Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-01-16

; this spirit become tha- since my ary.y- q, iii this city t0 reneH my service l in thi5 body one Nho uoH stands uu- 1 der the righteous and quite universa. condemnation of the people O. ta.s state, taunted ne with language whose only significance is that 1 am now about to receive the reward for failing to stand on error and falsehood and throw oyer myself, him and his a5so- ciates the protection 9f the protecting shield of perjury.
 l MT. President and gentlemen of the senate, l an not here claiming perfec- ton, but on the other hand am ac- knowledging my delinquency with an
 nexpressible sadness. but for the good of this fair state hope and pray that the sentiment which I find about me at this moment demanding my re- tirement is not born of any desire to tnfiict upon me punishment for the one act, which stands over this de- plorabIe business like star of hope, that is, adhering to the truth, when there was most powerful inducement and seductive solicitation to depart therefrom, and which adherence was induced only by righteous and fixed determination and firm conviction that the only human way to undo a wrong is by restitution and confession, and all unfatering faith that an AL mighty God would look with favor up- on a contrite and penitent heart And while 1 stand here today eonfessing where it was committed the one er- TOT of my official life, with much sad ness and humility I know that He, in the last analysis, weighs and values us all has found in me enough of mer- it to forgive
 My shortcomings and that my home people, whose good will and confi- dence 1 prize higher among all earth 1 ly treasures, have an abiding cOnvic- ton that the wrong I have confessed was the first, and whatever might be the extension of my term of service would be the last of my official life, felon's garb and those most intimately associated with him in the unholy business of 1905, down in their hearts know that so far as he and they are ] concerned, the head and front of my offending was a disclosure of the truth If it be true that truth is pre- 1 ferable to falsehood; that cOnfessing ones sins has it's virtue; that restitu- tion has it's merits; then in all fair ness ought not any sentiment of con- demnation of the error I have confess of commendation for the act of repar- ation that demanded far more courage and manhood than would have been demanded by a successful effort to conceal my offense? If such is not true, then there must be little induce ment upon the part of ones fellow men to expose corruption and lend ones influence to the advancement of truth and justice.
 believe that it is the almost uni- yersal wish of those who know me best, my home people, that serve and represent them in this session of the senate, but l cannot ignore the fact that there is here sentiment de- handing my retirement, such as would impair in a large measure my useful ness as servant of my people.
 So, without an unkind feeling to- ward any member of this body, but with the profound hope that no other senator in the history of this state will ever be so unfortunate as to find himself surrounded by the conditions that now environ me, I hereby tender my resignation as senator of the Ninth senatorial district, to take effect Jan uary 19, 1907, and ask that the same 1 be accepted, and that my successor be elected as required by law. Respect