Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-18
From the Louisville Democrat.
LOUISVILLE RIOTS.

rs The Geographic reports from Louisville
respecting the riots in this city, the crosses
misrepresentation and falsehoods we ever read
We shall publish them in few days, when we
have gotten the true history of some transactions
TO which they refer. The lie is told with brazen
| effrontery, that there was no disturbance at the
| polls. The mob started, according to this vera
cious reporter, by the Irish who pursued Berge in
the upper part of the city, and il started in the
| Eighth ward by the Irish shooting down two
peaceable citizens without provocation Such
stories may find credit abroad, where people
know nothing of the condition of things here.
We intend to give the true history of these
transactions from eye-witnesses. Our readers
know that we anticipated disturbances; that the
anti Know-nothing party made every effort for
peace beforehand. They made propositions which
would have prevented the disgrace of Louisville,
but their proposals were spurned by party that
had other views and purposes The Democrats
have no part in the government OF this city, Judi
cial or administrative. The know-nothings had
the business all in their own way. How they
have performed their duty the history of the last
week will testify. The public Will hold them to
a strict account.
For all the violence OF the mob, we have heard
of no arrests yet except of poor Germans or Irish
who were beaten and terrified and exasperated
into indiscretions, or who were beaten and
abused without cause. The hundreds of DULLES
with clubs at the polls, beating legal voters away,
came and went unmoested 1t may be a matter
of wonder that such things could go for
whole day, and even begin the next day, here IN
Louisville. We can only say, that the prepara-
tons were too well made, and there was no or
ganizaton to prevent its objects. individuals did
what they could Some of the American party
tried to stop mitigate these outrages, when
they could not stop them, for party managers had
raised storm they could not control.
Rumors utterly false of the most exciting sort,
were raised by the men who were themselves the
guilty, which completely deceived and misled
men who were DESTROYS of peace, and crippled
their efforts. Thus deeds of violence and blood
went on.
rs 1t is now established beyond doubt that
the whole blame of the election riots is to be
charged to The Know nothings. 1t has been
charged and admitted that they had men in large
numbers stationed at the polls on Sunday night,
who surrounded the entrance in such manner as
to prevent all from entering who did not show
the indications signs agreed upon. 1t has
been charged and admitted that the polls were
never too much crowded to admit Know nothing
voters. 1t has been charged and admitted that
the police who were appointed to keep down and
prevent any such occurrences, were leaders IN
many instances, and aiders and abettors in others,
of the most atrocious and fragrant breaches of
law and order. 1t has been charged and admit
tea THAT the Iull VI IIlc lAuoW-uotilig
party was poed during the day, and the fear OF
defeat prompted them to resort to violence. We
say that these things have been charged and adj
mitted. We mean what we say They, have
been admitted by that portion of the community
who are deeply interested in the development Of
the truth, many of whom are, or were, members
of the Know-nothing party. They are admitted
by many who acted and voted with the party,
and who now feel ashamed of themselves and
their party. They are admitted by very many
who feel that all those officers who have been
elected to office by the vote of Louisville do not
and cannot hold office as representing majority
o. the citizens, but strictly and truly the rep
of Fire and Blood. These truly
the bloody members from Louisville. Their
honors are crrnsoned by the blood of good and
citizens. Their glory is CORY triumph,
and all the phases in which they view it must
have bloody tnge; all the salves they apply to
their nsciences must necessarily burn and stain
fire and blood envelope their honors; and law
and order, decency, and morality, and religion,
with all the better feelings of the human heart
which it was intended to cultivate, have been de-
pissed, trampled under foot, and spit upon, that
they might be clothed with little 'brief author
ity.'' They should clasp tightly their bloody
honors; they should make the most of them.
Their days of political honors are numbered.
seal is placed upon them. They are marked,
and just public will never forget them. The
stigma and odium Of the Hartford Convention
did not stick more closely, or follow more GER
tainly its members during life, than will this
Know -nothing movement, those who have been
its members and active men.