The Van Buren press., 1904-03-19

republican government, and 2 ich Of
them declined u third term. Gen Grant,
after he had conquered the south been
president two times and made his nam.
Gus trip around the world, - conslud.
ed he could be elected 10 the presidency
the third time. but was beaten In his
party convention for the nomination
Now Davis, pretending TO be greater
! than Jefferson, greater than Jackson.
greater than Grant, greater than both
the great political parties In this coun-
try asks the Democratic party OF this
grand state to disregard all past customs
and traditions, and give him the third
| term-not that he promises to do any
thing great for the state, for he makes
no snch promises, but that he may he
'vindicated - If his actions are right
aud just they need no vipdication, and
If they are not righteous and just, the
sooner the people Of Arkansas get rid Of
him and outlive and overcome the dam
age he has already done the better il
will be for the state. 1t is not the pur-
pose of this to criticise his administra-
ton, for the least said about it the bet
ter But, for the sake of argument, we
will assume it is the BEST the state ever
had Is that any reason why he shall
have it for all timer Admit that Davis
is the most temperate and sober the most
moral and religious, the most honest and
upright, the most pure-minded and pure
mouthed, the most loyal TO virtue and
domestic proprieties, the brightest mind
and the greatest statesman, that he
would die before he would take drink
from quart bottle, that he wOnld
prefer to attend church any time than
ride in special train; that he would
rather let the state pay Sl2 800 more
than the Altheimer place was worth
than have his honesty and uprightness
questioned that he would suffer his
tongue torn ont by the roots than polute
his mouth with vile and slanderous talk
that he would rather prove to the licen
tious men of the state that there was
one man that was true TO his marriage
vows than attend any place Of question
able repute, even if church were in SEES
sion at the time that he would not do
anything unbecoming the brightest mind
or greatest statesmen unless he 'were
drunk, or had his hands behind him
Admit all this and more and is that any
reason why he should have the third
term in opposition to Democratic Gus
toms and traditions2 Certainly not JEFF
Davis IL just man, that 3 all Is he any
better or entitled to any more privilege
than our own late loved and lamented
Ben Decherd' He was one of the besl
clerks we ever had he asked for third
term but his party said no--you are q
good man and have made good officer
but 1t is undemOcratic, and you must
| let some other good man have chance
Did l., G. Southmayd ask for a third
termi No, Did Hugh Levers Phil Scott,
Lon Black, viii Sadler, Bill ljOstick or
Ed Cochrane ask for third termH No,
Did jim Hawkins, John Steward or jim
Pitcock ask for third term2 No Did
Judge II. b. Hale, Joe Matlock, j W
| Littleton or jim Smith ask for third
terms9 No, Did Lee Neal (the man who
always hung the Republican hides on
the south side Of the court house) Buck
Vinsnnt, Lanny Adams, Tom Swearing.
ton or Bill Cole ask for third termsH No
Why notH They were all good men none
better, and made the very best of oitic
ers but in addition to all that, they were
Democrats aud knew it was not right or
Democratic, and they gracefully bowed
TO the Democratic custom, and stepped
aside and gave other men n chance TO
get up to the pie counter.
Carroll d, Wood IL n farmer boy whO
first saw sunlight OF day over in eastern
Arkansas, and when n young man, with
$50 in his pocket the result Of his own
labor, he walked through the mountains
Of Arkansas TO the state university at
Fayetteville, aud there, by washing
dishes, waiting on the table, making
fires milking cows, sweeping rooms
and performing all olher kinds of mental
but honorable labor, he worked his way
through the university and graduated
with honors, As man his record Is
sober, honest and clean, and he will
make III state splendid governor, His
record will need no vindication. Person.
ally II he is " good man II makes no diff
ference 10 you, or us, who Ia governor
but we believe this matter " frsught
with more Importance TO the people Of
the state than any qnestion upon which
they have had TO pass since the days Of
1860 when the dark clouds Of war hung
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