Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-06-15
The New Orleans Disturbance.


Democratic journals Of the country to get rid Of
an immense amount Of bile, and we hope their
general health will be improved. The Rich
mond South and the Richmond Enquirer have
particularly distinguished themselves in this
manner, and all the papers which take their cue
from these organs Of the party have resorted 10
the same mode of relief In its usual style OF
hyperbole the South RACES st the Know Noth-
ings. II SAYS the history of Know No'hingism
s,has beon written in blood. It's brief career g.
bounded in atrocities and brutalities." lit had
incorporated intolerance among the articles Of
its platform, and introduced assassination as an
agency of eleotoneerins, 1t was brutal,
bloody, blasphemous thing" The extravaganza
of these denunciations deprives them OF all intiu
ence. The idea that such is, or has been, the
character of the American party, composed Of
native born citizens, many of whom are distin'
guished for intelligence and private virtues, and
who are presumed to be as patriotic and law
abiding as any portion of the people, is prepos-
terous-too absurd TO be credited.
The South refers to the election riots which
have occurred since the advent of Know Moth
ingism, as the proof of its allegations. True,
these things have been lamentably frequent
We are no defenders of frauds and rioting.-
When, about year ago, the news came to US
from Washington city, that Know Nothing row
dies had iuterfered with the freedom of an cleo
ton, we expressed our unmingled qualification
that they had been shot down without ceremo-
nv, although subsequent intelligence led Us to
believe that the party in power was not without
fault. We uniformly rejoice, however, when
condign punishment is inflicted upon whatever
man or party attempts to deprive another OF the
sacred right of voting for whom he may please.
But in order to convict the Know Nothings OF
the guilt which the South ascribes to them, it is
necessary to show that riots and frauds were
unknown before their appearance, and that they
are responsible for all that have occurred since.
- may be doubts as to the policy OF the A
Nm movement, but We maintain that is was
ygqlectly lawful, and, we believe, patriotic
Yet at the outset the party was assailed by just
such yituperation as is now heaped upon Inc
small fragment which remains. They were de-
nOunced as ''assaSsins" know Nothinglsm was
"a brutal, bloody, blasphemous thing" The
foreign and more ignorant element OF the DEM
ocratic party was aroused to interpoSe physical
resistance, and hence the outrages which have
followed We must take back our remark that
the extravaganza Ufdenunciatious dePrives them
of influence; We honestly believe that it has
brought about all the bloody scenes which we
have witnessed and deplored, and that it will
continue to do so wherever the Know Nothings
have sufficient power to resist.
The Know Nothings have done many things
which we do not approve Of or defend, but let
the party that is without blame cast the first
stone. II is simply amusing to witness the holy
horror Of the Democracy st every exhibition OF
violence by their opponents. The plan of sur
rounding the polls with DULLES and ighting-men
was invented and introduced by the Democratic
party. The leader of the notorious Empire Club
of New York, Capt Rynders, has been promo
ted to an important Federal office, and thus his
peculiar services are recognised by the Chief
Executive of the nation as worthy of reward
The men who have brought Odium on the A.
mercan party were educated in the Democratic
school. It was so in Baltimore, and it is so in
New Orleans. The New Orleans True Delta, a
jealous advocate Of the revolutionary proceed
ings in that city, said, in late issue, that under
the Democratic regime preliminary elections
were always controlled by gangs ofhired drunk
en- bullies"-"Only certain persons, of those
whom they might indicate, could reach through
such machinery any public position"-''the ex-
preston of opinion at public meetings or other
places whore candidates usually were expected
to announce and expound their principles was
denied to every one who did not receive the en-
dorsement of the scoundrel cabal who arrogated
to themselves the right of controlling all cleo
tons and appointments just as is at present. done
by the same agencies at Washington to-day
Such was the state of affairs at New Orleans un
der Democratic rule-it cannot be worse now.
Then it was all right-now it justi6es and re-
quires Vigilance Committee to redress griey-
anees
We do not doubt that the citizens of New Or
leans have suffered many evils from the couten.
tons of rival factions and that corruptions have
been practised in the municipal government
The same things occur in New York, Phladel-
phia and Washington. In two Of these cities the
people arose in their might, and in quiet and
legal manner revolutiouized the government
This course might have been pursued with ad-
vantage, doubtless, in New Orleans. The organ
ization of Vigilance Committee was great
crime. Vituperation which does not reach the
seat OF the evil, does no good, but only serves to
exasperste. Far better for all right-thinking
men to unite, without seeking to use public ca
lamities for the promotion OF partizan ends, in
an effort TO maintain the supremacy of law and
good government. II we undertook to designate
the remote cause Of sll the corruptions and
outrages which have characterized most of oul
large cities Of late, We would attribute them tc
the unnecessary multiplication of popular elec
tons. Men of business, wsaried and disguised
by the frequent calls made upon them, have stale
away from the polls; election affairs have thus
fallen into the hands of the idle and dissolute
and the consequences might have been anticipa
ted
The War in India.
The last adyices from India report that the
war IN that country was very far from being 0
YER. Mr.. Russell writes to the London Times
that it remains to be seen whether the revolt i
supDresSed DaDar Dublishp1 or Co1ortt,