The Green Forest tribune., 1903-05-09
JEFF DAVIS A CANDIDATE.
Calls on His Friends ''to Stand by Their Gunsv Once Again.

by Their Guns" Once Again.
 Gov, Jefferson Davis has is- sued the following characteristic appeal to the democracy of Ark ansas, again announcing himself as candidate for governor:
 "Since the adjournment of the legislature 1 am daily in receipt of many communications from my friends throughout the state making inquiry as to my future political course, and that the matter may be definitely settled and they may be put upon guard, 1 make this public statement. When 1 was renominated for governor last June, 1 had no thought or intention of ever ask ing the people of this state again for the flee of governor; my only thought and ambition was to serve them faithfully and well. Certain great questions had aris- en during that campaign upon which the democracy of Arkan
 sas spoke in convention assem- bled, and which hoped would be forever settled by the recent leg
 isIature, whose servants they were. 1 looked forward with a great deal of pleasure and with a great deal of hope that the wishes and will of the people would be carried out by that body, but, to my utter amazement and sur prise, the will of the people was stifled. They asked for bread and were given a stone. They asked for relief, and were scoffed at, and the yials of wrath of that body was turned loose upon me in the most unjust and merciess warfare that has ever been wag- ed against a public officer in this or any other state. Charges in volying my honor, the good name of my mother and father, my family, were preferred against me without the slightest pretext, and hurled broadcast through the press of this nation. My Impeachment was sought for high crimes and misdemeanors in office, price was placed upon my oftical head, and a ep-laid, Well-considered, far-reaching scheme was entered into to ruin me and drag my family down to infamy and shame. Yet when the legislature came to the crucial test, they didn't have the man. hood or the courage to carry out their inquitous schemes, but adopted a report referring the whole matter lo the people.
 Had they acquitted me before that body l should not have asked you for re- election to the office of governor, but since they have selected the people of this state as a jury to try and determine this issue, most willingly do l leave it to you and accept the challenge and to you shall come when the proper time shall arrive with the facts, and shall ask you to nominate and elect me as your chief executive, shall ask you to acquit me of the vile charges that have been hurled against me. If l can but call the old guard to- gether again, and they will stand like Spartans as they have alway s done, i shall not fear the result. Twice you have borne me kindly and gently in your arms over this crowd of calumniators. To shrink from their blade now would be cowardly and unmanly; to fawn before my traducers would be unjust to myself and my friends. 1 would want my children to for oct my memory, and my body buried in the rude rough sands of the sea, to be forgotten should l be guilty of such cowardice.
 Therfore, my friends, 1 say to you that am a candidate for governor, and solicit your most earnest and jealous support and ask that you stand guard from now until the primary shall end. If we can whip this political crowd once more, l think a vic- tory will have been achieved for the people of this state. I am