New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-25
THE CLAYTON MURDER.
WHAT REPRESENTATIVE BRECKENRIDGE
HAS TO SAY ABOUT IT.
AND WHAT SOME OF THE FACTS IN THE CASE
REALLY ARE


REALLY ARE.
LITTLE Rock. Ark. April 81 (spcclan.-Onc OF the
most rcmar,abe public nterances that has found its
way into Arkansas for years is the reported interview
with CONGRESSMAN Clifton +. Rreckinrldgc published
in number Of Democratic papers throughout the East
and West concerning the assassination OF Colonel John
NJ CLAYTON The T'rlbuncs condemnation thereof, ana
tho causes that led TO the House subcommittee in
vostirations in this city. AT Pine Bun, Major
Rrccknridres home and in various other portions Of
tho state the interview Is regarded the effort Of
drowning man 10 clutch the traditional straw. II Is
ecd with statements that not substantiaed by fact
and II will be submitted 10 the Congressional Com
mittec on the part OF the Government without com
ment
II seems incredible that man Intelligent enough
10 hold public Office shonld willingly put himsef
forward a. defender of assassination yet that is the
only construction that be put upon Major brech
ridcc,s ALLEGED interview. At the beginning of his
rcmarDs he denies that Claytons murder had any
political significance. This is foolish twaddlc IL
can have no other effect than TO show the desperate
tactics lie forced TO employ TO curry popular a'or.
The cearncss Of the proposition That Clayton was
murdered for political purposes Is nowhere questioned
All his life CLAYTON had been quiet, unobtrusivc
citizen thoroughly upright Christian gentleman ana
a man whom the people of Jefferson County dehehed
to honor Every man who knew him. not excepting
his nc;ghbor Major Breckenridge, will conccde thst
his life was one OF remarkable purity In It's pubic ana
private relations. These facts arc cited to sho" that
no private or personal motives could have influenced
the assassin.
Having discovered the fraud by which he claimed
TO have been robbed OF seat In congress- 'oIohei
CLAYTON was inst beginning his proof when he was
assassInatcd az Plummervlc. II IS admitted pF
Major Erecknrdcc and by everybody else that tho
ballot box at that place stolen and burned, ana
II i also admitted that the returns would have shown
decided majority for the contestant Nho' men,
could have stolen The first proof TO be found IN
the politics of the beneficiary, and IT goes without
saving that no Republican stole the ballotboN TO help
elect a rival Democrat For precisely the same
reasons no Republican assassinatcd the party leader
who was searching for Democratic frauds.
Had the murderer Of Clayton been Republican, IN
, section where every branch Of public government Is
filed by Bourbon Democrats he could not have o.
capcd apprehension. But. being Democrat he easily
escaped sheriff shelby, Of Conway County was miles
away when the tragedy occurred. Every avenue Of
Justice was blocked. The Governor. state officers
shcrlfs prosecutors and judges are all Democrats,
The jurics are made up OF Democrats. Detectives
were run out II the county. officials We're Informed IN
expressed or implied terms. that their hope Tor re-
election depended their apathy IN The matter OF
finding tho assassin Men who at that crisis should
have been doubly alert IN their capacities as prose
cowardv butcher whose shot destroyed Clayon's He
II Democrats are not responsible for the failure 10
find and punish Clayion's murderer. there Is an adj
mrablc opportunity for Mr. Brccknrdge 10 INFORM
the people Of this state where tho responsibility les
The investigation Of the House subcommittee WINE
it may not show who murdered CLAYTON. will certainly
show that the officials OF the state IN which the crime
was committed have made Themselves morally a.
ccssorle, after the fact Their failure 70 maintain
conditions Of state government under which the mur
dercr could bc brought to justice renders then hoy"
ever unwtingly protectors Of The crime and Us per
pctrators.
II Is not 10 De- Inferred from what has been said that
the people IF Arkansas desire the dcpo'e conditions
If rascalty that abound in the Democratic part ~ the
state nor do they condone the motives that Influenced
the shocking butchcry at PlummerFllle The great
majority Of the states people rsariirss OF loiti,-
ANYBODY e.~e bring the murderer TO justice. Il,'
are tired Of the interruptions partisan zeal Of the
MAJOR part - ro -, W and as
Consuming TO It they and the entire parry
aird I'M ~ gang 81 nSnrbons TO override lawful
government and they are accountable i'- v.Hi T.!
lows. Their party i, IN power. and theirs must De "
blame for the apathy that permitted 'iayi"n's muir
ridges mock hcrocs ahou virtue OF tho Arisn 's
bcmoers' j. ~, A,,er,.,n i, az ~ , n
r,umerafc these efforts Tie work done townrl ar
resting the murderer done hN the two brothers u
INC in sua"o I, d a." r. - li,h Tb >,t e,.rf
mcnt headed hv ia emineniy weak chief Magistrate.
did nothing but talk. and protest. aud proclaim TIL"
detectives who swarmcd the counir, were pad enor
STATE contributed these funds.
little personal intr)spcction ought to convince
Mr. EIcchlnrldee that h. himself Is {" blame for a
large part II the popular ou'ry against Tie Shotgun
olvaiy Of This STATE. lie has invited II by hl- per
sl>tcnt tenactv IN holding his seat after u" mniNcr
Of his contestant when the honest men OF The state
called upon him "a rsgn ana Prove ms tiir ~ an