The Russellville Democrat., 1889-05-30

"An Uncertain Sort of Warfare"
Fort Smith Times: Under the
above heading the Pine Bluff Press
Eagle, edited by our brilliant and
dignifed young friend, Arthur Muir
ray, In its issue of the 2ist inst, re-
views the editorial management and
recent course OF the Gazette, in con
nection with the political prosecu-
tions in the federal court at Little
Rock, in an article that should be
read by every Democrat in the state.
Only lack of space prevents us from
publishing it at length. The follow
ing paragraph gives some informa-
ton, hitherto suspected, but not
vouched for, so far as we krow, from
any source so respectable and relia-
BILE as the Pine Bluff Press Eagle.
"Even the Gazette, when the cases
of the two negro judges of election
from this county were disposed of by
the assessment of ten dollar fine,
was constrained to say that this was
"the most fragrant violation" Of the
election law that had come before
the Federal Court. The negroes,
Berry and Crawford, permitted about
thirty five Illegal votes to be cast in
Richland township, in the face of
personal protests from Democrats
and the printed law upon the poll
books. They not only did this, but
they electioneered among other illeg
al voters and attempted to perpetrate
additional and known frauds upon
the ballot. Yet these men were ad
vised to plead guilty and were dis
charged with nominal fines in order
that their cases might not take up
the time designed for pillng up the
costs, fines and sentences upon Dem
ocrats for trivial or technical viola
tions of law"
If this be true, then these prosecu-
tious we're nastier business than
we had supposed. If this is not
true, all the apologlsts and defenders
of the disposition made by the court
of this case against Berry and Craw-
ford are respectfully called upon to
confute it. Above all others the Ga
zette and Democrat are required to
speak, not in irony or ridicule, but
with solid facts.
The Democrat says, in a fit Of i'm
patience at the drift OF hostile public
sentiment as to its course, and per-
haps Of disgust too, because no edit
Or has been punished for contempt
80 far by Judge Caldwell:
"Sink or swim, survive or perish, {
,tarve or get rich, the Democrat will
stand by it's convictions ofright. No
,wenty, or thirty, or hundred newpa-
)ers-not all the combinations which
office seeking politicians can put up
will drive 1t from its course" {
On the above state of facts, we at
east are curious to know it's convlc- ..
ions of right"as to the disposition Of !
he Berry and Crawford case. If our {
memory is not in error, the Demo
rat has given wholly different YER
lion of the facts in the case, even
.aking the Gazette to task for stating i,
t was ''the most fragrant violation" =
ried by the court Now what are
he facts? The Press Eagle gives
is version, and is on the ground
where the offense occurred. The
Gazette and Democrat were on the 7
,round where the case was tried. a
Dur own suspicion has been that
Berry and Crawford were advised to !
dead guilty in order that the real
acts might not be brought to light I
,efore the court, and thereby escape :
he punishment they deserved. Who 8
vas counsel for these negroes? n
What investigation was had in court f
vhen they plead guilty and were
entenced2 These facts should be '
;nown in justice to the court. If}0
he Information of the Press Eagle
3 correct, VIZ, that the Gazette
Management is in constant confer
nee" with the men who made the
harges 1t ought not to be difficult
o obtain all the facts. :
1t is not difficult whether the in !, !,
ormation is true or not, for these :
hings were done in corner under l
'ushel. !.
We do not intend to take part in the
discussion between the Gazette and :
'ress Eagle, but if the Gazette is not !,
ct aware that there is public sen
iment rapidly crystalizing in all
,arts of the State, closely akin to that
outlined by the Press Eagle, in the \
rticle referred to it is far behind v
he times. or course, for this pub f
ic sentiment, the Gazette eutertains a
supreme contempt" O
AS to the Democrat, no one ex ]
,ects it "to sink or swim, survive or
perish, starve or get rich" 1t will
'Dly stand" by, and 'me too" as
he procession moves on.
What we want is the facts, all the :
acts; not what the prosecution per-
nits to come to the surface, but the {
POTION fact Can't more time be
devoted 10 getting at the truth, and
ess time to the construction of ex-
uses, defenses and apologies?
when you want nice stylish shoe ,
ny Shinn. i.