The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1897-04-02
GOOD BLOOD IN ARKANSAS,

Hon. Josiah IL. Shinn, ex-state SUI
perintendent of public instruction of
the state of Arkansas, is guest at the
Lawrence hotel, says the Jackson
MISS correspondent of the New Or
leans Picayune. In an interview with
him the Picayune correspondent
CLEANED some facts which will interest
the citizens of two states-Mississipp
and Arkansas. Prof. Shinn is the au-
thor of history of the United States,
which is used in many counties of Mis-
sissippi and throughout the south. He
is also the author of history of Ar
kansas, and another upon the educa-
ton of the south. He travelled many
months in the Russian empire and is
now engaged upon history of that
empire. For two months he has been
lecturing upon the Russian empire in
Mississippi, and speaks very highly of
the interest which Mississippians take
In Russian affairs.
Mr.. Shinn is also genealogist and
spends his leisure hours in noting the
migration of names and the influence
they exert upon living affairs. Con-
trary to the general opinion, he holds
that Arkansas was peopled by the best
people from the olden states and that
from the very beginning the best peo-
pie have had control.
Before railroads were, long lines of
covered wagons and rude fatboats car
ried a sturdy people to the interior.
where they began the formation of
state. Sporadic towns along the Mis-
sissippi caught the riff-raff of the
world. and through passing steamboats,
gave the world an erroneous opinion of
the state. In the interior law and or
der prevailed; churches and schools
tiourished; farms were opened and a
great wealth created. Honest and
sturdy men far away from steamboats,
and telegraphs were building a state
with law and order as cornerstones
They were not known to the outside
world, however, and the unenviable
reputation of the old river town, Ma
poleon, soon passed to the whole state
A careful reading of the territorial
laws, and of the early state laws, to-
gether with an investigation of the old
court records and law reports show
state of affairs which negatives law
lessness in any form. The native Ar
kansan is of composite blood, contain
ing in his veins the very best blood of
the older states. In territorial DAYS
the Ashleys, Crittendens, SEWERS, John
sons, Folks, Fultons, Borlands, Millers
and hundreds of others from the best
of all the states from Massa chusetts to
Mississippi, joined to make a galaxy
unsurpassed by the dominant settlers
of any state.
AT first the influence of Virginia and
Kentucky was most strongly felt. Then
came that of Tennessee and North Car
DINA. Thousands of men and women
who now boast of being born Arkansans
also speak with becoming pride of their
ancestry in these great states. But
these were not alone. From the very
first long line of emigrants pushed
from Mississippi and the other gulf
states into Arkansas. These, with the
others, took with them their family
pride, their education, their morality
and their wealth, and, although com
PEELED to relinquish wealth, they have
always maintained their other charac-
teristics. They made state as re-
spectacle as the states from whence
they came, and it is passing strange to
them that the world for so long a time
thought otherwise. And all Arllansans
are thankful that from so many good
states so many good people moved to
Arkansas.
The best Yankees, the best French
and the best of the great southern
states found homes in the new common
wealth, and with zeal and energy made
it worthy to be home for any man.
And all Arkansans, while thoroughly
loyal to Arkansas, and while remember
ing with becoming pride their ancestry
from other sections, are proud of the
Mississippians who crossed the Missis-
sippi river and united their destinies
with theirs.
In every township of the state NAV
be found Mississippians or the descend
ants of such. And while the one boasts
of his Mississippi birth, with all the
old-time pride of the Virginian. his de-
scendant boasts of his Arkansas birth
with wreckless abandon that browns
the pride of the father, and ties them
both to the newer state. But in the
heart of each there is tender feeling
for old Mississippi.
Mississippians have held places in
every constitutional convention, and
have been members of every legisla-
ture. Among the great names of those
dead and gone stands that of Gen. L.
c. Hindman, who migrated to Arkan-
sas before the war. At Helena he made
name which spread throughout the
state and sent him to congress As
soldier he won fame and rose
to the rank of major-general
Another Mississippian by birth is
the present senator, ]. X. Jones. He
went to Arkansas, however, when a
mere child and has grown to greatness
almost without knowing that he came
from abroad. But whether as con-
gresham or senator he has the conf
dence of every Arkansan, and by vigil
lence and ability has gained the high
est place in the confidence and esteem