Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-08-12
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

TIE RIor OF TUESDAY NIGHT LAsr.-Since
the murderous and infamous demonstrations of
the same gangs of rowdies in the latter part Of
May and early in June last, until the day be-
fore yesterday, Washington city was tree from
disgrace and annoyance from any such source;
thanks to the frmness and proper sense of what
is due to the community manifested by the
grand and petty juries Of this District, which
had the effect of at least temporarily holding IN.
check those who have worked so much injury
to the interests Of the Federal Metropolis by
availing their propensity for organization for
the preparation of misdemeanors and crime, of
the opportunity involved in the existence of an
inefficient, if not a sympathizing, police among
US.
On Tuesday last, as all know, they renewed
their old work, under circumstances going to
show that their organization is hardly less
complete now than before, and that they only
await satisfactory proof that the police force of
Washington is again to act practically as their
aiders and abettors, soon to render the life
and property Of all quite as insecure as three
months ago. In nothing else have the COM
munity more substantial interest than in the
solution of the question whether the police
force are or are not to be relied on to discharge
their duty Of nipping the renewed disturb
ances of the public peace in the bud. They
(the community have been mulcted by the
Mayor in an additional tax of twenty-four
thousand dollars per annum, to pay for the
services Of a police force in addition to that
nominally serving while the organized gangs
of murderous rowdies lately had almost entire
possession of the city. Notwithstanding the
condition Of the city's finances, most of the
taxpayers of Washington acquiesced in the
act Of the Mayor in thus creating places for a
large number Of appointees, though more than
one OF them were credited with Identification,
at least by association and sympathy, with the
class Of politicians (Heaven save the mark j
whose claims to the reward of office are based
on the efficiency of their fists, when knock
down" arguments can alone be relied on to in
sure a victory at the polls. This acquiescence
was wholly the result of hope that the lessons
Of the past, and the condition of public opinion
here drawn from those lessons, would prove a
guarantee that hereafter the police force of
Washington would be divorced in fact, as well
as nominally, from all connection with ruff an
clubs to perpetrate crimes against the public
peace under the cover Of political or any other
purposes.
The failure Of the police, so far, to mako a
single arrest of a member of the gang of row.
dies who, on Tuesday last, were guilty of an
organized and murderous attack upon a peace
able and quiet body of citizens who were seated
in vehicles at the time, makes it'our duty to
call public attention to the fact more especi-
oil h.
well-known citizens, that on the arrival of the
police at the scene of the disturbance quite
number of respectable persons among tho at.
tackled, offered to accompany Officer McHenry,
aud to point out to him individual participators
in the outrage, and were answered only by
threats Of their own Incarceration unless they
forthwith obeyed his order to hold their tongues
There exists no justification whatever either for
his rudeness to them, or for his failure to en-
deavor to avail himself of their proer to identify
some of the assailants, in the fact that a gang
of boys had, by that time, brought down to the
place small swivel used few hours before in
firing salute; for that had previously been
rescued from their possession by Mr. Curtis,
(the vice president Of the association who, with
their Philadelphia and Washington Councils
guests had been attaeked,) and had been
turned upside down on the ground, with its
wheels upwards) by Mr.. c., SO as to render it
evident to all that it could not be used to con-
tinue the disturbance of the peace.
These are all facts, of which it behooyes this
community to be aware, SO that by a concen-
traticn of its opinion in its own defence, it may
at once compel the due execution of the law
without fear or favor against all organized
bands Of rowdy rufians, and thus make the
current additional police tax of twenty-four
thousand dollars per annum something more
than mere fund for the reward of rowdy par
tisan services, which, since it has become fash
ionable for all parties to reward them with
office, have made the police of most Of our con.
siderable cities more or less the aiders and
abettors of rowdyism and rufianism, rather
than their reliable suppressors. Experience has
satisfied all thinking men that " Party" makes
no difference whatever in the applicability of
this general disastrous rule; it being as unfor-
tunate for the community, quite, whether such
services are rewarded by one party or another
As, when so rewarded, the result invariably is
unity of sympathy between the rowdy and
rufhsn organized gangs Of disturbers of the
public peace, and those whose duty it should
be to hold them in check, rather than to screen
them In the preparation of outrages.
The SPEECH OF THE DAY.-The brief speech
Of Mr.. Fitch of Chicago, ILL.,, reviewing and
exposing the selfish treachery to the Democ.
racy involved in the prese mt political position
of Senator Douglas, is being more extensively
republished throughout the United States than
any other political effort that has seen the light
in the course Of the past year. Well it may
be; for it embraces thorough exposure of the
mendacity of his Senator Douglas's) plea that
because he now finds it convenient to denoupce
his SO recent allies and co -laborers, the Repub-
lican party, the cause of the Democratic party
is raped up in bis success in the current Iii
noiscanvass. The true value of the capital on
which Senator Douglas is now, literally, trading
-mendacity, charlatanism and brass for the
most parts most forcibly made apparent by
Sn 10 a. - Al