The Van Buren press., 1871-02-21
TRUMPS.

udf tlts, but ipphiuH oNtl tic
ers of the contestants in the political
game they are playing at the State Cap
tol, we think We may clearly see where
the srumps are Let it not be forgotten
by our readers that they play for "more
than is in sight" and that the State is
only one trick" of series constitut
ing big "game" for National success
in 1872 Clayton made play for the
Senate for himself in his October speech
year ago on the basis of the Chicago
platform, and in SO doing, made big
play for his party. Ii was a trump card.
The trainers Of the Chicago platform
thought it would be. And if it is not,
republicanism has not progressed "
much since then, is not self sustaining
and is doomed beyond respect
But the National Administration was a
little in doubt as to what trumps are
Morton, and Rice, and Mcdonald, began
soon after Clavtons speech, to exhibit
fear that the Southern States could not
be carried by the principles enunciated in
that platform, but only by an armed oc
cupation of the Southern States. The
administration began war on Clayton
then, and not only on Clayton but on
Schurz and Brown in Missouri, and all
over the South sustained the extremists
Brooks, Hodges, Catterson & Co in
Arkansas This war was futile against
the moderatcs in State politics every
where.
Schurz, Brown and Clayton have won
for themselves. Have they lost for the
party? They have IRON for The party, but
they destroy the extremists, excep, Grant,
who, silent "and bland" may be indis-
pensible to the moderates alter all, With,
out an armed occupation of the South,
not one Southern State, except South
Carolina, will vote the republican ticket
as long as the dscordaut elements that
compose the democratic party are kept
ICNOutliNN bN Isllli ull-
chise the few thousand persons of that
party who labor under disabilities, nay,
remove their disabilities entirely, let them
be free to indulge their long pent up as
pirations, their rage to yindicate their
services" and the democratic party
will disntcgrate at once Turn them
free, and the Johnson democrats, demo
rrat and old-line whig will fly to pieces
like a milestone deprived of its bands of
iron. The party which shall build of the
DEBRIS will be The party OF the State as
long as its measures shall be characteriz
cd by the spirit of moderation that may
give it origin. If the administration first
made war on Clayton because Of has sap
posed moderation, what have the agents |
selvesy They denounced Clayton for his
October speech, for which he had the au-
thority of his party national platform
They charge "a sell OUT Yet we be
hold them, no,c, under directions from
Rice and Mcdonald in actire fusion with
democrats. They unite with democrats
to destroy Clayton, these same extremists
of last summer. Now they say it is Clay
ton who is proscrptive; it is they who
are liberal
We as democrats, are glad Of their as
sistacce in unseating Ellington, Allen
and Kymes, elected to the House by the
Hot Springs frauds. In return for this
service and their professions of modera-
ton VIC aid them in the raid of Joe.
Brooks in the Senate. We know that we
are under no obligations, to either their
factions. We gave our strength where
it will secure most for our much aggriev.
ed and long suffering people, If the ad-
ministration through its agents must
come upon Claytons platform, and go BE-
yond him, in order to throw obstacles in
his way, is it not proof that there is some
strength in that platform Trumps are
lead; let Clayton, who has hand full,
play trumps above trumps, and he drags
reluctant party upon the only platform
upon which that party can succeed in
1872. Let him afford us immediate en-
reimbursement and registration law
which will give power over elections to
no one man. no one party. Give it to
one party, and it will eventually be WELD
ed in the interests of the other All life
teaches us this. Let him play this card
and he will win for rcpublicanism in Ar
kansas, and for himself and friends, as
sure as the "right- t-bower' takes the
"left" in uchre.
II he has no unfinished business" in
railroads which he dare not bring to light
what better coadjutor could he have in
building up his party than James NJ
johnson, his lawful successor, so humbly
identified with the "mountain feds +" and
"uniOn white men of the State? And
johnson sees the torce of moderation in
working for the success Of his party. He
adopted the moderate platform before |
Clayton did. If there are personal riv-