Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-12-18
7EEMPEES APPEAL
- spAYMoRNINe. DEC. 1s. 1s7s
nnooKs,. 8IGurs AND Duty.

BH0OES-s FIGHTS AND DUTY. g.
II is believed 10y many people that
Mr.. Joseph Brooks is elected Governor
Of Arkansas. 1t is only very feebly de-
uied by the opposition, and therefore by
implication admitted, that the Radical
candidate. Mr.. Baxter, was defeated in
he late election. The Little Rock Ga
-etfc, thatstiu staggering under the blow
which the defeat Of the Hunter ticket
SD fairly dealt it between the eyes, has
no love for Brooks, and very naturally,
but not very fairly, desires that his de-
tsat should mitigate the misfortunes of
he Hunter disaster. There are, besides
the GQ-ctte corps a. dTDlee, many men in
The State who never took kindly TO
Rrooks's utilization with Southern Dem
acrats. and who, although they voted
,he Brooks ticket, would rather see
Baxter installed in the State Executive
mansion, because he is ''sn old citizen, "
and, Is they say, ian honest man."
There are a few who, without dispar-
arement to his internal majesty, would
lust as soon vote for Old Nick for Gov
.rnor as "Old joe" The Gazette
Avs. in effect, that Brooks is IN
loubtedlv elected, and yet this bold,
independent journal, throws its whole
moral force on the side of the defeated
candidate. Now "fair play is jewel"
and no personal prejudices should pre-
vent Mr.. Brooks from having it. We
don't care a nickel for Brooks, and rath-
er svmpathize with the honest aversion
with which that gentleman is contem-
plated by those who best know his rec
ord. Without knowing Baxter we know
enough of him to deem him Brooks
equal, all things else being equal. But
there is a question Of justice and of law
to be considered, paramount TO all pri-
z-ate or personal likes or dislikes, which,
a., public journalists, interested in every
question pertaining to the public good
everywhere, we cannot see covered up
without entering our protest. 1t is i'm
material under what banner Brooks
made the campaign for Governor last
autumn. the simple question is, was he
legally elected: and if the answer be
yes, then he should be installed Cover
nor of that State If it exhaust the whole
power Of the State, and in default Of
that, the whole army and navy Of
The United States. There can be
40 getting around this, and We
are fairly astonished-if indeed any
thing violative of constitutional right,
law, or liberty could astOnish US in this
day of carpet-bag Radical raseality.
That our neighbor over the river, so
iamely submits to this great wrong to I
Joseph Brooks, is nothing, though the |
Conservatives did make a great fuss /
over him last summer; but the laws and 1
constitution of the State exist, and as the |
supremacy Of the law is a sine qua non 4
Of good order, "life, liberty, and the |
pursuit of happiness" as that WORKOUT
dream of optimists, the Declaration of
Independence hath il, the people should /
see to il that the laws are enforced. The 4
carpetbaggers have for years been filling 4
the whole land with ISLANDERS against I
The South and all Southerners on this 1
very question Of want Of proper respect /
Tor the law, while themselves were in
Gebted to ilegaIity and fraud for every
they enjoyed. The case in
issue is d fair sample, tut the imported
new masters Of the negroes are chuck
ing over the support they are indirectly
receiving from the white people OF
ARKANSAS in gross violation not
only Of the laws, but Of the high consti-
lutional rights Of the people to have
heir legally elected candidates indicted
into Office. If Mr.. Brooks or Mr.. Any
.ody else, is legally and constitution
ally elected, he ought, if qualified,
axe possession without opposition.
Otherwise liberty is a mockery, de-
usion and a snare" 1t would be cow
irdly not to stand by him if opposed in
ais Inauguration. But first be sure that |
he Is legally and conshtutiOnally emit
LED to the position in question. If he
$, the voice of the whole country will
ustain him in taking his rightful place.
u course We are counseling only the re-
istsnce which is by the law in such
,sse made and provided. Make the
ssue direct, open and above-board, Mr.. ,
crooks. Let the country hear the facts
II the case. Even General Grant can
lot fight against facts.