The Forrest City times., 1905-06-30

stern and emphatic denial your as- sertion that anything that has hap peheo Tn recent years has been very great injury to the name of the state. Never in her history has she been more prosperous, nor a lawabiding spirit more prevalent among the peo- pie than now. In the adjustment of public policies and in the selection of persons 10 carry these policies into efiect, every citizen, no matter if high or low in station, has one mans voice and vote. This condition may be deem- ed misfortune by you and others, whose tenure depends upon ex-federal officials and other rings and cliaues, but the people generally view the sit uation otherwise. You neither startle me nor any one else when you say that you have lived in Arkansas nearly all your life, and have been in public ser vice for many years Substitute thirty" for many" and we will let it go at that. You protest that you have always believed in the people and trusted them. There have, doubtless, been times when the people" you be- lieved and trusted constituted class larger and more indiscriminately chosen than would be the case now. For instance, in 1885 the people you believed in and trusted" to elect you ad Stof T Of all the Republican and negro mem- bers of the legislature, constituting ten or more, and frequently constitut- ing the balance of power in the con- test, and giving to your candidacy it's most substantial and loyal contingent. But in 1885 the Afro Americans were not negroes nor niggers-they were known in your lexicon as "colored men," See message. You say again: My life has been devoted to the Dem- ocratic party, etc." As boundary line to delimit the scope of party faith and effort, this is not very definite and reliable description. In 1883 and in 1885, when, by advocating the con- soli dation of the state and national elections, you sought to subject to negro and carpetbag domination the political, business and social affairs of twelve of the counties in eastern Arkansas, you then prOfessed to be doing this because of your devotion to the democratic party. Then "Poker Jack" Mcclure, with the aid of the machinery ofa tyrannical federal court, was able to suppress, for time, the assertion of the natural and inherent supremacy of the white man in any country in which he is found. The more territory you could bring under control of his barbarous rule, the more Republican and negro members of the legislature would result; and recogniz- ing your effort as the great primary cause, resulting sense of reciprocity must have entitled you to their SUD- port in your aspirations. Yes, you were then, as now, devoted to the Democratic party.
 buU ciiOuSH lOI tllc pTcStllt. NOt- withstanding your present reluctance to recognize the reign of the people involved in the means of nomination provided by the last Democratic state convention, let me say you will answer the question that pronounced to you. Whether you do this on my ask ing or on the peoples demand is of little concern. And you may be induc- ed to be heard from in this campaign at a date earlier ''than some months to come" l shall go forward with the campaign according as the people shall manifest a desire to hear me. You may deem yourself in- vited to appear and participate at any meeting l may address. I am ready at any time to confer with you with a view of arranging the details of joint canvass. l can thus invite you, but l cannot coerce you into acceptance. I shall say as much to the people.
 l must not premit the opportunities of this occasion to pass without tend- ering to you renewed assurance of my most distinguished consideration.
 Respectfully,
 JEFF DAVIS.