Year: 1874

New Phases az the Anarchy in Ar


kansas.


The escape of the two Judges of the Su-
preme Court of Arkansas, Searle and Bennett,
and the subsequent sitting of the Court, have
given new phase to the contest of the rival
Governors. Our dispatches this morning
especially the communication of the Judges
to the HERALD, leave it no longer
doubtful that the Judges were captured.
If not by Baxter's orders, at least by
partisans acting under his authority. This
is In itself an ugly fact indicative of the
Generalization which has overtaken all parties
in the reconstructed States. It is worse
than usurpation under color of an election,
for no crime can be SO great as an attempt
to destroy the Judicial authority in q
State We can scarcely credit the
assertion that Baxter is responsible for
an intimation conveyed to Lieutenant
Somerhil that it would be well to get the
Judges out of the way; but that officer, acting
under Baxters orders, received such an init
nation and at once showed his detestation of
it by helping the prisoners to their liberty. A
State ruled by Governor capable Of giving
such an order must be in pitiable condition.
even though his right to rule was undisputed.
Still if Baxter is legally Governor of the
State he must not be set aside in Brooks
favor because such charges are made against
him; but his punishment should come
by the regular method of impeachment. Un-
f0y-fy1 o1 OF o,,,k ND in kho
heat and excitement of these alleged
outrages the very Judges who believe that he
outraged them and the Judicial authority of
the State are called upon to settle the ques-
ton as to whether he or Brooks is the real
Governor of Arkansas. case has been made
to test the validity of Brooks acts as Governor,
but Judges Searle and Bennett are scarcely in
q frame of mind to determine it dispassion-
ately upon its merits. What its real merits
are we presume will not very clearly appear,
even after Baxter's counsel have been heard.
Neither of the claimants has record so clear
that he who runs may read Besides, it is not
to be expected that any decision which the
Court may give will finally determine the issue.
Both these partisans are desperate and will
yield to nothing but force. Any other action
on the part of either would be pleasant sur
prise, but all the Indications are that anarchy
will continue until the federal power is sue
cessfully invoked to extinguish it. The con-
dition of Arkansas is another monstrosity, but
the President cannot fail to see that the most
effective way to nurse it is to let it alone. It
is disease which will not work out its own
cure. Like the man in the Scriptures. out Of
whom the seven devils were cast, but who
afterwards yielded to the sway of seven other
devils, the people of Arkansas only escape
from one evil to find the evil
that follows put them. in worse
state than they were before. Anarchy,
outrage and bloodshed at present seem the
only outlook for this afflicted people The
Courts may decide, but will the Governors,
or either of them, obey? The contest is
disgraceful one in every respect but state Of
actual war must not be allowed to continue
for an hour Already the bands of despera-
miting wrongs upon the people and the
officers of the State. Baxters militia and
Brooks militia are equally obnoxious if the
peace is broken. Unless order is at once
restored and the right of one of the
claimants to be Governor conceded the
President cannot longer hesitate in his duty.
Federal interference and o military Governor
are better than civil war between the two
rivals to the governorship. The first duty
is to give Arkansas peace and q peaceful ad-
ministrstion Of the law, and though it Is to be
deplored that any necessity exists for the exer-
else Of SO much power it is better to exercise
it in the beginning, and SO put the State in
fair way Of recovering its hold upon self-gov-
ernment through the ballot box than to delay
it till condition of chronic anarchy is fast
ened upon the people worse than in any of
the so-called States of the Mexican Republic
State Elections This Summer and


Fall.