Year: 1879

known as an of year" in Arkansas politics, a better opportunity is af- forded to the people to make up their minds as to what they are go ing to do than if a half-dozen candi- dates were tugging at each individ- ual sovereign voters coat-tail. In short, i've, the people," have a breathing spell, and can, if we will, fix upon definite ideas of the kind of men we would like to have in office. The particular individuals, of course. we cannot pick out, because we do not know all those who are going to be patriotic enough to consent to hold public position. The quantity we may guess at, but it is the quali- ty that most concerns us. It is the "sort" of material that is the proper subject of discussion right now, when we are all cool and there is no exciting contest going on in our i'm mediate midst.

 What then do our brethren of the press of the state say to the proposi tion that we commence erecting NOW the standard of excellence by which our next candidates shall be meas ured? It is better to consider the subject at this time than to wait un- til personal pledges may have em- barrassed many of us, or the solic- itation of individuals may not have left us entirely free to act for the public good, and that alone.

 The Gazette puts this ball in mo- tion, to the end that our people shall have ample tune to consider the high qualifications of those who are to serve them, rather than leave it to a pitiful personal squabble to determine the personnel of our gov ernment, state and federal. Let the democracy erect the standard, hold each contestant to the full measure required, and when the ticket is made, it will be an honor and a pleasure, as well as duty, to all to support it, heartily and enthusias- tically.

 The field beng open to all, the proposition is certainly fair one. No genuine democrat can object.

 We heartily second the timely and wisely conceived suggestion of our esteemed contemporary; and we arc especially gratified to see the sug- gestion come from a paper which IS acknowledged as power in the pol itics of our State. The newspapers are very largely responsible for the kind or "sort" of men who fill the of fees of our State, and from the man. Der of men who arc entrusted with these positions of honor and trust the outside pubhc judges of the peo- pie of our State. The masses of the people and the tone and intelligence of our society IS measured by the character and caliber of the men whom we put forward to represent us.

 If the newspapers of the State will lay down a rule and establish stan dard of qualifications which must be possessed by the men whom they wishfor official representatives, and If we will let it be known that none need apply unless they possess these qualifications there will be an innu- merable swarm of the dwarfish office seekers, who, at every campaign, in fest the country like the locust and the grasshopper, who will not dare present their names for position.

 The confusion which results from such host of candidates will thus be avoided; and many of the obsta- cles which stand in the way of get ting our best men for office will be eliminated from the canvass.

 Let us fix the standard; and let us fix 1t high. We have few men who will be able to fulfill all require