Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-05-15

The circumstances of the recent ARRAYS at
Baltimore and st. Louis suggest some redec-
tons az 70 the menner in which mobs should
be treated.
II makes but little difference whether the
mob rises to attack the authority, or the au-
thori,y is called out TO quell the mob; in
either case, IL is the duty Of the authority to
proceed Immediately 70 suppress the unlaw-
full demonstrations; and not to cease It's
efforts until that end is accomplished.
Soldiers with arms In their hands, when
attacked by nlobs, should fght-not run.
1t is, for the time being, war; and, just as in
any other war, the object should be TO con-
quer the enemy as rapidly and as effectually
as possible.
In such cases, forbesrance il cruelty. Ma.
poleon Bousparte knew better than any
other man Of bis day how to quell a mob.
His surgery was sharp, but it was short and
efectual. The mob spirit grows rapidly by
~impunity there should, therefore, be no
compromising with forcible lawlessness.
The forbearance with which mobs have
been treated in this country render them
subjects Of curiosity. Men, women and
children rush to the scene to gaze upon the
demonstrations; and the consequence is that
if any fighting ensues, the innocent bystand.
ers, as they are called, come in for their full
share Of the loss and newspapers and people
who ~sympathise with the mob performance,
clsmor loudly over these accidents, as if
they were the effects of a premeditated MUIR
derous design on the part of the authorities
thereby ley ing the foundation for further
disorders.
A different practice would have rendered
a mob a thing to be Stunned by all who had
no duty to perform for its suppression. The
rule for all such is to put themselves out of
the way Of harm as soon as possible-a rule
which, if they neglect, they have no right to
complain, however severe the treatment they
encounter. A spectator is a fool, if impelled
by curiosity, he rushes into danger on a bat
tie. field and be is no less so if he does a
similar thing at a scene of civic violence.
For a body of soldiers to stand and permit
themselves to be stoned by a mob is shame
full. TIL fist act should be promptly retail
lated. There is no other way than to assume
that all who are mingled with the mob be.
long to it. To kill the first man who offends
may be the means of saving the lives of
hundreds. There is no more effective moral
agent than a sudden and unexpected blow.
Mobs are cowardly. Their members do not
go to the field to be killed, but to do all they
can without encountering fatal danger.
Convince them that the danger begins with
the first unlawful act, and they will rapidly
take on that better part Of valor-discretion.
The officers Of soldiers beset by mobs
Should consider promptly, aud act with de-
piston. They should not throw the respon-
Utility upon the troops, but take it them
belves. We fail to admire the prudence of
he Yankee Captain at Baltimore, who used
he dcuble-negative~ periphrasis: "Boys, |
emit say don't fire." One simple word of
command was all that the occasion demand
~. Tn world accepts the act of the
Nicer as regular-a favor which it is re-
Rctant 20 accord to that of the subordinate.
1t may be expected that troops o fforeign-
aerman or Irish-will behave with less
Secretion when attacked by mobs than those
American birth. In such cases volleys of
psulting language having reference to their
igiD, usually precede the more forcible
emonstrstiobs. These are calculated to ex-
te anger and experimentation of which
e inimical to that ~coolness which is pecu-
ply desirable in such cases. They should,
%erefore, not be Judged by the same rule
tat is applied TO others. Nothing is more
fair than TO assume that because they are
foreign birth, they are more reckless Of
b lives Of the native. born. In these times
b loyalty which we observe everywhere in
is class Of our population is above all
aise, and every attempt to excite prejudice
ainst them by reflections upon their origin
ould meet with prompt Encouragement.