Daily Alta California, Volume 26, Number 8790, 25 April 1874 — THE ARKANSAS "TOOTHPICKS" [ARTICLE]

THE ARKANSAS "TOOTHPICKS"

Arkansas deeerres a leather medal and then a •ope—* leather medal fas* the folly of ncr leaders, and then a rop* with which to hang them. But there wouli be no lack of fit men for hangmen, as the late erents in that halteiTilized State too eTJden'.ly show. A dispute arise, in regaid to the Governorship ; her United States Senates journey all the way home to fix np things ; the GoTernor ( Baiter will not concede to them the entire manipulatok preparatory to the next election, and then they stir up Brooks to assume the Gubernatorial chair. Having applied in vain to the Supreme Court to decide in his favor, an inferior Court decision is mimmnrl as authority, and Baxter, th« Governor, is driven out by force, and Brooks, with his cohort*, takes possession of the Court-house, and both parties prepare for war. The " Toothpicks " oome in from all quarters— some for Brooks, more for Baxter. There is any amount of "cuasikg, any amoant of whiskey punished, any amount of boasting, any amount of fearful anticipation, and some of those valorous men, armed with rifles, revolvers aad " toothpick " bowie knives, eboot at and try U, assassinate United States officers who endeavor to preserve the peace.

The trains come is leaded with that class of I raloroos men. "Faey swagger, and boas; and ' brag, octdsiag. the " Army in Flanden" ir. that tf.p»a, pie* thjjr tetfh vifh the poiai of eighteen inches of bo».i. kniJe, and declare themwlTee tne Tery pi»k of chivalry. One seonnf-ffel fires a pistol, the negro troops fire awe. at aothing and kit it. then run lihs Miiton'. deiilf Wore the sword of Mich .el, and the war is over. Th*> wounded are ticked up, the dead cannot be found, the vilorons troops •taut for home, and the whole host of fellows, clad in "jailer" paoU and ooonikir, caps, wheel akoat and hie away from glory. Only Brooks remains entrenched in the Court Hoose. and Baxter remains Baxter only. Who is Gorerjor no one can tell. Who ought to be, no on. knows. That neither ol those men be, i. quite erident. That a regi"Bitdm.dontrie,, : k«,d by a ferw brigade, of U»^d BUta.irf.ntry. some squad»n. oi hone, sd . ,es»Wbl. number of hear, and light b«texi c* would be a sensible addition to the dwell,,. <here in. > ppim to be a sane suggestion Then a court-martial,' some criminal adsarnUtraaon and taking tb* kinks out of setae rope and some certain necks, would he ii excellent idea.