Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-05-13
The Arkansas Trouble.

Spth 30 AANS w a IN NoA
TO be in the wrong In such cases the
wrong thoroughly &C ipses the little
point of right. This occaliatieu may
be observed almost any day when two
or more ba,k-alley bullies or pugna-
cious school-boys pull hair and PUN
mel each other as mode of adjusting
their little differences of opinion Such
battles are always interesting from one
point of view. That is TO say, The
spectator looks on unconcerneG, not
being able to sympathize with either
party. That pretty nearly defines the
struggle in Arkansas. Masters Baxter
and Brooks, or Brooks and Baxter
for as it is a question Of precedence il
will not do TO give either first mention
TO the exclusion of the other-are at
loggerheads about something, which for
conscience sake, let us call the homer OF
administering the affairs Of Arkansas.
There may be a right and wrong in
volved in the dispute. That may be
admitted on general principles. But it
bears at this distance, and under the
strongest light yet shed upon the quar-
rel, a very close resemblance to one of
those personal squabbIes in which the
wrong altogether eclipses the trifing
right Arkamsans divide their sympa-
thies with the contestants outside OBJ
servers have no sympathy with either,
but healthy contempt for both. And
the only interest really felt in the mat
ter by the nation at large is that the
disgraceful fsticuf may result in .he
destruction of both parties. Ii it shall
end as happily as the falling out be-
tween the famous Kilkenny cats ended,
the people of this country will be very
much grat.fed.
Heroic treatmen. in the matter of
.uch political distemper is not much in
our way as a people. We proceed up
on tie principle that these differences
will settle themselves if left alone
The principle is i'll some respects sound,
though 1t involves disgraceful scenes
and occasionally something more tragic
than disgrace. Admitting the genel al
soundness of the principle, it is still
quite probable that were public senti-
ment carefully polled just at this time,
it would almost unanimously favor the
hanging Of the leaders in the Arkansas
quarrel. That would be heroic treat
ment. The spectacle would be highly
edifying. 1t would save an immense
deal Of trouble and bloodshed in the
future. Once establish the rule that
armed struggle to further the ambitious
projects of individuals involves forfeit
ure of life to the parties, and such af-
fairs wall become rare. Nor would such
rule repress the heroism which impels
men to resist wrong and injustice. 1t
would set up distinction between con-
tests to main order and contests which
rank no higher than wanton breaches of
public peace. In Arkansas the true
arena Of the contest was in the courts !;
and there is no rational doubt enter
tanned By Anybody that the courts wers
entirely competent to deal with it +; or
at worst it could only have been trans
ferred to the Legislature. There was
law enough either III the statute books
or in the Constitution 10 settle the diff
ference between the parties. But it
seems to be fact that once west Of the
Mississippi river confidence in law
seems TO fall off very rapidly. Even if
q red-handed murderer be convicted
and sentenced to hang, the people sell
dom permit the authorities to execute
the sentence. If man is found with
horse and cannot show a formal bill
of sale conGrmatory of title, he is
lucky # he does not cad his career on
limb Of the nearest tree. Law and
legal procedure are regarded with
something Ike universal distrust west
of the Mississippi. OF course there
must be some rational explanation of
this want of respect for and confidence
in law. 1t viii be found in the history
of the settlement Of those formerly
"border communities" 1t was once
fashionable for a class of citizens to
weary oat the patience and forbear-
ance of civilized communities and then
put as many miles Of wilderness be-
tween them and civilization as suited
their purposes. Such exiles were not
always altogether bad but when the
advancing tides of civilization carried
honest pioneers into such remote local
tiles these refugees were found in pos
session, and in numbers sufficient TO
seriously affect subsequent social and
civil conditions. From this untoward
beginning proceeded the numerous
brood Of ills which atiiicts the south
aud southwest.
The present trouble in Arkansas is,
pure and simple, rampant demagogscy.
Baxter, it is said, was elected by tue
Republicans. Since his election he is