The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1901-11-09
Little Rock Democrat.

4 Desperate Cause.
From the Little Rock Democrat.
Added to other accusations against
Senator Jones, Governor Davis now
makes the charge that 10 1870 the SEN
ator took the benefit Of the bankruptcy
law in the federal court at Little Book.
The cause must be desperate indeed
which the governor represents when he
needs must pry into the private Affairs
Of the individual whom he attacks and
recall incidents of his Hfe now more
than thirty years past. How mean and
contemplate It Is to drag the misfort-
unes Of Q man who thirty years ago was
a private citizen. and attempt to use
them a. an argument to his discredit
now, we leave 1t for the people to judge.
II ID certain that II Senator Jones took
the benefit Of the bankruptcy law thirty
years ago the circumstances attending
that act we're In no wise dishonoraole.
Many good men have been forced to the
wall by financial reverses and have lost
their all In single day. Such things
were not, however, held against their
honor and integrity, and the man who
would put misfortune Of that kind In
the nQht Ct Q dishonorable transaction
Il mean enough to resort to any kind OF
q political scheme to achieve success.
either for himself or for the man whom
he has agreed to assist. Perhaps II the
private life Of Governor Davis were In
vestigated be would not be found blame
less. We should not advocate such q
course. but this charge coming 90 soon
after the governor likened his cot In
pardoning the four women OF Fort
Smith to the act Of the Saviour when he
atooped and wrote on the ground, I'D.
mopishing those who were not guilty
to cast the Grst stone at the unfortunate
bsing who had been brought 10 him,
will, TO say the least, occasion surprise.
When the governor Strengthened him
self for the blow which he aimed at the
private life Of Jas. K. Jones did he
lrst ak himself. rs there anything In
nv private life which ! should regret to
have exposedi" Did he cast the Hrst
stone ~ an innocent man, or had he 90
soon forgotten the injunction Of the
Saviour. to which be referred IN the
light Of comparison when be addressed
his answer 10 the "News-R Record, I"
setting forth bis reasons for granting
tho Fort Smith pardonsi And It ia re-
marksble indeed that, after . most
thorough and rigid investigation, the
only oct In the private life Of James K.
Jones which appears TO this great polit-
cal ''boss" ~ deserving censure Is the
fact that be took the benefit Of the bank.
yuptcy law In 1870. This was Senator
Jones misfortune and by no means can
Il be construed Into dishonorable act.
He had lost his means through the raw.
ages Of reconstruction, and, standing
penniless ct what appeared to him TO be
the opening Of o new career, be sought
10 re-establish himself and TO obtain
through the provisions Of the law the
right to enter again upon q career
which would bring TO him . reasonable
competence for himself and his little
family. And whoever says that James
x. Jones attempted at any period Of his
life TO evads = debt Of honor, or any
other kind Of debt that was just and
honorable, while having In his posses
Aiou the means to pay the same, or any
reasonable prospect that he could do sc
n the future, slandars ~ noble q man
~ sver breathed the breath Of life. The
esfutation Of that infamous charge may
Aafsly be left to hun and his friends.
And this one incident appears To be oil
ths governor hss discovered which. Ia
bis mind 10 TO TIE detriment Of the man
who has ssrvsd the public 10 we'll and
fsithfnlly tor now more than quarter
OF q century. How remarkable. indeed
There are some public men who could
not stand the test 30 we'll. Turn the
Light NJ day on their secret transactions,
and many Of those who now stand high
In the public satimstion would shrink
away Into everlasting obscurity. Re-
veal the hiddsn secrets Of their private
lives end the story Of old Nero 10 the
days Of biz llceutiousness would appear
~ . missionary tract - compared to 4
French noval. Senator Jouss will moi
su6er 1t the hands Of the people by a
comparison with Governor Davis, eithe,
~ . private citissn or - public SER
Want. Let him and others who would
serve The public b. measured by the
Same standard snd be will stand oui
prs-sminsntly their superior. Nor will
hs and bis friends resort 10 such dsspic.
able methods to gather strength unto
thsmsslvss or 10 dispsrage the clsiua
Of othsrs.
Uaaaswsrsbls.
Ths Dhssp County Record asks these
few polutad questions. They may be
embarrassing and still interesting,