The Russellville Democrat., 1884-09-11

wiped ont every vestigc oft Straight
democrats were elected and indie
pendents relegated to the rear BY
Leavy majorities.
The poll books and ballots Or one
township giving the republicans a
majority Of so, were stolen from the
clerks Office at Morrilton. In con-
sequence Of this theft two democrats
will get in. Some say IL is repub-
lican trick to get rid Of their man for
sheriff. This looks unreasonable.
The b. Of II. had their own way in
Van Buren, county. The Banner
says: Weleave politicians to account
for the startling fact that in coun-
ty Of 1885 voters, about one thous
and Of whom have hitherto voted
the strictly democratic ticket. and
who this time voted the democratic
state ticket, they have this year
shared Offices with the republicans
and elected for representative a
Clayton republican who in 1868 vo-
ted to disfranchise these very dem
ocrats who have now elected him. 1t
is astonishIng
One little township in Garland
county voting only fifty ballots
against license not only defeated
license in the county but placed the
saloon men in a peculiar predica-
ment because of their Indifference
and oversight, the question of Ii
cense or no license was left off of
nearly all the tickets. Not more
than dozen votes were cast for Ii
ccnse. Under the law license can
not be issued anywhere in the conn
ty. The saloon men are dumb
founded.
In looking over the field the Lit
tie Rock Democrat feels called upon
to say:
The Legislature that is TO assem-.
BILE this winter will be far superior
to the body of 1SS3--in every aspect
OF the case. But few of the old mem
bers were reelected and from among
them we notice the names OF some
who were conspicuous as leaders
as Hewitt, Barker, Sellers, Harrod,
Baxter and one or two others. The
counties that the Democrat described
as "unrepresented" in 1883 have
all chosen representatives who will
be in their seats on the meeting of
the Legislature.
The Pine Bluff Commercial says:
Among the encouraging features of
the last election was the positive
manifestation of independence on
the part of the negro voter. Here
tofore he has been carried in the
pockets OF the court house bosses,
and voted as if he were puppy with
a string around his neck. At last
be has come forward and voted like
an American citizen, not as ordered
to do on the night before the cleo.
ton, but as his Judgment dictated.
There is some hope for partial i'm
provement in our political and civil
condition, when the negro voter rec
ognlzes that he is politically free
and in this effort to assert himself,
as shown in our county election, we
desire to encourage him, and SO
should all good citizens. The usual
5000 majority has been reduced to
800, and this is a fine indication that
this vote is being cast from proper
and judicious motives.
The Brothers of Freedom swept
the field in johnson county. The
GAINESVILLE Herald reviewing the
situation has this 10 say:
The election Is over, and tits more
Gin sorrow than in anger that the re
suit is chronicled. The defeat of
the democratic party in an open, fair
contest with its avswed enemies
leaves no sting that it has not always
when 1T came endured with fortitude,
but defeat through the betrayal of
its members affects it in degree far
beyond the ordinary sting Of defeat.
The party is thus circumstanced in
johnson county at this time. 1t has
not been defeated by its ayowed enc
mics, but by it's professed friends.
The members Of it who have stood
by It's principles and colors in the
late contest in the county cannot
meet the defeat with that resignation
which their manliness and honor
would have insured had it come in
an open contest with the republic
cans. They feel toward their breth
rem just as one brother feels toward
another when deserted by him in a
matter OF right and deep concern to
his individual interest. They feel
that they have been deserted by
their brother democrats in matter
of right and deep concern to the
public interest. This, the democrats
who aided by their votes in electlng
republican to the General Assem-
bly,, may think too strong language,
but it is the truth.
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fAl~ 81