The New York herald., 1874-11-17
The new Trouble In Arkansas-Presi-
dent Grants Opportunity.

The new Trouble In Arkansas-Presi-
dent Grants Opportunity.
It is unfortunate for the citizens of Arkansas
to have the tranquility Of their State again
unsettled SO soon after the bloody disturbances
of last spring by new contest between rival
claimants to the Governership. But it is an
opportune occurrence for President Grant II
he makes q skilful use of it, as we have little
doubt he will. The peace of Arkansas Will
not be seriously disturbed Smith has no
militia, and is, in fact, skulking fugitive,
hiding himself from the pursuit of Governor
Garlands officers. There will be no blood
shed, but an occasion is offered for such action
by President Grant on Smiths application as
will enable him to set himself right with the
country in respect to his policy Of interfer-
ence with State governments. His original
intermeddling in Louisiana was great blum
der, of which he himself seemed sensi-
BILE when it was too late to rectify
it. He was in q fair way to correct the bad
impression it made when the new Louisiana
broil in September, without any fault of his,
recalled the mistake and obliterated the acts
of atonement His rejection of the application
from Texas, and his decision in favor of
Baxter last spring, in Arkansas, would have
been accepted by the country as evidence Of a
change Of policy if the unfortunate uprising
against Kellogg in September had not COM
PEELED the President to make strong seeming
Endorsement of his first action. The HERALD
believes that be was legally and morally
bound to support Kellogg in that last erner-
gency; but his duty as an officer was in
conflict with his interest as . politician.
The fall elections were approaching, and
the necessity Of supporting Kellogg recalled
the Presidents original blunder 80 vividly to
the public mind that his opponents made as
much political capital out of it as if it had
been fresh occurrence, whereas his satisfac-
tory action in the similar cases of Texas and
Arkansas would otherwise have shielded him.
But it is fortunate for him that he is so
soon furnished with new occasion for prov
ing his repugnance to interpose in State
government to support his own party
Governor Garland, of Arkansas, is dem
ocrat and by granting the application
Of Smith the President would put one
Of his own partisans in Office, as he did in the
case Of Kellogg two years ago. But we have
no doubt he will be glad Of an opportunity to
make decision which will demonstrate to the
country that he refuses to intermeddle in such
State contests.
The present Arkansas affair presents no
legal difficulties. The Legislature of the
State, called together during the disturbances
last spring. provided, in the regular manner,
for constitutional convention, which was
accordingly assembled, and framed a new
constitution, which the people of the State
adopted, and an election was held under it for
the choice of new State officers. This election
was conducted under the authority Of Cover
nor Baxter, the State Executive, whose right
to the Office was sustained by the President
last spring. The democratic party carried
the State, electing Mr. Garland, the present
Governor. When the time came for his
Inauguration Governor Baxter surrendered
the State authority into Garland's hands
by legal and peaceful transfer, and
there would have been no further trouble if
the radicals of the State had not disputed the
validity of the new constitution. They made
Smith, the Lieutenant Governor under Bax-
ter, their tool If the new constitution was
illegal Baxter would be entitled to hold on to
his Office, and in case of his resignation Smith,
the Lieutenant Governor, would succeed to
his place and authority. This is the part
Smith is attempting to play, put up to it by
the reckless radicals of Arkansas. He dis
putes the validity of the new constitution and
of the election under it, and claims the au-
thority which would have belonged to Gov
ernor Baxter had there been no other change
than Baxter's retirement If the new consti-
tuition is a nullity Smiths title to the Gov
ernorship is good; but as that constitution
was adopted by an overwhelming ma
jority of the people of the State
there is no likelihood of Smiths recogni-
ton by the President who ought
to be glad of SO solid reason for rejecting his
claim General Grant should congratulate
himself on the occurrence of this conspicuous
opportunity, SO soon after the elections, to
prove that his Louisiana precedent does not
bind him. He can thus take his first step out
of the Wilderness after the late disastrous polit-
ical battles.
But, unless we are misinformed, the strong
willed President who never quailed under q
military reverse, has already taken q far more
decided step in the political strategy which is
to retrieve the horrible slaughter of the politi
cal Wilderness If the ne VS. we have received
is true it may turn out that the exultation Of
the democrats may prove as vain as the ex-
ultation Of General Lee after the checks
he gave the Union commander in the
early stages Of his overland march
toward Richmond 1t is in Grants character
to exhibit the some. dogged and victorious
resolution in political AZ in military contests