New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-31
THE FEELING IN WASHINGTON.
DEMOCRATIC CoNGREssMES EXPRESSING sUR
PRISE AND BETRAYING ANXIETY.

Washington, Jan. 30 tspeciaB-The special dis
patch from Plnmmervllle, Ark, published In The
Tribune this morning. caused good deal Of excite
ment and provoked much comment to day. IL simply
announced that John NJ Clayton was assassinatd
last night. A private dispatch received this mosn-
Ing by Congressman Breckenridge confirmed the In
telllgence. which spread rapidly and caused great
cons formation among Democratic members Of tho
House. Some Of tbs southern mon appeared 10 be
a. much surprised as though tho tragedy was not
natural and logical result Of this Democratic policy
toward Republicans In several OF the southern states
Republican Representatives Who have been careful
observers and students OF Southern Democratic po-
tlcsI methods wero struck with horror, but did not
manifest great surprise.
ain a country where Republican voters arc nal
treated and murdered for opinions sake, Il s not
surprising that Republican who has not only had
the nerve 20 be candidate but the oouraGe 30 mako
contest 20 establish his rights should be shot down
In cold blood by assassin was the pithy com
ment of one Congressman who has investigated mum
bcr Of Southern contested election cases within tho
last few years. Another said:
"Wen IL certainly Is a way to decide an
election contest The Arkansas plan seems to INC
to be cheaper and quito as effective the Missis-
sppl plan or the SOU n Carolina plan and does
not cost so many lives. In Mississippi or South
Carolina they beat and drive Republican voters from
the polls, killing few many as may b, necessary,
and then fix the returns so as 10 elec, the Demo.
erat while In Arkansas they walt until after tho
Election and II the Republican candidate then per
sss in asserting that he defeated by fraud they
remove him with buckshotH Colonel Clayton
the Republican candidate for Congress I'm the I'D
District against Clifton X. BreckiDrdge, the lncUp
bent, who is a son OF John c. BrechinridEs. Al
though BrockiDrdge was elected by majority Of
4,232 IN 1885, the counties which compose the dstric
gave majority Of nearly 3,Oo0 against the DEM
tfclc I'm Coloue
Clayton was not only extremely popular in his own
party, but he was highly respected by OF al
parties and his candidacy was regarded by the Dem
ocratlc managers as formidable. Conway COUNTY,
in which Clayton aSsassinated, is a Republican
County On the night Of election day, the ballot boz
Of Plummervile precinct, which contained a majority
Of some 500 or more votes for Clayton, captured
BY four armed men, who mashed, and has never
been recovered. According to the official returns
as canyassed Brockinrldge received majority of s1s
votes In the district Colonel Clayton filed notice
OF contest and he with an attorney employed by Ne
BrecklnrIdge, was engaged In taking dispositions a
Plummervllle yesterday. From the time, place and
manner Of his death the inference so plain and cleaf
as 10 be almost Irresistible that the cowardy assa$
sins were moved to their deed by partisan malice or
the fear OF discovery, both, and that Colonel Clay
toms name must be added TO the long roll Of
Republicans who have been murdered In the
South since the wer account of theft
political opinions. In letter 10 q personal friend
In washington, Colonel Clayton recently wrote
that he would undoubtedly be able 10 prove that his
majority over BrcckInrIdge exceeded 1000. OF this
about one-hslf was cast at the precinct in which he
was murdered.
Among Republicans here there Is but one opinion.
and that is that the next House must promptly ard
thoroughly investigate the election for Congressman
in the I'D Arkansas District, and also the chcunl
stances attending the murder Of the Republican CON
testant The contest should not be allowed to die
with him; for II he was fairly elected. as he hoiF
esty believed and maintained that be was the seat
ought 10 be declared vacant as as possible MI
peoknridge appeared anxious and worried whom seer
BY Tribune correspondent to-day.
"Yo." he said IN reply TO question al have r.
ceived no information except that contained in 'hh
Dispatch
He handed TO the correspondent oumplcd tee
gram from his attorney in Conway County which said'