The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-08-29
The Shotgun Policy In Ar
kansas.

kansas.
Evidence accgimulates, going TO show
the folly Of attempting to hold a fire.,
election In Arkansas. A correspond
ent Of the New York Times, wrltin.
from Helena, Phillips county, Arkan.
sas, August 9Th says:
To-day there are oyer 900 organ.
lied men in the county, formed into
companies, armed with breech load
ing rifles, and composed of every
Democrat between the ages Of seven
teen and forty-fve. They have also
received two pieces of artillery from
Memphis and organized an artillery
company, and have arranged for the
rife clubs of the adjoining counties
Of the State of Mississippi TO pay
them n visit on election day. They
boast openly that il is their purpose
TO carry this election, no matter
what the cost or sacrifice of human
life may be. They have notified the
leading Republicans that no more
Republican meetings will DC permit
ted in the county; that no colored
man win be permitted to go near the
polls on election day, unless he in
tends TO vote the Democratic ticket,
and that the Sheriff will not be per-
mitted to have any special deputies
except such as they are recommend
ed to him.
"The laws of this State require the
County Judge to appoint the Judges
of election and TO select them from
the different political parties. Our
County Judge is Hon. Samuel /.
Clark, a Republican and a gentle
man. Last week he was called upon
by a committee Of three, who inform
ed him that, in the name of the
Democratic party, they demanded of
him the appointment of such Judges
of election rs they should recon.
mend. Upon inquiring whether they
demanded that the Judges should be
Democrats exclusively, he was an
swered affirmatively. He called
their attention to the law, which
makes it his duty to give each party
representation, when he was anwered
that their object was to carry this
election; if they could do it within
the law, they would do it, but if not
they would have to disregard the law.
Judge Clark informed them that he
would consult with his friends but
did not think he could comply with
their request, when he was told that,
in that event, his resignation would
be demanded, and should that be re-
fused, they could not be responsible
for his personal safety. This ended
the interview.
"At a caucus of the leading Repub-
%licans, it was concluded that, under
the circumstances, it was not advisa-
Die to nominate a Republican ticket.
At first an offer was made by the
Republicans to divide the offices, Civ
ing one half to the Democrats and
the other half to the Republicans,
but this offer vas refused. If q tick.
ct had been nominated, the Sheriff
would have been requested to leave
the county until after the election,
and had he refused to do so, he
would have met the same fate that
other Southern Republicans have in
Louisiana and Mississippi. i
"Now, what are we to do? To
organize the colored companies? If
so, it would be reported that the ne.
groes were organizing to massacre
the whites, and 10000 White Leag-
uers from Mississippi and Louisiana
would be here in two days, and the
result would be that several hundred
colored men would be killed, as at
Colfax, Edgefeld and other places.
"To whom shall we look for protec-
ton? The Governor of the State en-
courages these acts. the national Ad-
ministration claims to be powerless,
our courts are controlled by Demo
cratic Judges, our Grand Juries are
composed Of Democrats, our Petite
Juries also. In the eyes of a North
ern Republican, a Southern Republi-
can is fit for only one thing, 1. e., to
be a martyr for the party. Then, of
whom al we expect aid or even en-
couragement? Is it anything but nat
lral for us to come to the conclusion
that our form of government is a
and that u change is, absolute
ly essential? You may perhaps
think that this picture is o~verdrawn,
but no, it is very mild. To give you
a full description of our affairs, and
threats uttered daily against all
Republicans, would fill your journal.
Send some trustworthy correspond
ent here. Let him examine matters,
and you will soon indsthat BULLDOG
ing and intimidation are not the wild
fancies of carpet baggers, but terri
bic realities"
MIR. stephens In 1850,