National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-19
Tile ARKANsAS OUEsTLON

Y
The situation of affairs in Arkansas con-
tains more meaning and significance than
the average newspaper reader or politician
is perhaps apt TO suppose. At the first
0 blush we see two parties, and, as the real
or nomind leaders of those parties, two
men cortending for the Governorship of
the Stde Mr.. Garland claims that he is
entitled to the office under one constitution;
Mr. Smith that he is the lawful Governor
OF tie State under another constitution.
TIL, whole case hinges upon the validity of
ore Of the instruments, and, fortunately,
tie record is so clear and straight upon the
subject that there can be no doubt what
ever as TO who is right and who is wrong.
When at the close of the war Arkansas was
reconstructed, she was accorded represen-
tation in Congress and restored to all her
privileges in the Union upon certain con-
ditions. She came here with a new
organic act in which she pledged
herself TO do certain things, among others
that she would not amend that organic law
without having submitted it to two con-
secUtive sessions of her Legislature. Under
that constitution Mr.. Smith was elected
Lieutenant Governor and Mr.. Baxter Gov
ernor. While the latter was in Office the
constitution under which he was elected
was thrown aside and new and spurious
document, under which Mr. Garland was
elected, substituted in its place. The point
in the whole controversy is purely Judi
Cial one. and must be decided upon judicial
grounds. 1t is not political matter at all,
and bears no relation whatever to any SIM
liar proceeding that has occurred in the
Southern States. There is no parallel be-
tween it and Louisiana or Texas, and it
will have to be decided without reference
10 what has been done in the case of either
Of them.
We have said that it is a judicial ques-
tion; but at the same time it is also a party
question. When the war was ended, and
the Republican party in Congress was called
upon TO reconstruct the Southern States, it
saw fit TO impose certain terms upon the
communities that had participated in the
rebellion to demand from them certain
guarantees as conditions precedent to their
political rehabilitation. Arkansas, in the
constitution she claims to have Just formed
and under which Mr.. Garland demands
Office, has Overridden and repudiated the
compact she then entered into with the
Republican party representing the General
Government, and is TO all intents and pur-
poses where she was previous to her res
tOratiOn as a member of the Union. The
pledges she then gave she cannot in any
way escape. The bond she signed she can
not unsign without at the same time re-
manding herself to the condition she then
occupied. The attitude she has assumed
Is an insult TO Congress; 10 her sister States
in the Union; to the Union itself. In as
suming it she has set herself above
the law, usurped authority, violated
the most solemn compact into which
size could have entered. Some o. our CO.
teTnpCTaTies Of the Democratic and indie
pendent persuasion, in discussing the sub
ject, lay great stress upon the late election
at which the present so-called constitution
was ratified, and tell US that the will of the
sovereign people of Arkansas cannot be
set at defiance. This is mere sentiment.
We have profound respect for the will
and wishes Of that State; they are entitled
TO as much respect and consideration as
those Of any other State in the Union, but
in doing what they have done her people
have set themselves above the supreme
law and made themselves a law unto them.
selves.
But there is another aspect to the whole
case which the Republican party and the
Administration acting for the party should
consider. The Opposition in that State,
the party that made war upon the Union
and is to-day doing all it can to defeat the
Republican policy and measures, has set
an example which, if allowed to pass I'M
Challenged, will be taken as a precedent by
other States in the same section. The
whole proceeding is revolutionary, unre-
publican and un-American. Ii is a condi
ticn Of affairs which the Republican party
cannot afford TO tolerate without stultifying
itself What Mr.. Baxter has Just done in
Arkansas in the face of the most solemn
agreements may at any moment be done by
any other Governor, North or South, at
any moment, whenever it suits him or his
party. The whole thing reminds us,
more Of the empire or the monarchy than
of the republic. 1t is a Napoleonic way of
doing business, and neither the first nor
third Emperor of the name did anything
more fragrant, sofar as law and order and
the rights Of the people are concerned.
Baxter, is only Napoleonism on small
scale. It means revolution and dis
order and lawlessness. If a coup Fotat
like that which has just taken place in this