Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-02-14
THE CLAYTON ASSASSINATION.

A REMARKABLE DELIvERANCE FROM A
SOUTHERN DEMOCRATIC PAPER.
From the Little Rock Gazette Dem)
The foulest blot on the page of Arkan-
sas history is the assassination of Colo
mel John NJ. Clayton. The first dis
patch received from Plummerville was
too meager in detail to justify definite
conclusion; but blacker crime than the
full particulars develop is unknown to
our civilization. 1t was deliberate as
sassinatiOn in its most horrible shape,
and the circumstances surrounding it
give it deeper significance and more tell
ing force.
Colonel Clayton was proceeding quiet
ly to gather testimony on which to base
| his contest for a seat in Congress. The
nature of the inquiry he was prosecuting
was not of the sort that leads to violence
nor proyokes crime. The voters of the
township were merely being put through
an inquiry as to how they voted on the
9th of November. There had not been
the least rupture between any of the par
ties concerned; so that the hand that
committed this act was impelled to do it
by motives as coolly and deliberately
formed and carried out as ever plotted
assassination.
The foul act follows the stealing of
the ballOt-box in that township on the |
night of the November election as nat |
urally as darkness follows the setting |
sun. 1t is political crime that would |
not have occurred had Colonel Clayton |
not been there prosecuting a political |
contest. 1t is the natural development |
Of corrupt politics, and it is shocking
enough, and horrible enough, and dam
aging enough to the State of Arkansas
and the whole South to cause a revolu-
ton that shall root out the last vestige
of crime from politics, let it cost what
it may.
Let no man underestimate the gravity
of this OffenSe, nor its effect on cOmmu-
mites and parties. Had it occurred prior
to 1874, when the decentralization of war
was still rife and passion had not cooled,
the shock might not have been so great,
the crime would have been none
the less diabOlical. But it comes at the
end of fourteen years of peace and quiet,
of local self government by the bona fde
citizens OF the State, and at the close of
four years of national Democratic rule,
in the success of which the conduct of
the Southern States has been a vital is
sue.
There has never been time when such
an occurrence as this could bring with it
i- hn ]
blow inflicted on Arkansas in many and
many day, and its damaging political
effect will not stop at State lines, nor sec
tional lines. 1t will be felt in every State
and Congressional district in the Union. !
In the name of heaven and everything
worth living for on earth, is not this =,
enough to put an end to criminal poll
ties? There is no honorable instinct of
humanity that does not revolt at this
bloody -assassination;. and yet it iS-the. :
natural consequence of the. crime that /
preceded it Plummerville. Who is re-
;ponsible for the existence of a senti- '
nent that will tolerate that which has
gone before this? Let our public men )
Ook well to the skirts of their garments =
% see that no drop of this mans blood
S on them. Let the press of the coun- I
ry-aye, the Arkansas press-lOOk well i
o its pages to see if there be no blot on
hem. Let society pause long enough by Z
his mans corpse to take its bearings '
md see into what dangers the conten- Y
ions of corrupt politics are dragging it.
No tenderer tribute was ever paid the
memory of any man than is offered to Z
hat of Colonel John NJ Clayton. Strong :
nen, his Southern political opponents, u
ave wept like children over the news of
lis assassination. Pine Bluff, his home, Z
S wrapped in mourning, and thrill of
Iorror pervades all Arkansas. And well Il
t may, for the hour of her tribulation
las come.