The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-08-17
THE LOUISVILLE RIOTS

HE LOUISVILLE RIOTS.
In another portion Of our paper will be
found extracts in reference to the riots that
occurred at Louisville, KY, on the day of the
election. Some twenty lives were lost, many
persons seriously wounded, and several build.
ing set fire to and burned down during the
outbreak. There were two parties to the
disgracefu affair, and by the first accounts
that reached us, il was Difficult. to deter
mine which was in fault, or whether both
might not be justly chargeable with the ter.
riblc scenes of bloodshcd and horror of
which Louisville was tho theatre. We have
read all the accounts that have come to hand,
carefully and without prejudice in the prem.
ses, and we can arrive at no other conclusion
than that the foreigners were the first ag-
gressors, attacking and maltreating, and in
one instance killing, peaceable unofendng
citizens who were passing through the streets
to their daily avocations, before n spirit of
lawlessness or violence was manifested by
the Americans. We would not pretend to
justify the rctaliatory measures that followed,
unless the laws were inefficient to put n stop
TO the bloody acts of the aggressors. But
every candid mind, when fully informed of
all the facts, must admit that the provocation
was great, and that the aggrcssors, and those
who set them on, are responsible for the loss
of life and destruction of property that en-.
sued. Previous to the election, the Anti
American papers of Louisville were filed
with articles Of an inhammatory character
calculated to stir mp the worst portion of the
foreign population to the commission Of the
lawless and bloody deeds which have recent
ly so deeply iisgraced that city, A heavy
and swift retribution was visited upon many
of the active aggrcssors, while the more cu.
pable instigators have SO far escaped. 1t is
TO be hoped me latter will be reached, and
exposed and punished.
As much as we regret that election day in
any part Of our beloved country should be
characterized by scenes ofviolence and death,
there is fact following the disgracefu bust.
ness which is still more painful to the right
thinking and honest mind 1t is this: No
sooner was it announced that such acts as
those spoken of had occurred, than men
were heard even here, at this remote dis.
lance from the scene, denouncing the Amer.
can party, and charging them with all the
blame, without stopping to inquire into tho
circumstances; and now, when the facts es
tabsh who the first aggressors were, they
have no censures for any one but the Ameri
cans. A more striking illustration Of the ex
tent to which vile spirit of party prejudc,
will carry men, was never exhibited. 1t j.
nothing that American citizens who wer,
e passing peaceably through the streets wcr,
4 assailed, knocked down, and killed-t i
!. nothing that they were fired upon when un
Y armed and while vending their way peace
e ably to the polls, from the windows and tn
It house.tops, and several of them killcd-it i
=. nothing that the foreigners were the aggres
O sors, the ASSISTANTS, and the Americans tn
assaled-yet we hear men who would fec
indignant should any one call in qucstio
y their love of country or patriotism, undo
= the influence of blind and dishonoring pal
J." ty prejudice justifying the ASSISTANTS by cor
' demning the assaied. We say we regret t
y see such spirit manifested by members {
" the dominant party, and we respectfully sui
- nit that when partisan prejudice SO full
10 takes possession of man that he can find
10 in his heart to excuse the perpetrators {
Us such outrages, he is no longer good citize
y, no longer capable of discriminating betwee
u right and wrong in politics; that he is I'll
y victim of species Of party insanity, and III
!" der the influence of spirit but little les
y disgraceful than that which, ut n former Pr
y Rod of the country's history, prompted di
ie loyal and unpatriotic men to burn blue-ligh
III to signal foreign enemy to its Shores
~ This is strong language, but there are occ
)" sions which justify the use of the stronge
% terms, and the fact alluded to is of that chara
:" ter. We know that the dominant party
VI the country owes its ascendency to the 70
e. eign element-that a majority of the natl,
~ voters arc to be found in the ranks of Il
u, opposition, and that without the foreign vo
~ the democratic party would be in hopele
70 minority in the Union. In view of this Fl,
i" we can make great allowance for the parti,
"' tiles which members Of that party feel {
"' the element which is their right arm and 81
'e port; but even in this there is nothing
-, justify that vile spirit of prejudice viii
~ prompts to the excuse of the aggressors
To- such outrages as were committed at Lou
uP vile on the day of the late election. II
IN conduct of portion Of the foreign popu
''' ton on that occasion furnishes additional
'' guments that the American party is right
Ecu the measures it advocates and proposes
'N' establish, and those measures must be
U.S. tablished sooner or later, either by that p
u'' ty or some other. The future safety, pei
'ne and quiet of the country demand it,
the AN AWFUL County Jackson county,
ira. the Aabam." voted at the recent election
or that State, 1900 for the Democratic car
date, to 80 for the opposition.
ore DEATH BY LIGHTNING.-On last Fri