The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-23

Tne Arkonsos TrOubleS-HOpos OF =
Peaceable Settlement.
Affairs in Arkansas seem to be quieting
down. and though the danger has not entirely
passed away there is good reason TO hope
that conflict of arms will be avoided. The
nited States troops in Little Rock have been
strengthened and will likely prove strong
enough to do what is their allotted duty
namely, to preserve the peace. But the
mere preservation Of the peace is not the set
Element of the Arkansas trouble. At the same
time it is true that events like that reported
yesterday as occurring ON the previous day,
of which we have fuller and more trustworthy
details this morning, can only result in COM
plications Of the worst kind and render any
thing like just settlement impossible. Peace
is the first requisite toward settle
ment; but, even with the forces Of both Baxter
and Brooks disbanded, it is not easy to
see how an amicable solution is to be arrived
at. 1t is clearly not the duty of the federal
administration to say who is Governor Of
Arkansas, Notwithstanding such action would
be analogous to the course taken in Louisiana.
Any such action on the part Of General Grant
would only load down his administration
with another monstrosity and fail to give gen.
eral satisfaction to the country. Arkansas
will have to work out the solution Of the ques-
ton for herself, and this cannot be easily
accomplished unless both parties agree upon
some plan to which they will submit. The
proposition to call the Legislature together to
determine the question is the most sensible
proposal which has yet been made. The READ
power to determine the question, in the alb
sence of constitutional provision placing i.
elsewhere, is in the Legislature. Any settle
ment by that body would be prefer
able to the chaos which now exists
or to forced determination upon the orders
of court It matters very little in itself
which of these men shall be Governor OF
Arkansas for the rest of the term, but it mat
tiers very much that it shall be settled in an
orderly and constitutional way. Both parties
disbanding their forces and agreeing to sub
NIT their claims to the Governorship to the
competent tribunal would be q triumph of law
and order in the State that would insure Il
great and long continued prosperity. In tho
older States such conflict as this is generally
regarded as impossible, and ON appeal to arms
to determine popular election to the Cover
norship of Pennsylvania, New York or Massa-
chusetts would be looked upon as the death
knell of republican liberty in America. That
it is not SO in Louisiana or Arkansas is owing
to the popularity of their situations, growing
out Of the abnormal vices of carpet-baggers
and local demagogues. While these men con-
tnue successfully to stir up strife for no better
purpose than to make such Senators Of tho
United States as Powell Clayton there is little
hope for Arkansas, or, indeed, any Of the
Southern States, enjoying the full fruits of
republican form of government As mere
question Of State rights this trouble in
Arkansas ought to be amicably settled, for il
is purely State question, and no excuse
ought to be offered for the interference of the
federal troops or the federal authority. The
anxiety of Colonel Rose yesterday to explain
away his part in the slight breach of tho
peace of the day before is good sign, as is
also the good order which prevailed in Little
Rock all day yesterday If an outbreak can
be avoided, and the slight hope in the init
nation that the Legislature may be allowed
to settle the question is realized, Arkansas
may be not much the worse off for this
kmesae Indeed, we think she would be the
better of, for she would have shown to the
world that she is able to settle dangerous in
ternal feuds without an appeal to arms and
without the interference OF the powers at
Washington. And not only Arkansas, but
the whole South, would gain an immense ad-
vantage FROM this lesson, for it would be soms
proof that the era of monstrosities in Southern
State governments is passing away.
RED-LErrEB EVENTS In AMERICAN Hrs.
TORY
Washington signed the Jay Treaty.
Jefferson purchased Louisiana