The Russellville Democrat., 1881-06-09
NOW LET US HAVE PEACE.

Ever si3ce the adjournment of the Legislature dark clouds have lowered over the political horIzon of Arkan sas, and the weather-wise have pre- dieted that they portended the most disastrous results to the peace and dignity, as well as prosperity and welfare oi our state. Happily the clouds have lifted and the dangers have been ayerted.
 The disturbing element has been the Fishback amendment, the ghost Of which has stslked abroad and frightened timid politicians and in- spired with feeling of awe all class es of people. The amendment advo cates have been jealous in parading their greivances before the public, and have directed their shafts of warfare against the amendment re- turning board, the state central com mittee and the Little Rock Gazette, the presumed organ of the democrat ic party. On the other hand the anti amendment people have resent ed the assaults of the opposition and have been lavish in their denuncia- tions of the supposed attempts of MT. Fishback and his followers to make the amendment question test of party loyalty and thus jeopardize the success of the party in the next campaign. This cross-fring partici- pated in by the rank and file of the | party with more or less acrimony, gave rise to well-grounded fears of party division.
 Since the meeting of the State central committee on the 24th ult-, and the promulgation of its concila- tory plan for the continued harmony and unity of the party, it has trans pired that Mir. Fishback does not desire split in the party and he has been frank enough to define his position on this question. This has been done by addressing an open letter to the editor of the Ga. zette. In this letter, Dir. Fishbaek, alluding to the fears of split from the slledged course of the represent atiyes of each wing of the party, says: If these fears are groundless, it is a duty VIC both owe, not less to ourselves l than to patriotism, to allay them.
 Accordingly, hereby pledge myself in advance, that if majority of the party say through it's next convention l that it is opposed to the amendment and nominate ticket, every one of whom is opposed to it, l WILL SUPPORT THAI TICKET, PLATFORM AND ALL.
 Now, If, on the other hand, the amendment men control the copyen- rion, and put out ticket and plat form fayoring the "Fishbaek amend ment," will the Gazette support the ticket, platform and all!
 h response to the above the Ga zette answers:
 We challenge Col. Fishback to point to an utterance of the Gazette WAT ranting even the suspicion that should the "amendment" men "contrsl the next convention" this journal will "bolt and split the party" All the facts are the other way; and we can only reiterate what was said in reply to some questions proposed by Senator 1 c. E. Mitchell, that the Gazette makes l no fights outside the democratic ranks. | This is intended to be explicit-to coy CT the entire ground.
 The Gazette's reply, while not as emphatic as the declarations of Mir. Fishback, is doubtless intended to convey the impression that it will support tho nominees of the next democratic convention, as every dem ocratic paper is in duty bound to do. While we are not willing to as sume that Mir. FishDack nor the edi- tor of the Gazette have the disposal of the respective wings of the party imputed to be represented by them, yet we are pleased to know that they have thus early announced their future course, and allayed all fears of disorganizstion in that quarter.
 Now then let crimination and re- examination cease. Let every demo crat worthy of the name desist from encouraging petty strife, which can at best but result in placing our state in the hands of it's enemies. Let us apply ourselves to the better ing of our own conditions and con tributing to the prosperity ot ouI state. In short, let us have exact and enduring peace.
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