Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-04-24


There is a shipping or steamboat inter
est in this city which is taking upon itself
TO become the leader Of public sentiment
and the arbiter Of public morals. On two
occasions at least, within few daysits re-
presentatives have threatened 10 disturb The
peace of the city, unless their demands were
complied With. We understand that there
has been q meeting Of some Of them,,at
which resolutions were passed to have their
way in certain respects, or punish the city
by installing the reign Of mob, with all
its awful consequences.
1t was persons of this class who by their
threats closed the doors Of the Opera-house
against Mr.. Beecher, and whose nice sense
Of dignity Tevolted at the idea that our col.
ored fellow citizens should be permitted to
meet and offer their assistance in defense of
the country whose laws are theis protection.
They represent in its violent form, the ele-
ment of Hunkeyism to the South, which is
not all extinguished among us--a spirit that
would betrsy the country, and introduce an
enemy into its very bosom, upon the poor
inducement Of chance to sell them a boat
load OF provisions. ..s
These people are no friends to the North.
1t is no regard for our. honor, or safety, or
responsibility, that dictates their conduct.
II we were to look in the place where we
would be most likely to find those who are
in intimate communication with the leaders
Of the Oonfederacy- Informing them of all
49, 5o;ros ,,o;rtirr, ,,t oil 49,.
and acting the part of incendiaries, to dis.
tract our counsels and divide our strength
we should doubtless find them where they
most do congregate.
If Northern men in Southern cities-in
Memphis or Fieksburg or New Orleans
should assume to themselves the right to
ptescribe the standard of general conduct or
opinion, how long would it probably be be-
fore they would f1d themselves appendant
ornaments to sign posts, or bound on inyol-
untary voyages, in an extempore uniform of
| tar and cotton. We do not approve of such
things; nor of violence at all but the rep
resentatives of Southern 5Crogauce here will
have no title to complain if they shall hap
pen TO experience the equivalent of Southern
| treatment.
We have no hesitation to say to the City
Authorities to the Committees of Vigilance,
and to the Home Guard, that a body, or an
order of men, who, upon any pretense what
ever, threaten to bring upon city the reign
of mob, are public enemies, and need to be
looked iatter, and provided against. If the
time bas arrived when it is dangerous to ex.
press any lawful sentiment, or do any law
ful act-no matter who the parties may be
by whom the sentiment is expressed, or the
act doDe-there is nothing but the merest
accident between US and anarchy.
1t would be well to interpose some more
substantial barrier. 1t is OF little conse-
quepce to US whether our city is sacked and
ravaged by a mob, or battered down by
pieces of ordnance posted on the Reighbor.
ing hills of Kentucky. 1t is the part of pru-
| denee to provide against both. We may
think it of small Importance that a squad OF
reckless men threaten, 10 a certain coutiu-
gepcy, to Taze costly building or slaughter
a few dozen human beings; but let US re.
member that the beginning of this sort OF
stlife is like the first breaking of water
through dyke. The stream, suall at first,
looks the reverse of formidable; but having
once gained a passage. it rapidly cuts its
own way, and, in DO long period, brings a
sweeping destruction.
These people should remember, for their
own sake, that they are, in point of num-
bers, an Insignificant minority. This is a
tiue of great excitement; and if by carry
ing rather too high hand in their proceed.
g., they shall bappeu to become subjects o.
active suspicion by the multitude, their stu.
alton will, to say the least, become uncom-
forsble. We say this for their benefit; for
if they happen to fall iuto grief, those papers
of the city which, by their cOwardioe aud
fluDkeyism, have so far given them sort OF
| Encouragement, will be the first to turn
against them; and the PREss will probably
be the only one from which even moderate
measure of justice, or a plea in favor Of
humanity, can be expected.