The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-05-05
The Little War in Arkansas.

Our readers have Deen SteaulIy poSles
about the little war across the Mississippi II
one OF the reconstructed States. IL has pro
crossed to the second stage. First were the
narade and the biting of thumbs, and Their
came the combat with few killings and
woundings and taking Of prisoners with The
amusing imitation Of regular war in ex
changing and paroing them. President
GRANT has been frequently appealed to, ano
has bestowed furtivc glance upon the bel
Eceren,s, and like the keeper Of a menagerit
he called upon them to be quiet-"let's have
peace
Alas the President, in looking at Arkan
sas, cannot help regarding her. rs Indifferent
IL reconstructed. Bishop ANDREW, an ami.
able and stout gentleman, once picked up out
of the gutter drunken man, who, catching
a glimpse of the Bishops face, told him be
had, some time since, taken him into the Me-
thodist church. "Ah!" said the good Bish-
Oh, "then you must have been one Of my
botched jobs" So thinks the Federal Exc
cutive Of Arkansas just now. That State Is
one OF the botched reconstruction jobs, and
the Federal Government will find hard work
to get her out and keep her out OF the gut
ter.
The reconstruction measures Of the Gov
erpment were in defiance Of wisdom and
civilization, and they have engendered evils
that are ever disturbing the peace and order
of this country. II is al right that the
States should be ever appealing to the CEN
trail Government, whose usurpalions have
brought upon them these evils. So we be.
hold the States bowling down at the foot
stool OF the President, and the factions by
which tine States are being distracted and
renGed, ali claiming the protection OF the
Federal military power.
So it will 20 On. The fights In Arkansas
and Louisiana are the logical consequences
OF reconstruction. There are to be other
factions and other fights, and as time goes
on there will be an increase of State troubles
and an increase OF necessity for the interfer-
erce of Federal authority, until some man OF
strong vii, mag say ''let us have peace" and
carry out his proclamation by bloting out
the States, beginning with the South, and
proceeding ultimately to make all States
only what counties now are to State.
Nothing can avoid that result save revo-
lution OF the reconstruction laws and the es-
adjustment of conservatism in the South in-
an efficient form, so that the States may be
saved from barbarism-trom the rule OF lg-
norance, incompetency, and dishonesty,
which are firmly installed in the South oy
reconstruction. II we are not to have the
blessing Of such revolution, why wei
may the South pray for the one-man power
and the end of all elections by the people,
We must have one or the other. That we
are 10 get back to the pure RepubiicanisI
OF 1907 epublicanism guided by lntelli
gence, law, and Constitution-we 90 not io'
AN instant hope. But we may have Int
blessing OF conservative checks through
qualified suffrage and kindred measures, ant
with these, aided by considerate Fedora
Government, all will be we'll for long pc
riod; but return to the system of 1900 il
impossible.
The Federal Government is supreme, ant
Will SO eontinue-good or bad 1t must b
endured. 1t is alike the source Of office ant
OF money.making jobs, and no great humble
OF the leading politicians Of the land arc goini
to make any effort to control or curtail it
powers. Those who may make such effort
will be soon convinced Of the folly Of thel
attempts.
Yet reconstruction must be "recon
structed." 1t is now miscraby "botchet
iobn %