Wichita eagle., 1889-03-10
FOR LOVE OF THE LAW.
Judge Cunningham Makes Strong Appeal
For Indictment Of Olayton's Murderers

For Indictment Of Olayton's Murderers
LITTLE Rock, Ark, March 9.-The cir
cult court of Conway county is now in
session at Morrilton and If the assassins of
John NJ. Clayton and the Plummeryille
ballot box thieves are not indicted and con-
victed it will be no fault Of Judge George
S. Cunningham or States Attorney Carter.
In his charge to the grand jury Judge
Cunningham said he came to plead for
law and asked what it was that protected
their wives, their children and their
homes in their absence on business or
pleasure what was it that protected their
lives from murderers, their property from
theft and their homes from arson-and
reminded them that il was the law, told
them the people who lived in the towns
could easily summon aid when needed by
beck or call, but that those who
lived in the country had no specific protec-
ton, no marshal, no constable, no near
neighbors convenient to them when in
trouble, but that their sole reliance was on
law. Law was rule of conduct not for
the poor, the weak or humble alone, but it
is also a rule of conduct for the rich, the
strong and powerful; that it is universal
In it's application and should be enforced
against all alike. An accessory is one who
stands by and aids or abets the commission
OF an offense, or. nor being present, aiding
or abetting the commission of an
offense he has endorsed or encouraged and
Is just as guilty in morals as he is in law
the principal offender, and as general re-
suit is punished the same, Bear in mind
this law and you will have plenty of work
20 do in the county. You will have to
investigate the Clayton assassination, and
whoever aided by word or deed in that
cowardly butchery should be dragged by
L.. 4
exempt from punishment because OF any
standing or influence they may have in the
community. do not know who they are.
/ wish to heaven that | did.
] would tell you, but mind you-political
assassnations do not originate in the
mindsof men in the humblest walks of life.
Men who earn their living by the sweet of
their brows, whose lives are poems of
honor or industry do not find it in their
minds and hearts to conceive assaSsina-
tions, but IL is conceived and planned by
more influential fine-haired gentlemen
who pretend to be respectable.
While the cowardly villain who carried
the gun that killed Clayton should be
caught and hung, the main object of our
search should be the dastardly conspira-
tors who instigated it. Some men
seemingly want to apologize
for or extenuate the horror
of this murder on the ground of politics. |
lDHy REMIND HE OF the COCIOG VINO was a
dead shot on fits and every patient he had |
he tried to throw him into fits. They want
10 throw IL into politics. / tell you there |
is no Democracy or iiepuhllcanism in muir
der. / had as soon punish a Democratic |
murderer as Republican murderer. and |
want TO appeal to you as Democrats TO |
punish crime whether the criminal is a |
Democrat or Republican. II the Democ |
racy does this it will rule the country and |
rule it forever This great government of |
ours is sending cut feet and about to en-
gage in war with one of the !
most powerful nations of Europe /
because the rights of american |
citizenship have been injured and-Violated |
in the rocky islands OF Samoa, 900 miles |
away in the South Pacific. 1t is said our |
nag fails to protect our citizens there,
whom 1t pUrports and ought TO protect. !
Now, / would be willing to sink every
dollars worth of property in this country |
u show that that flag Is not an unneces-
sary symbol or hollow sham. but to con-
vince the world that in truth it does pro-
tect American citizenship everywhere.
They are entitled to its protection.
What would YOU think of a
man who would be found
running around and inQuiring about a
mans politics who had been outraged in
Samoa, whether he was a Democrat or a
Republican, black man or n white man.
The question would not be, rs he a Dem
ocrat or n Republican. a white man or a
black man." bat lis he an American citi-
zen?" and the same jealous care ought to
be eXerted by courts TO protect them
abroad. For the love of justice, don't go
out and indict some poor fellow for
not working the roads when, perhaps, his
family needs his services or some DOOR
ragged mountaineer for killing deer on
Sunday to satisfy his hunger and then
march into court with measured tread and
1b..K-; l. 4
against these other men. Don't fool away
your time after minnows when there are
whales in sight II YOU must make "A
discrimination get after those prominent
and let Others go'i
There is no man with three ideas above
another who does not know that murder
and assassination are the results and Will /
continue to be the result, of the political
methods that have been employed in this
country to carry the last election and the
meanest man in the country is the pro-
fessed politician who advocates or indorses
such methods. You must stop this ballot
box stealing farce and fraud or the title TO
your property will not be worth the paper
II is written on. What does the law say?
The organic law and life of this great
nation says these cclored people have
right TO vote and If they have no right 10
vote where did you get your right? Ii
they have no right TO be Republicans
where did you get your right to be Demo
cratss would urge on you as Democrats
that the. rights Of citizenship must be
protected and at every precinct in this
country there should be a free ballot ana
fair count. Politicians try to scare you
with the myth and bugaboo of negro
domination. Where have they domiuatedY
No, sirs, it is merely an excuse
for committing outrages on their rights
which no sensible men shall consider.
Democracy means that the people shall
rule. and we are told it is un-Democratic
to denonnee euudeziery, ballot stealing
and assassination. If this be true then /