Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-01-18
BY NAIL

BY NAIL
LITTLE Rock, January 1.-THE let
ter signed "W. Glass; which proposes
10 correct errors committed by you, and
Others, in regard to Arkansas politics and
the situation Of affairs in this State fails
of its purpose. The writer's mathemat-
les were sadly neglected in his youth 10
such an extent that he isunable TO count
in his green old age. Mr.. Glass assumes
that ''the reform movement emaBated
from the people. This il hardly true,
for the movement came from poll
ticians-Republican and Democrats.
You have heretofore published s state
ment Of the action OF the Democratic
Convention, which it is claimed nomi-
mated Brooks. The men who supported
Mr. Brooks in that convention express
" declared, both in caucus and in open
convention, that the action Of the con-
yentiOn in indOrsing the platform Of the
Republican meeting which nominated
Brooks was not nomination Of Brooks.
The question Of candidates upon that
platform was left to the committees Of
the Democratic party and the Liberal
and Brindletail factions. These commit
tees selected the ticket Of which Mr..
Brooks was the head, changing only the
names, giving the Democrats two out of
nine candidates, when they furnished
fifty-nine out of every sixty votes. The
political record Of the Republicans on
the ticket, particularly that Of Mr..
Brooks, was as black as the wings of the
angel Of darkness; no ray of light illu-
mined the gloom, and thousands Of
Democrats refused 10 vote for him.
There are sixty thousand Democrats in
Arkansas who were offered and refused
the privilege Of registration. Colonel
Gunter, the Democratic candidate for
Congress in the Third Congressional
District and g resident OF Washington
county, informed the writer that over
two thousand Democrats refused to reg
lister in that county, snd about one
thousand five hundred in Benton (the
adjoining county. Only the popularity
of Colonel Cause, the Democratic can
didate for Congress in the First Distric;
(the Northeast caused the Democrats of
that section 10 register. The politicians
who nominated Mr. Brooks worked in
dustTiOusly 10 bring out the people to
vote for him, and in part succeeded.
The Hunter ticket was not the work of
politicians, but was forced out iv the
acGiOu Of the people. Hundreds If let
tiers were written to Little Rock 10
prominent Democrats, urging the nomi-
nation Of ticket in which the people
could confide, and for which they could
vote. These letters were TO some ex-
tent evoked by the fearful indictment
prepared against Mr.. Brooks by Colonel
Hill, which was circulated
by the Administration party
From these demands made by the
people came the Hunter ticket. II was
broken down by the politicians. The
men who organized the Hunter ticket
were honest In prejudice and in action,
and only differed in opinion upon
grave question Of partisan policy from
Democrats, who supported Brooks.
The factions should now coalesce.
Mr.. Glass, speaking Of the conven-
ton Of the fourth, says, " the people
Of the State We're in full sympathy with
the convention" Let us see: The con-
ventiOn was advertised for weeks in all
the Democratic papers-men were sent
from Little Rock to gather the people.
Letters were written, and every effort
made to influence the multitude, and
eight counties We're represented and fifty
delegates present. This convention as
sumed 10 represent the State, and reso-
lutions were adopted accusing the Dem
condoning the Minstrel frauds. These
Democrats are among tie best in the
State, representative men of Arkansas.
Other resolutions We're discussed and
voted down, but the mere discussion
shows the animus of members of the
convention. The convention was not a
failure perhaps, but that its action was
wise and prudent is q proposition not
approved by the resolutions discussed
aud ado Jted. The convention took
steps to lead 10 an investigation by
Congress. This was done beforc the
convention met. Senator Rice's reso-
luton in the United States Senate was
referred December Goth, fifteen days
before the Brooks Convention met, and
its action did no more affect that result
than a yawl dragged at the stern the
propulsion Of q steamer.
The truth is that so much bitterness
has been engendered between Demo-
crats who supported Brooks and those
who supported the Hunter movement,
that neither faction can do the other ex-
act Justice, and both permit their preju-
dicss to color their assertions and views,
taking no part I'm either movement, /
can discover, perhaps, where both are
wrong. As The mstter now stands,