The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1893-01-20
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Governor Fishbaek Delivers his First Mes.
sage To the General Assembly.
rSrLEMzx or the CENTRAL Assembly.

II must he with feeling OF sincere pride thai
every true citizen OF Arkansas contemplaies
the remarkable progress which cur state mas
made, IN ali that is beaitE!est and best in oui
civilization since 1874. when her government
wa restored 10 her people.
Among the many facts upon which may con
graduate you the following deserve especial
II ItiCn
L. wealth and population. according 70 the
recent census Arkansas has increased during
the last ten years at Il larger rate Of percentage
than any other state OF the Union which was
admitted at the time or prior to the time Of our
own admission into the sisterhood OF states.
And this despite the policy o. our national gov
eminent. which. according TO the census Just
published has enormously enriched the cities
and manufacturing interests at the expense OF
all others. and more particularly our agHeultu-
raj industries
OF the baneful effects o. this policy Arkansas
together with her sister agricultural states
mas been victim, but the states OF MaSsachu
sets and Illinois furnish such striking exam
pies in illustration. IL may not be out Of place
Just here 10 call attention TO the Startling dis
closures Of the census reports which show
that notwithstanding the immense growth Of
Chicago and all her other cities, the aggregate
wealth OF the state Of Illinois has actually
decreased upwards Of 100000 within the
past ten years That although the nine great
farming states OF Nebraska. Iowa, Illinois,
Judianua North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama.
Mississippi and Louisiana are fifty eight times
as large as the small manufacturing state Of
Massachusetts and have seven times a. many
people, yet Massachusetts has grown n wealth
QuIlHE the last uecaQc upwards Oh StbltJt LUZ
more tnan all nine OF these great states com
bined while right alongside the home market
offered by her factories nearly 200 OF Ter own
laIlus have been abandoned and more than two
thirds OF the people q BOStOn-67 per cent. con
shutting nearly the entire laboring population
Of the city have no homes but ike in rented
houses.
In the school enrolment OF her youth Arilan-
sas has increased from two to fifty times
rapidly in rate OF percentage as the states al
mitted prior TO On contemporaneously with
herself
When a Federal court was established in the
Indian territory west of us. and il became nee
sssary TO frame n body of laws for the regula-
ton o. that country, the national Congress two
years ago, while IN control of political party
aVerse to that OF "A ma lority OF our people, and
1aving before IL the laws of thirty eight states
select from. adopted its entire code from the
uatutes OF Arkansas, thus paying to our system
" legislation a compliment as just as il is un-
)recedented, and one which emphasizes the
ignorance OF those who are accustomed to snecr
At the Arkansas which exists only in their IN
informed and biased imagtnations SO thor
)ughly did the misgovernment of reconstruc-
lion teach our people the value Of good laws
and good government, that terrible incubus
has proven blessing in disguise ana will
serve 10 admCnish, at least the presea. gener.
alton, what IN government is to be aveiAed If
act what is to be adopted,
Our election laws. in the process of evolution.
aaye reached in this state, not perfection. il is
true but "A condition OF equality and farness
that challenges the admiration OF the honor
ibIe part VI even the DlIitFe5L pOisllcal OppO-
bents OF the predominant political party and
Iiences the criticism OF all but such as are too
iepraved to admit the truth or too ignorant 10
distinguish between the virtuous and the
Vicious.
The open bargain and sale OK the ballot a far
700 frequent occurrence in several OF our sister
states which boast high STANDARD OF morals.
&, in Arkansas. social crime as stealthy, as
universally condemned. and am glad 10 add
As nlrequent as theft and murder.
LOGIC OF THE SITUATION.
1t is not more laws that we need so much. but
1 broader and more liberal development of the
physical, social and intellectual resources with
which our state has been so happily endowed;
md if in discharge Of the constitutional duty,
which requires the executive TO make recon-
nendations to the general assembly, dwell
lpon this suggestion it is because my expe-
hence. my observation and my reflection alike
awe impressed me with its supreme iupor-
lance.
An enlightened public sentiment win support
gou in sustaining and extending our educational
facilities and in a more liberal effort towards
developing our minera and agricultural resour-
res. Nor, unless much mistake the intellt-
gence OF our tax payers. VIII your PUBIC Sp nit
cd constituents regard as extrayagant any rea-
sonable appropriations to these ends. They
know, none better, that true economy in gov
eminent consists in using ample means for the
ends OF the government. In this regard par
simony is the worst species OF extravaganza,
Tor il yields other result than waste
Our public schools should he fostered as we
cherish the very fountain Of life.
more literally endowed, that their excellent
work be more efficient.
sOME or OUR RESOURCES.
Arkansas has incxhaustible, and IN some
respects. the most valuable deposits OF coal,
zine. lead copper manganese, chalk. antimony,
marble, mari, bauxite, to be found in the
United States. Our iron ores. though less IN
extent are not inferior III qualty 10 those oil
ina timber resources OF the state are unsur-
passed, and when the forests are cleared away,
Ill aNa, n rala1
adopted to grain and grass and cotton, that &C.
cording TO the report of our Agricultural
Bureau. the money value per acre Of her farm
prodncts exceeds that OF any other state eX-
cent one while some sections Of Arkansas have
proven better adapted TO fruits, especially
TO the apple than any other region OF the world.
Our apples have taken the premiums wherever
in the world they have been exhibited In com
potion FOR excellence.
Yet large areas OF our best cotton lands are
subject to overflow. and since our national gov
eminent as controlled for the past thirty years
has directed its efforts and bestowed its Doun-
ties-civing seine two hundred million acres of
the Public domain. and some one hundred mil
lion dollars of the public Tnoney-towards
building up private highways belonging 10 pri
vale corrorat ions TO the ineXcusable neglect
of these water highways which belong to all
he people and which by our constitution are
under the exclusive control of the national con
Cress il seems that the state, being left by
some steps towards protecting the homes ane
farms OF her overfowed districts from the sc
frequent inundatons.
So ineXhauStible and valuable are the 2lne
ores OF oar state and so cheaply can they be
mined il is believed by those ocst informed
that when our zinc fields shall have been fully
developed and placed within easy access 10 onl
coal fields this much more valuable metal vii
be sold as cheaply as tin. and Will suppiant Tho
latter in many OF the useful arts.
The late Mr. Jay Gould approved his char
scteristic shrewdness in nothing more signalil
than in his personal invest gaiior OF the Fc%our
cps of Arkansas and in his frequent purchase
Of many Of her valuable though uHdeVrlopc'
uropcrties and in the eNtens len, acfua! or pro
iectec OF his lines OF railroad through regions
OF the state which though no: now available
/ promise enormous future possibilities. Tner,
+ will be very many men of means aud home
seekers who Will visit the coming Columbian
! Exposition in search OF just such inducement