Year: 1875




Missouri Democrat, 18th inst.l


VAN buren,, ARK, Jan. 10, 1870.


Editor Missouri Democrat


From the tenor of several articles in
the Democrat for some time past, | am
induced to esteem that paper as coming
nearer to the true standard Of indcpend-
ence in journalism than any of those that
boast so loudly of independence While
you are an unwavering republican, yet
you give evidence Of the salutary fact
that you can see error although II is
found in the ranks ofyour own party.
1t will be better for our country when the
democratic journals learn such wisdom.
Excessive party spirit, or perhaps mole
properly, partisanism, ever blind to It's
own misdeeds, is the present curse oil our
country. | am a democrat, but of the
national school, and can feel the effects
of latter day democracy as keenly as any
republican do not close my eyes to
it's many grievous blunders-blunders
that do not result from its principles, but
are the result of party tactics, forced
upon the organization by incompetent,
imprudent and selfish party leaders. The
grievous mistake of barely mentioning
Fernando Wood in connection with the
next speakership is but one OF avery
brood of them made by party, in both
state and national capacity. Believing
that you desire true reform, feel III
clned to give you few items of import
ance as to the local politics of Arkansas.
From your columns see such matters
are of interest to you, and know they
are to your many readers of all political
parties in Arkansas. In the settlement
of the Brooks Baxter trouble, while
many democrats, who had aided in the
election of Brooks, thought ne ought to
have the office, there were but very few
who did not honestly abide by the de-
cision of the president. When the time
came to nominate candidates for state
offices, the Gazette ring at Little ROCK
had manipulated the county primaries un
til they had majority Of the so called
delegates in the convention instructed
for Baxter for governor. The demo
cratic delegates present, who felt that a
continuation of Baxter would be but
streng hening the case made by Clayton
d Co. before the congressional invcsti-
eating committee, insisted upon some
one else, they cared not who. provided
he was an honest man. prc!erring. OF
course a democrat. This did no! suit
the Bourbons, as they had certain plans
OF their own to carry out. Bat, alas tor
them, Baxter refused the nomination, for
reasons, shrcwdly suspected by others,
bat best known to himself. They took
Garland, good and able man, and he
was taken because he was the best known
and least Objectionable But, mark you'
it was conceded TO the Bourbon ring that
if they could by any means get BAKER
out of the way they could name the tick
ct There was, therefore. no preparation
Of candidates by the people, 50 the ring
put forth their candidates, most Of them
from Little Rock, and then Baxter dele
gates nominated them. | am thus par
ticular in this account, that you may sec
that the errors Of the present state gov
ernmcnt ought not to be set down to the
aGCDunJ Oi IDc paill . pue oH'y w WY az
count Of the Bourbon ring. This is but
a continuation of-tAee old JoliasoR ring
that Impoverished Arkansas 10y misman-
agemcnt and finally led us into rebellion.
The democratic party Of the state does
not indorse its doings, aud protest
against beng held responsible for its
mlsdeeds All we ask is for the honest
Il Independent press of the country to
place the censure where it is deserved
We can never have prosperous condi'
tion of things so long as selfish polite
ians at the capital rule the state. While
you are doing all in yoar power to re-
form the country hy exposing corrup-
ton in all parties for the sake OF reform,
put in a word now and then for the peo-
pie of Arkansas against the infamous
ring at Little Rock that rules by trickery
and rules only to disgrace us. Yours,


Xxx