THE DRAGON IN ARKANSAS.
By Editor
THE demon of persecution is again showing its head in Arkansas. After the outburst a few years ago, the Legislature put a temporary quietus on the enthusiasm of the intolerant Sunday-law champions by enacting an exemption clause. But the dragonic enemy of religious liberty did not go to sleep, nor give up his determination to make war upon the "remnant" of the church "which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Rev. 12:17. A private letter from Van Buren, Ark., to a brother in this office, tells of a brutal assault upon one of our book agents in the town of Waldo, in that State. Brother E. A. Jenkins, of College View, Neb., began canvassing November 13, and immediately met opposition from the Methodists. The minister told him that his book had been condemned by the Arkansas Methodist, which was admitted by the agent. An effort was then made to stop his work, but the city clerk told him they could not stop him by law.12Soon afterward he was met by the town marshal and others, who told him he had just fifteen minutes to leave town. Brother Jenkins asked, "Why so hasty?" when the marshal caught him and kicked him, and then drew a revolver and threatened to shoot him if he did not leave immediately. As the agent turned to go away, the marshal followed him and kicked him for a distance of three blocks. Then the officer ordered his victim to stop and give him his name, which was done, and the injured man went to his boarding house. Later in the evening the marshal and another man armed with a shotgun appeared again, and asked the agent why he had not left town. He replied that as a citizen he had a right to go when he pleased. The officer began his abuse again, when another citizen came to the agent's relief, and the matter was stopped for the night. When the action of the marshal became more generally known, there was considerable indignation among the sober-minded, unprejudiced citizens, and the officer realized that he must in some way pacify the adverse feeling. So he went before the police judge and confessed assault and battery, his fine and costs amounting to $35. It is said that the State senator of that district has pledged himself to work for the repeal of the exemption clause in the Sunday law, and there are indications of a strong effort to accomplish that end during the next session of the Legislature. The whole unchristian move is, as usual, at the behest of those who profess to be Christians, and Protestant Christians at that. When the spirit of persecution is given loose rein, it is no milder or more merciful in professed Protestants than in any other class of religious bigots. It is the same spirit to-day that was manifested at the crucifixion, or in the Dark Ages.