The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-10
HOW ARKANSAS WAS MSGOVERNED.
Curious Account Of a SWind-
ling Despotism.
Republican Government Turned
Into a Farce.


can government, ia an able and ingenious instru-
ment said 10 nave been framed at Washington.
1t established an extremely centralized and des-
posic administration. The Governor appointed
nearly all the local officers in counties and town.
ships, and he mad the power 70 I'LL vacancies even
In the Few onices he did not originally name. He
appointed judges, collectors and assessors OF
taxes, justices or the peace, prosecuting attorneys,
registrars OF elections. and these appointed the
judges or elections. Where new counties
were created, which was a favorite de-
vice or the robbers, the Governor ap-
pointed all the officers. Moreover, where
any subordinate proved reractory-which means
honest and pubic spirited--he was removed
writ OF quo lcdTTanto, ana brought before the
Supreme Court, at the head or which sat Poker
Jack. by a convenient Attorney General. Then tne
Governor filled MS place. Under this inohsuous
system OF GENERALIZATION as extreme as that Of the
later French Empire, the Ring had their ad-
herents scattered all over the state. Tney ao-
solutey controlled the elections; they ruled the
people despoticaly. The Governor was even care
full 10 appoint, In many instances, local onlcers
VINO did not live in tn counties they were 10 ru
and Who or course, had no interest whatever In
good government or in the decent administration
ofjustice.
one instance, out or many, will show how bra
Zenly these creatures u the Ring carried out their
schemes. new county was formed in the north
western part oil the State. A Sheriff was sent who
lIved in Little Rock. This person CHANGED TO own
q farm IN the county. The people chose Tor
county seat village near the centre OF the county;
but the Sheriff determined 10 establish il on his
own farm five miles away. He and MS Fellow Of
nceholders manipulated the registry lists, but
Jailed TO eliminate sufficient number OF voters
names and when an election was held Tor a choice
OF three commissioners TO determine on the county
seat hts candidates were beaten. He went
at once TO Little Rock, where the
election was, at his instance, set asde
new commissioners appointed. and
the Court House, which cost over $4,000, was
actually placed on his farm, spite OF the de-
mand OF nlne-tentEs or the people TO put 1t in the
village where it would De convenient for the
public.
All these local appointees or the central govern
ment had unlimited power 70 steal, and knew H.
Indeed they were expected 10 divide their plunder
with the Rug at headquarters. They issued
county and town bonds Tor railroads, they erected
or pretended TO erect new ana unneeded public
buildings TOR which bonds and scrip were issued;
they put out scrip on every possible excuse
and kept no BOOKS or records 10 show the
amounts issued, tr stole the RECORDS, or
In several notorious instances burned
down the court houses ana destroyed the records.
Tney pocketed the greenoacks paid 10 BY taxpay-
ers. and turned into the Treasury deprecated
scrip. Tney protected thieves and swtndlers for
pay, and they sold justice at a high price. When
the county scrip became too much depreciated Tor
their uses the Supreme Court, Poker Jack Chief
Justice, rendered a decision making that only
receivable Tor county taxes; ana when this spec
uation had served their turn, the Supreme
court-Poker Jack still Chief Justice-reversed
this decision and made only State scrip receivable
Tor taxes. S. monstrous was the robbery that
even now, when the punderers are beaten or
and confidence Is restored, the average value or
county scrip Is less than thirtylour cents, and il
Is doubtful n one-quarter OF the counties know
certainly the amount or their debt. Mean
time champagne was the commonest bev-
eFage OF several hundred people at Lit
ns Rock, and it was at one time said
that nowhere IN the United STATES was SO
much OF this wine consumed az IN the dilapidated
little capital OF Arkansas Champagne and poker
were the chief enJoyments oftEe thieves IN once,
and they INDUCED themselves without stint and
openly without shame.
REGIsTRATIoS FRACDs.
The Governor sppolnr ed The registrars or cleo
ton, and they we're naturally tools or the Ring.
Registration was an imperative prerequisite 10
voting. The law was 50 framed that the decision
Of the Registrar as to the right OF
lying TO the Supreme Court, winch refused
10 hear such cases. o. election day even II
q citizen showed a certificate proving that ne had
been registered. this did not entitle him TO vote
n hts name was not actually iound on the Regis
ter. Moreover the registrars appointed the
judges OF elections az the polling places, and or
course chose partsans.
what happened was this As registration went
on the partisan registrars kept a sharp eye on
the lists. Vnen they we're completed ttey had
some days 10 revise them. on this time they
counted, and jadiciousiy marked out democratic
names enough 10 secure the required majority.
III red lax DON'T blot them out take red paint
and pant brush was the order said TO have
been sent 70 our Registrar.
Meantime the coored vote was manipulated 70
such an extent That the colored people were en-
ticed away from their avocations Tor weeks before
election day and gathered In crowds al barDecues
and other camps. At first the Ring had a large
majority, for they controlled the negroes and
about 1000 o. the old citizens we're osfrancnised
Tor participation In the rebellion. Ia November,
1874. q constitutional amendment vas adopted
By The people which enfrancnissd these
voters and enabled them 10 begin 70 nelp
themselves As the people became more and
more dissatisfied, the Ring began 70 quarrel among
themselves and thus REORGANIZATION began
among this band OF pirates. Meantime IL
Is confessed here that occasionally some
puoic theL VINO had outraged the people OF q
county beyond endurance, was shot, and public
sentiment quietly justified the deed But at
every such murder q howl was raised that Union
men we're prosecuted and 10 danger or their lives.
and the North, anxious TO protect the oppressed,
sunersd the federal power to protect the oppres-
sora
A METROPOLITAN POLICE
These did not shrink from measures for their
swn protection. Tie Legislature adopted 10
March. 1869, Ku Klux bin Of the most STRINGENT
sDaracier, which was 20 well executed tnat all OPP
position or thus kind disappeared. In 1873 Il
adopted a Civn Rights BILL which is as peremptory
Aa that which waa advocated BY General
Butler. 10 the same year they brought for
ward q pln to establish Metropolitan Police.n
six thousand men we're to be appointed by the
navarnnra 10 act az a nnLLca nvar me nhnla statn-