Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-08-11
2iEMPHIS APPEAL
SUNDAY, AUGUST IL, 1873
SUNDAY,
THREATENED DISTURBANCES IN
ARKANSAS.


ARKANsAS.
The APPEAL deprecates any and all APP
peals TO arms for a settlement of political
differences. When Radicalism was rampant
in the adjoining State Of Arkansas, we stead
lily denounced the presence Of militia kept
under arms for the purpose of intimidation,
robbery and murder We do not wish to see
revival of the scenes of those days, when
white men, If Democrats. had no rights that
Radicals were bound to respect. We do
not want a recurrence Of the terrible trials of
a period the remembrance of which is sufFi-
cient 10 stir up the bitterest memories of in
suit and wrong such as few people have ever
been called upon to endure. We cannot afford
neighborhood strife or political turmoil. we
want peace and must have it. Entering upon
a career of prosperity that promises unexam-
pied results in permanent Improvements, ac-
cessions of population and large profits for our
crops, we must have peace-peace at any price
short Of dishonor and total loss Of manhood.
We, therefore, appeal TO the leaders of the
negro Radicals of Cnttenden, Lee and Phil
lips counties, Arkansas, to abandon the armed
organizations which we understand they have
formed for the purpose of carrying the cleo
tons in September by force. We appeal to
them TO conine themselves to peaceful organ
izations, and to give up the intentions they
have expressed TO elect their candidates, if
necessary, at the end of rifles or shotguns.
Already these movements have produced le-
gitlmate fruits The white people, in self
defense, have armed and made ready for the
alternative you present. Like begets like.
Force begetsiforce, and peace peace. Do not
listen to the paid hireling- of the Radical par
ty, who are prompting you to bloody
strife. Their purpose is a plain
one. They want to have you murder or be
murdered in order that the bloody shirt may
again become the banner of the vindictive
partisans who have ruled the Union for
eighteen years. In Cnttenden county you
have unfortunately broken the peace and
violated cardinal principle of American
law-free speech. This you did with arms
in your hands, justifyiug the precautions the
white people Of Lee and Phillips counties
have taken in arming and organizing. The
white or black emissaries of Radicalism who
are encouraging you TO this, and the news
papers who aid aud abet you by browbeat-
ing, unjust and incendiary articles against
the whites, will desert you in your hour of
peril. They have no other use for you than
to have you shot like dogs, or have you
shoot your neighbors like dogs, that
they may raise the cry of south
ern prescription and excite ignorant voters
at the north to the belief that the south is in
n chronic state of rebellion, that strong
government is necessary, and that Democratic
rule means anarchy, confusion and blood
shed. You have doubtless been promised
the support of the Hayes administration and
the money Of the Radical party. These will
be of no help to you. Hayes cannot inter
fere for or against you, and all the money
the Radicals may promise to pay you, though
it were counted by millions, will not compen-
safe for the loss of life and property which
your course, if persisted in, will bring about
Surrender the emissaries of the Radical party
now among you to the proper authorities
that they may be dealt with as they deserve, |
pledge yourselves to peace and to a fair cleo
ton, and your white fellow-citizens will aban-
don the Organizations your past conduct and |
present threats have rendered necessary to |
their safety. You have enjoyed under DEM |
ocratic rule four or five years of peace, good |
will and industry, such as was impossible |
under Radical government. Under Demo- |
cratic administrations you have enjoyed in |
peace, with none to mock or make you afraid, !
every right that belongs to freemen. You !
still enjoy these rights, and in State with |
fifty or sixty thousand Democratic majority. |
Let your white neighbors enjoy the same |
rights in peace. The incendiary and partl- |
san articles which appear in the Hayes or
gans, and which lily conceal the Radical hate |
of the white people whom you attacked in |
Cnttenden and threaten in Phillips and Lee |
counties-these may give you present hope |
and stimulate you to go on with the murder |
and riot you have begun, but they will be
poor comfort wien, after the battle, you come
to count the cost. We appeal to you to lay |
down your arms and resolve on peace. And |
we appeal TO the white voters of Lee, Critten- |
den and Phillips counties to leave to the |
Justly constituted authorities of the State the |
duty Of preserving the peace. If riot |
threatens, appeal to Governor Miller. He |
will, no doubt, call out the militia, if neces-
sary, and compel obedience to the laws. Let |
us have peace. Let every good man, no mat
ter what his politics, determine that the |
priceless boon of peace shall be a special care.
Civil comm0tion now would be fatal to the |
industries of every class, and, as we have |
said, would furnish to the Radicals OF the I
north an excuse for hosting the bloody shirt |
and revlving the sectional hates and animosi I
tues by which they maintained themselves in
nd oF Al, 60
they robbed the State and Federal govern
ments and increased the tax burdens of the
workingmen Of the country.