Year: 1875

pSopio oi hihahoe'o '~

 actions and policy would be shap- ed by motives of patriotism, and devotion to the fortunes of the State and the true interest of the people. For long period after we resumed our place under the Stars and Stripes as State of the Union, the administration of our State government was such that we felt that we were but subjuga ted provinces, and that the boast ed glory of our republican form of government was farce, and her pretended guarantee of jus tice, equality and freedom to her people, but a tantalizing mockery. The treatment we received from the General Government did not have a tendency to dissipate the gloom that surrounded us.

 The great want which was felt and participated in by every in telligent citizen of Arkansas, was a good stable, state government, and return of our rights and inn munities of which we had been disfranchised so long. We felt that until this was secured there was little to labor for, to exert ourselves for, or to hope for. Of what account did we deem the products of our industry and h. bor if we were to live as mere serfs, deprived of all the rights of Freemen? Patience, forbearance and long suffering-such as has never been exceeded in any land pretending to be under the benign influence of an enlightened re- gime--has at length brought an end to the dark night of gloom, and we now have a state govern ment which is all that we have so long yearned for.

 And still we have wants-still we feel and know that there must be something done to give our State and people that prosperity which is needful to recuperate our wasted fortunes, and place us up- on more advanced footing. The want that we now experience is not a political want. It is poll tics that has played sad havoc with us already, and we now have other wants. Our good State ad- ministration, good as it is will not give us that individual thrift which now constitutes our great want.

 The best administered govern ment in the world is not going to fill our purses, build our barns and graneries, fill them with the golden grain and build us up in dividually.

 The great howl of a "sound cur rencv," resumption of specie payment" contraction of our rag money" and all that, is not going to do for us what must now be done before we can prosper. We care little in what shape our dollar may be so it will pay our dollar debt, buy our dollars worth of bread and meat and pay our dollars taxes. Our want is not here.

 The dependence upon immigra tion will not do, either. Immi- grafton will come to our country after awhile, and after while we will have one of the greatest states of the Union, but until that afterwhile arrives, we must be rp and doing. An occasional excu-- sion of prospecters from other States will not supply the present want.

 And not even an editorial eX cursion into our state consisting of all the quill-drivcrs of the whole country, and all the blow ing they may do when they re- turn home, will do us.

 All this may and will help us after awhile, PROVIDED, we do our duty, by coming squarely mp to the want of the present time. All this will bear fruits for our good if we will do for ourselves that which no one else can do for us.

 What we now must have is IN DIvIDuAL ACTION. We must first help ourselves. We must make the thrift and prosperity of our people the attraction which alone, combined with the eXcellency ol L