New-York tribune., 1872-05-25
JNDFpEyDENCE IN ARKANSAS.

No State in the Union has suffered more
poignantly from the woes inflicted by MILL
tary and Administration ring than Arkansas. 10
be sure, under this present Administration
military and a Washington domination are
necessarily convertible terms. Arkansas has
been ruled by an oligarchy who have carried
the political machinery of the State in their
breeches pocket as completely as the rotten
borough of Nevada has been peddled about IN
the Senate by the Hon. William NJ. Nye, the
admirable "end man" of the small and select
band of Senatorial performers known as the
"cabal." Whatever this junta prescribed was
Stunned as a pestlence; whatever 1t cheered
was applauded to the echo. few months
ago a Republican State Convention was Or
dered by the central powers; the terms OF
the call were an artful juggle, which
ruled out all who were not friendly
to the nomination of Gen. Grant.
The new use of the phrase "loyal" was read
lily adopted by the Arkansas political clique
and unless certain local interests (Which CEN
tered in renomination) were indorsed, the re-
calcitrant Republican was banned as dis-
"loyal" Against this sort of prescription
many leading Republicans kicked; and one
outspoken member of the State Central Com
mittee, Mr. Joseph Brooks, openly rebelled.
He was quickly silenced; and, by one oil those
wire-drawn sophisms which are always avail
able in low politics, he was thrown outside OIL
the organization, pending the issue OF the call
to the terms of which he had disagreed. lie
protested against the dictation OF the military
ring which had sent Clayton to the United
States Senate and Edwards to the House,
though the latter had no more right to seat
in Congress than if he had lived in New
Hampshire or Canada.
This, of course, was open rebellion; 1t was
"disloyalty," in the worst sense OF that
flexible term. But Mr. Brooks was not alone
in his declaration of independence, for he was
ioined by a large following of the better sort
of Republicans, including several members OF
the Republican State organization. A Con-
yention was called, and this assemblage, which
represents the best Republican interest OF
the State, met at Little Rock on the
22d. and nominated Mr.. Joseph Brooks
for Governor, and enthusiastically in
dorsed the platform and nominations of
the Cincinnati Convention. The Clayton
Military Ring have not yet held their Conven-
ton, when Will pe, OF COURSE, Ieholnindcoh
affair, but they claim the prestige of possess
ing " the regular organization" The fact is,
however, that the old party is utterly broken
up, and it is not easy to say where is the
larger portion of the Committee which has
been bisected by the folly of the rule-or-ruin
managers of the denomination party in Arkan-
sas. No Southern State unless it may be South
Carolina, has been so politically debauched by
tricksters, self-seekers, and mere partisans as
Arkansas. The Clayton clique have trampled
upon every consideration to secure their own
selfish ends, and have stopped at nothing to
carry out their own schemes. Tho rank and
file of the party have at last revOted, and the
nomination of Brooks and the Endorsement of
the Cincinnati movement are their new decara-
ton of independence