The Russellville Democrat., 1882-03-30

presented in manner which IS ut terly at variance with the truth .'ant at the same time, calculated to d' unmerited injury to Judge Bradley official reputation. And since these apparently maievolent and libelous statements, if unanswered, are cal culated to mislead those of the good people of Pope county who are unin- formed in tho matter, the undersign- ed have deemed it their duty to as- certain and give publication to the real facts.
 What could have been MT. B's mo- tives in making these false and un- warranted impressions upon the minds of the Presbyterian conven- tion, and thereby effecting serious and unjust injury to worthy and honorable citizen, we are at loss to understand. Yet, were we disposed to form hasty conclusions and confer upon Madam Rumor all the dignity and importance of attested truth (which we hope may prove to have been Mir. B's greatest fault) we might suggest individual malevo- lence, or q vain and interruptions desire for public notoriety. It must appear rather singular, however, that statements so wide of the truth, and at the same time, so slanderous te the reputation of a prominent citl zen and brother in the church, should have been uttered in public assem- bly, and published in the county pa pers, by prominent minister of the gospel, when the real facts in the case could have been so easily ascer- tained by examining the county re- cords, or by addressing note of in- quiry to any public official at this place. And it is the more remarka- ble that Judge Bradley should have been suspected and accused of such illegal and imprudent measures against the cause of Temperance, when we consider the fact that he is well known as an ardent advocate of Temperance and leading member of the Temperance society in the town where he resides. But let us consider few of MT. Boone's state ments, together with the facts and the law bearing upon them.
 By an act of the state legislature, approved March Sth, 1879, each county is required to decide the question of license for itself, by bal lot, at the general election every two years. In accordance with this act, the license question was voted upon in the last election and decided, in Pope county, in favor of license. Now the above acton of the legisla- ture, and decision of the people in the last election, it is evident, must govern the county court in the issu ance of license; except in localities where subsequent act, known as the "Lecal Option Act" has been made effective by the people. Now the justice or injustice of Judge Bradley's actions must depend upon whether he has, or has not, been governed by law, and the expressed and legally attested wishes of the people, in the exercise of their local option privilege. Let us examine:
 Says MT. Boone, "the judge of Pope county has issued license in communities where there was no whiskey sold heretofore, thereby i'm posing curse upon them contrary to the known wishes of the citizens. and, Tn one case, where a petition of a majority of the adult citizens had been obtained and in his possession" Is it not obvious that, as to the issu- ance of license in communities where there was no whiskey sold before, the law, and not the county judge, must be held responsible, since the county judge is but an instrument chosen by the people, for the adjudi- cation and execution of the law. And, as to further statement that "license was issued in one case against petition of majority of adult citizens" it is false-we have investigated, and know whereof we speak.
 And again, the action of said judge is condemned for issuing "license in said communities, thereby infiicting upon them most diabolical evil, when the law gives him the right to refuse to issue license as other judges within our bounds have done." An examination of the law bearing up on this subject, can not fail to satisfy every one who will be at the pains to investigate, that the law gives no judge of county which has voted for license the right to withhold li- cense from communities which have not availed themselves of the privi- lege accorded them by the Local Op- tion Act.
 And further, Judge Bradley is called upon ito revoke the license that he issued for the sale of whis- key on Milt Moore's land, about three miles south of Atkins on Galla Rock road, when, at the same time, he held in his hands petition of the majority of the adult citizens, pray Ing him not to grant license on said Mlt Moore's land" The fact that no such petition has ever reached Iudua RradIey from the communitv