The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-13
His Excelency's Ingenious Plan 10,
the Pacincation OF Arkansas.

play.
HIS Exceuency's Ingenious Plan for
the Pacincation OF Arkansas.
The keynote Of the statesmanlike policy
which His Excellency is pursuing with such
praiseworthy assiduity and pleasing results
was struck in the closing sentence of his first
letter Of acceptance conveying the fervent
aspiration which has been SO singularly real
lied, "Let us have peace !" It has been said
that the first impression on a person who
visits great work of art or sublime scene
in nature-like St. Peters Church at Rome
or Niagara Falls-is feeling of disappoint-
ment, and that it is only by considerable
familiarity that the mind rises and expands
to take in the full grandeur of the object We
fancy that stranger, who has not contem-
plated it long and lovingly, would experience
a similar difficulty in doing full justice to His
Excellencys noble policy of "peace" 1t
would not be quite reverent to compare it to
the wisdom which the pen of inspiration
tells us is "unsearchable and past find
ing OUT" but we trust we shall
deserve no rebuke for saying that His Excel
lency's policy of peace is an enormous, an in
scrutable blessing, which ordinary citizens,
whom Mr.. Lincoln used to call "plain peo-
ple," cannot easily expand their minds to
comprehend.
The latest exhibition of His Excellencys
genius for watering the tree of peace and
covering it with fragrance difusng blossoms,
making it "a thing Of beauty and joy for
ever" is that marvel of healing and concilia-
ton, the Arkansas Message. To be sure, the
State is as quiet and orderly as it has ever
been at any time since its first admission into
the Union; but the very fact that His Excel
lency thinks he can improve upon such a con-
dtion attests the high ideal standard at which
he aims. He is not content to follow the
homely rule OF letting we'll enough alone.
He wishes for "better bread than can be
made of wheat" The mere vulgar tran
quillity which has prevailed in Arkansas
since the adoption of it's new con-
stitution does not satisfy His Excel
lency, and he wishes to administer
the new elixir Of peace which it has been re-
served for him to discover. If it were Ar
kansas ITSELF instead of His Excellency, that
had discovered this surprising elixir we might
have some fear that there would be fresh
occasion for the old epitaph:-~ was well,
wished to be better, took physic-and here I
lie." But in the hands of His Excellency the
new peace medicine will of course work won-
ders.
The novelty and originality Of this new
method of peace must not prejudice superb
cial people against it. To overthrow con-
stitution which large majority of the people
adopted and approve; to install Governor
whose claim to the Office His Excellency him
self last spring. after careful examination,
assisted by legal advice, decided to be un-
founded; to pour troops into the State to
overturn its constitution, upset its govern
ment and force bogus Chief Magistrate upon
an unwilling people, must have wonderfully
pacifying influence on the temper of the
citizens Appearances may seem against
it, but appearances lie on the surface.
If the army sent to Arkansas should be large
enough there need be no misgivings that His
Excellency will be unable to establish more
perfect peace than ever existed in o free COM
munity. 1t may be as perfect as the peace
which reigns on battlefield after contending
armies have withdrawn, leaving their dead on
the ground. No spectacle of peace can be so
perfect in the eyes of wanderer who sur
veys it, and if His Excellency is bent on such
peace in Arkansas there can be no question
of the fitness of the means he proposes for
concentrating it. But the medicine will fail
if it is not administered bountifully. Moth
ing is SO peaceful as corpse, and His Excel
lency will have complete success as a State
physician if the medicine, whose first effect
must be inevitable commissions, is only given
in quantities large enough to insure that su-
preme quiet which no subsequent malpractice
can ever disturb.