Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1874-05-01
The Arkansas Middle.

With regard to the contest for the Gov
ernorship in Arkansas we confess we fee
but little interest so far as the success O
either contestant is concerned. We have
very much the same sort Of feeling the ole
woman had when she saw fight going OF
between her husband and the bear. Being
Indifferent to the result, and undetermin
ed as to the defeat of which would be mos
beneficial to her, she encouraged both by
impartially singing out, $50 it bar; go il
husband!' In this fight in Arkansas, if il
were not for interests beyond and above
the success of either one, we would be glad
If it turned out to be Kilkenny cat affair
each Governor destroying the other
and not leaving so much as the half of the
sixteenth part Of an inch of either one.
But for the sake of the peace and pros
perity of the people of that State and for
the decency of republican institutions we
hope the contest will stop where it is and
60 no further.
1t is hard to arrive at the true merits OF
the case, but we are rather inclined to think
that Brooks has the best of it and should
ke the Governor It seems that in 1879
the Grant Republicans, under the leader
ship Of o. S. Senator Clayton, nominated
for the Gubernatorial chair Elisha Baxter
a reconstructed rebel; whilst the Demo
Gratis and Conservatives nominated for the
same Office the Rev. Joseph Brooks, a
carpet-bagger from the North, who had
formerly been hand and glove with Clay
ton and his crew, but had quarrelled with
them and joined the Conservatives. There
is no doubt that Brooks was elected
by majority of several thousands, but
the Radicals having control of the whole
machinery of the State government, back
ed by the influence of the Federal power,
counted in" Baxter. pretty much in the
same way that brother-in-l law Casey "coun-
ted in Kellogg in Louisiana. Brooks,
mindfuI Of the precedent set by Judge
DureA IN that case, sought by similar
process to invoke the aid of the United
States Court, but being the candidate of a
party antagonistic to the administration
and its party, as might have been expect
ed, he signally failed. He then instituted
proceedings before the Legislature, but
that body having been counted in by
the same process by which he was ''count
ed out" naturally enough refused him any
aid. So the matter was supposed to have
ended and Baxter believed to be safely
seated in the Gubernatorial chair. Now
Baxter being a Southern man by brit
was naturally an honest one, and did no
fancy his State being overrun and robbed
by Clayton and his venal crew, so, NJ
sooner did he feel himself firmly placed il
power, and all fear of Brooks turning hin
out banished, than he at once refused II
lend himself to the nefarious schemes O
the corrupt party who had 80 shamelessl,
treated him, and at once cut himself adrif
from them. He surrounded himself will
the best men of the State without regard
to party and sought to administer thu
Government honestly and for the genera
welfare. This of course did not suit Clay
ton and the ring who had so ingeniously
counted him in and dire were their threat.
of vengeance. Brooks in the meantime
tired of playing the honest man, and hank
ering after the flesh pots, which the Con
servative party weSe unable to give him
SION made friends with Clayton and his
gang. All that was needed now was the
opportunity. This was soon made. A
peculiar sort of suit was brought in one o.
the State courts by Brooks against Baxter
and by the cennivance Of a plant Judge g
snap judgment was obtained and writ o.
custer Immediately issued thereon against
Baxter. Brooks lost no time in summon
ing his heneAmen and taking forcible pos
session of the government house where he
intrenched himself; whilst Baxter took
up his headquarters at the Anthony House
Each then Illuminated proclamations a.
oainst the other and summoned troops tc