The Van Buren press., 1874-06-16
" Hasten Slowly"
IMemphis Appeal, june 9th. ]

lMemPhls Appeal, june Sth.I
Every Democrat and Conservative,
every patriot throughout this broad I'm
ion rejoices at the triumph Of Governor
Elisha Baxter, of Arkansas, over Clay
ton and his mnions. Memphis is pecul-
arly and especially delighted at this re
suit, for all that concerns the prosperity
and happiness Of her favorte sister af-
fects her own, and she Is profoundly
gratifcd that Arkansas has been rescued
from the clutches of the band of free
hooters and buccaneers that had organ
lied and concocted schemes to despoil
people long oppressed and robbed All
praise to Governor Baxter. He has been
the bulwark to stay and roll back the
mighty tide about to deluge the State
In the recent struggle with vilainy he
has borne upon his shoulders the ark Of
the covenant Of an oppressed peoples
safety. For thus standing nobly erect
in the hour of greatest need and sorest
trial, bearing the brunt Of the battle, he
deserves and is receiving, the thanks of
every generous and grcatful heart. His
frmness, endurance and ability has made
worthy Of the love and gratitude which
gushes from generous hearts, not only
in Arkansas, but from one end of the
Union to the other He has labored to
shield his people from the dark, murky
cloud of cor upton that was muttering
and gathering for their destruction. The
ship Of state was fastly drifting toward
the vortex Of ruin. and with cool and
dauntless courage he piloted it out of all
danger. A few weeks since, everything
was dark and cheerless in Arkansas but
through the pluck and iron-hearted cour
age of Governo" Baxter, the shaded orb
of the State breaks through the dark
shadows, and prosperity and tranquility,
belted in one bright bow, spans the re
deemed and regenerated commonwealth.
All praise to Elisha Baxter. In the
name of the people of Memphis, we
thank him: and in doing so, we echo the
voice Of Tennessee We trust Governor
Baxter, in the future as in the past, will
rise with the occasion and be equal to
his opportunities. lie should remember
hat victory has its dangers as well as de-
feat; that the hour OF triumph is the
hour magnanimity. If Governor Baxter
exhibited any heroism in trouble, he
should make moderation his guiding star
ever yet succeeded to the full extent Of
an extreme opinion. Robespicrre ana
Marat, who governed by The guillotine,
and were supported by million of sol
diers. so far from succeeding in their
theories contributed in the end to estab-
lish more iron despotism than they had
Oyevthrowu The Judgment and good
sense which Governor Baxter exhibited
ia the hour Of danger show that he is too
wise TO adopt such a policy; but this is
the danger against which he has to
guard. He should lift himself above the
passions of revenge and retaliation. The
leaders in this outrage upon Arkansas
should be punished, but he should be gov.
erned by prudence, magnanimity and
moderation by which he can shame into
decency and friendship the deluded fol.
lowers of the knaves who were whetting
their beaks for feast upon the carcass
Of the State they were preparing for de.
cay. Moderation is Governor BaXter's
duty. 1t will take from the Radical par.
ty in Arkansas the food upon which it
proposes to subsist. 1t will tranquilze
the people, and enable them to commence
again the work of building up their waste
places, and developing the vast resources
Of the State. Peace, law and order is all
that Arkansas needs to enable her to be
come one Of the most prosperous States
of the Union. She has genial climate
and rich soil and when peace, swe>t
peace, pervades the State, she will bios.
som as the rose. Now that Arkansas,
through the patriotism ofGovcrnor Bax.
ter, has crushed the bloody brigands
who were organizing for spoil and plum
der, the widest Imagination cannot con.