Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-04-05
The Cincinnati Riot.


cause Of the original disturbance, before giving
any opinion on the subject The telegraphic
despatch dated I'd instant, and published on
the Sd In this paper said; 1T is reported that
the Americans were not permitted to vote, and
that the Americans took possession Of the
polls and destroyed the ballot boxes" This
occurred in the 18th Ward, where large ma
jority are Germans
The Cincinnati Gazette, substantially con-
firms this statement 1t says:
"In the Eleventh ward difficulty arose early in
the afternoon. 1t was rumored that the Germans
would not permit Americans TO vote, and In con-
sequence Of this rumor party Of seven or eight
Americans went up to see what was the state of
things and to help their friends TO get in their votes
"a German was arrested by the police officers,
and as they were taking him away he was rescued,
and officer Carey severely beaten on the ground. The
Americans were soon informed, and towards six
o'clock the fighting was resumed, in the course Of
which man named George Reeder was severely,
and 1t is supposed fatally, stabbed. DR.. Brown
hit on the head with colt and much hurt, and
Mr.. Higdon, William Smith, and John Leonard
were also beaten more or less severely Soon after
this rush was made at the polls, the ballotbox
seized, taken out of the house, broken In pieces,
and the tickets scattered about the streets,
"A party then went up to Jackson's hill to seize
the cannon, which had been used yesterday to fire
minute guns in honor OF Jefferson's birth day.
The gun was captured. The sword was taken
from the captain of the gun squad and the flag
which belonged to 1t was carried off and planted
on the engine house, where the polls were. The
crowd soon after went down town, passing by the
Ninth ward polls, when another fight was got up,
but the polls having been closed, they proceeded
to the Thirteenth ward polls, on Sycamore, be-
tween Seventh and Eighth As the party was
passing with the cannon, they were assaulted by
Irishmen there assembled, who threw boulders at
them
"A general scrimmage then ensued, in which
boulders flew like hail. and pistol shots were heard
on every side. The Irish gave way when they
saw the Americans loading their cannon with
boulders. The windows of the houses in the
neighborhood, into which the Irish retreated, were
ridded with baulders. One Of the boulders shot
fight, and inflicted severe wound on the head.
The other went through the sign Of the Mechan-
les and Traders Hail."
Now here we have an Ineligible account Of
such facts as viii enable us to reach q just and
impartial conclusion. A brief analysis will
present the case in the clearest light
. 1st The Gazette says that complaints were
made by Americans that the Germans, who
had a large majority in the 18th ward, would
not permit Americans to vote This fact is
stated in the original despatch, and confirmed
by the account in the Gazette
I'd. The Gazette says that, upon this COM
plant being made, party of seven or eight
Americans went to that ward, to help their
friends get in their votes.
Sd. The Gazette says that German was ar
rested by police officer, and, as they were
taking him away, he was rescued, and tho off,
or was beatenl
Here, then, are the true causes Of the whole
difficulty. americans Were denied tho pripi-
logo Of voting. They complained Of tho con
duet of German ropdiss and 6ullies. The
ringleader Of tho pilIainous gang Of foreign
desperadoes, scas arrested by police officer,
and 10 soas rescued, and tho police officer was
6eatenl Such is plain and brief statement
of the case.
If, under such circumstances, the American
party had not only destroyed the ballot-boxes,
but had pitched the whole gang of foreign ruff
fans into the Ohio river, who had prevented
Americans from voting, and had resisted the
public authorities, thus committing double
outrage upon American laws, the American
party would have done no more, than the in
famous conduct Of such scoundrels mcrited
We do not advocate, nor would we encourage
such summary punishment for such outrages,
but nevertheless, we repeat, that when gangs
Of foreign rowdies, deprive American-born cit
liens Of their birthrights, by force and violence
at the polls, there is no adequate punishment
provided by the laws, and we would be slow
to ccnsure our people, for taking the case into
their own hands, and administering an ade
quate punishment
The Baltimore Sun Of this morning, in COM
menting upon the riot, attributes it to the fact,
that there was large German Democratic
vote in the ward where II occurred and In
sultingiy intimatcs, that cit is quite possible,
members Of the Know-Nothing organization
received some offence" at this fact
The Sun closes its filings at the American
party in this language:
1.-THE details Of the riot can hardly fail 10 eIcite
the profound regret Of every lover Of peace and
order while the event Ia but another illustration
OF the serious consequences that attend upon civil
and social distinctions inconsistent with the spirit
Of our institutions"
The event is but another illustration Of the
impending dangers to our institutions, arising
from. foreign immigration, and Of the folly and
recklessncss Of those who refuse to aid in check
ing this most alarming and growing evil
will that man call himself patriot, or lay
any claim to the character Of an american,
who can excuse, palliate, or even tolerate such
bold, reckless, unprincipled, and objectionable
conduct, in our foreign population, as has been
lust witnessed at CincinnatS The man who
win attempt to pallistc such outragcs in this
class Of our population, is fit tool for Pope
Plus the Ninth, wherewith TO prosecute the
work Of subjecting our now free and glorious
land to the sovereign viii Of his Romish Ma
jestyi We hope there is no such American
corn citizen in the whole country, but if there
be, he deserves to be called, BESEpIcT ARNOLD
The Washington Union Of this morning
onits giving tho cause Of the outbreak, but