The Forrest City times., 1912-06-07
FORREST CITY, ARK. FRIDAY AFTERNOON JUNE 7192
SAYING THE OLD STATEHOUSE

1t. We revere it. And. so help us 1 God, as long as there Is one single spark of patriotic, manly sentiment left in our souls we shall continue to l fight for the preservation of the old state capitol
 When the old statehouse was built. Mir. President the population of the state was small. There was but lit tie wealth to be taxed and the old building, though of but little money value today represents many years of high taxes and hard times for our par. ents. But from a financial view point what does its proposed sale mean to Us today? Fifteen cents to each in. diytdual in the state. Mir President. haven't you fifteen cents worth of sentiment wrapped up in that old building? God pity the stingy. sordid miserly soul who would sell his inter- est In that precious old heirloom, not for fifteen cents but for fifteen bun- dred dollars. when he remembers how
 
 1 tolied and sweated and were burdened with taxes to build it, and how happy they must have been over their handi. work when it was finished.
 sentiment! Yes, MT. President. I am sentimental enough to say that any citizen of Arkansas who is will ling to sell his interest in the old statehouse for fifteen cents is a knave, unworthy to be called a son of Arkan- sas. A man who would take fifteen cents for his interest Tn that building Is too sordid and mean and low to be respected even by the focal editor of country newspaper.
 Sentiment! Ask that old father stopped with toll and bent with age. ilVlng now in the childhood of his de- cllning years, when the dreams of the hereafter and the sweet sentiment of earlier memories form the staff upon which he leans in his advancing years ask that old father If he would sell his interest in the old state caDitol for fifteen cents. Ask him if he wants 10 see 1t bartered out to the greedy spectators and have those beautiful historic old grounds denuded of forest trees and desecrated with modern buildings.
 Mr. President, if we can't muster fifteen cents worth of sentiment to the individual in Arkansas; If we can't save the old statehouse from destruc. tioh; II We have become SO complete ly commercialized that every public act must be measured in terms of dol lars and cents; then let us memoralize congress to convey the obelisk on Bunker Hill into a bean oven: bridge the Potomac with Washfngtons monu- ment, and change the sacred grounds or Mount Vernon into a national con- wet farm. If there is no other spirit Tn our state or nation but the spirit of commereialism. then let us be con- mercial.
 But, MT. President, if we are con- pletely commercialized; if our souls are dead to every patriotic sentiment: where, oh where. is the spirit of chi vary that has ever been the boasted possession of Southern manhood? Our mothers and wives and sisters and daughters are crying out to us to save the old statehouse. Can we turn A deaf ear to womanhooG? Can wa ip nore the culture and refinement and beauty and sweet sentiment of the fair women of our state? The women have been our silent partners all these years. They have been true to us in prosperity and in diversity. They nave iaboTed and toiled side bv side. silently, but faithfully, with the lord. ly men for the development of Arkan. sas and the advancement of our civic and social conditions. For the first time they make direct appeal to our chlvalry and our manhood Thew do not demand, as they have a right to. that we save the old statehouse-theirI statehouse-they come 70 us appeal ingly. pleadingly, begging us not to barter away this old heirloom that their mothers and fathers loved so dearly, and which to them is dearer than all the money in Arkansas.
 Mir. President, have you fifteen cents worth of patriotism? Have you fifteen cents worth of sentiment? Have you fifteen cents worth of respect for the memory of our patriotic, pioneer dead? Have you fifteen cents worth of love and admiration for our womanhoodq Have you fifteen cents worth of chiv- airy? Then let us unite in one de- termined. patriotic band, and say to the women of our beloved state. "Go dry your tears; the house shall not be sold"