New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-09

primitive barbarian Latest dispatches indi-
cate that the belligerents are ready to do some
real fighting; in collision, yesterday, blood
flowed freely, and several lives were taken
by each side. And the worst OF 1t Is that
however tho present contest may result,
law. justice, and deccncy have received wound
which will not readily be cured. Brooks and
Baxter seem to be almost equally unworthy OF
the place for which tho vicissitudes of an in
credibly corrupt and disgraceful condition OF
politics have made them the rival claimants.
There was at one time general leaning OF
decent people toward Mr. Bro0ks,-not because
he was better man than his adversary. but
because he happened to have been elected,
which we believe was the only thing In his
favor. As the dispute went on 1t became clear
that Brooks had attempted to enforce his
claims by unlawful if not dishonest
use of the inferior courts, while Baxter
had law on his side though he might not have
eouitv. and so all the country turned against
Mr. Brooks just as it had previously turned
against his rival. The Legislature cannot be
trusted to repair the mischief wrought by the
Executive: for tho Legislature committed
gross fraud for the purpose of putting Mr..
Baxter into power. And finally there is no
hope in the courts, for they have proved
Themselves as bad as the other branches of
the Government.
The recent action of the Supreme Court is
perhaps the most disgraceful and dscOuraging
thing i'm the whole lamentabe history. Six
months ago three of the five judges (the Chief
Justice dissenting and one of the judges abb
staining from any Opinlon) c0ncurred in the
decision that no court in the State had juris
diction to try a suit contesting the Office of
Governor in any mode or form. In accordance
with this decision the Attorncy-General ordered
the dismissal of suit which he had
brought in the name OF the State III
the Circuit Court of Pulaski County.
Subsequently the Supreme Court Issued Il writ
to the Circuit Court fOrbidding it to proceed
i'm the trial of contest for the office of Auditor,
which was a case exactly parallel to that of
Brooks vs.. Baxter. But suddenly the Supreme
Court turns about Getting away from Mr..
Baxters drunken generals, who seem to have
understood what was coming, and assembling
quietly "inside the Brooks lines" four of
the judees make decision Numerically
opposite to that rendered last Sep
TENDER. owe feel some delicacy," they
mOdestly observe, about expressing an
"opinon upon the question proDounded, but
under peadings it has to be passed upon )"
and they thereupOn declare that the Circuit
Court of Pulaski County has jurisdiction to
determine the title of the Governor to office.
Remembering that the same bench had already
ruled that no court in the State had such
jurisdiction, and that it had gone 80 far as to
prohibit the Pulaski Circuit Court from
trying case exactly parallel to this
one, we look in some bewilderment to
SEQ whether the court has been packed to
procure reversal of its judgment. To
our surprise we find the personnel unchanged,
and the signatures of Associate Justices
Stephenson and Searle are attached to both
rreconciable opinions OF course nobody can
ever again have confidence in this versatile
tribunal If there is anything decent left in
the State government of Arkansas we should
like to have it pointed out to u.s.