The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-03

the county in which stands the capital
OF our beloved Arkansas. Mr.. Speaker,
this theft, which one OF the gentlemen
from this county admits on this floor took
place ~ charged, was committed loo sight
OF where YOU sit. Since that time the Cir
cult Court convened In thiscOunly. q Grand
Jury was impanclcd and instructed 10 in
ycsiigatc this outrage. That Grand Jury re-
turned IL bills into court and made lis
report, but not one word did II say about
this ballot box stealing. The Grand Jury
was discharged and 80 the matter stands
today; aud ia the face Of all this. whcn
resolution, simply requesting the Governor
10 oder a reward OF 500 for the apprthcn-
sion OF these thieves, nm amendment is
proposed 10 strike out the 500 and insert
- cents j. this the way such resolutions
are 10 be treaicd2 IL is q well proven fact
that for more than twenty years these
outragcs have been committed IN few
counties OF this State. They are some
OF the evil results OF the civil war,
fnst committed all over this
State by the Republican party
during the dark days Of reconstruction,
when this party was driven from power Ia
this state in 1874. leaving behind them a
record on this subject which makes an
honest man blush with shame when be-
thinks OF IL. liut, Mr.. Speaker, Ia lew
counties the Republican party found some
apt students In this act Of billoi-bON
stealing who call themselves Democrats,
and they have followed the example Of
their teachers for sixteen long wears. The
Democratic party, ~ n party, has never
indorsad or approved Of such conduct, but
| must confess that we have borne with
such conduct too long. No Republican form
OF government can stand long where these
outrages against the ballot can be com.
miiicd and the perpetrators thereof 20 un
punished, aud the bcnclcnrics thereof be
honored aud called respectable citizens. |
want IL distinctly understood that, IN my
judgment these crimes against the ballot
are not confined 10 Arkansas, nor 10 the
South In some Of the Northern and
Eastern States where the Republicans are
In the Isccndancy, aud where they have
hot the temptations We have, they are lar
IN advance OF any State Ia the South in
The commission 81 crimes against tho sui.
fagcs of the people. Members who live Ia
ola houses should not throw stones. II is
easy enough toun-wer charge made against
the Democratic party by a Republican.
We have Only 30 refer him 10 the record
OF his own party. IL Is easy enough 10
answer charge made by the North
against the South, 10y hurting back the
charge and 10y telling them that n few OF
our citizens learned how 10 commit these
crimes from the cafput-bargcrs they sent
down here 30 reconstruct ~, an act ap'
proved by the Republican partyas whole.
This kind OF elimination and rccrimina
ton may DO for a politician for political
purposes ior q time, but what will become
OF the country IN the moantimc2 A states
man should rise above political prciudiccs
aud however humble his position
may be, raise his voice against thcsl
crimes which will, u not stopped, sal
4 the very foundation of our Govern
men aud bling ruin and shame and
/ disgrace on proud people. Just hosc
member made u point of order that the
question before the House was the amend
mont 90 the resolution. and asked that th,
discussion be confined TO the question
before the house. The Chair romarke,
that members would confno Themselves
10 tho question before the House. but tina
mombcs be- allowed some latitude In dis
cussing these questions.
Mr.. lludgins said lao would submit 4
the views Of the Speaker and confnc hi
rcmarks 10 the question before the House
which was an effort 10 request the Gov
ornor 10 offer q reward Of IS cents for tn
arrest Of the man or men who stole th
ballot-boxcs In Pulaski County, instead Q
offering 500, the amount set forth In tn
! original resolution. Mr. Speaker, LET IA