and the vicious.
The opei. bargain aud sale OF the ballot, a Ia
too frequent occurrence in many OF our siste
States which boast a Ugh standard of Inorals,i is
in Arkansas, socia! crime, as stealthy, as unl
versally condemned, aad, am glad to add, 81
infrequeut as theft or murder.
Our educational and religious and benevolen
institutions have kept pace With our growth il
wealth and population, aid 1t is confidently be-
lieved that our social sta .dard will rank in al
the better elements which 60 to make up wha
is known as society with the best OF civilized
communities.
Surely we may justly feel proud OF such con
dition. Nor is it difficult 20 discern the logic o
the situation.
1t is rot mere laws that we need SO much, bu
a broader and more liberal development of tn
physical, social and intellectual resources will
which our State has bael SO happily eAdowed
and if in the dschar re ofthe CO .stitutiodal dut
which requires the executive to make econnae'.
dations to the general assenbley,l dwell upo