The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-08-14

We remember in 1855, when an "Angel Ga
briel" visited Bath and spoke from street
platform to as peacable and peaceful crowd
as ever assembled Oh any similar occasion,
that it was only two nights afterward the same
crowd, listening to and excited by the same
"Angel, when suddenly infamed by what was
deemed an indlgnity and outrage, and cheered
on by evil-minded persons, grew into lawless
mob, which applied the torch to catholic
church and committed other gross enormities
The crowd had blocked public street, and
a few individuals, democrats, and now zeal
Gus copperheads, that they had a
right to pass through public street, and that
nobody had right to obstruct 1t, took hack
and drove through the crowd which peacably
opened to the right and left to make way for
them; but when five minutes later the same
hack with the same individuals, drove back
again, to interrupt the crowd second time,
they saw the purpose of the interruption, and
as il by spark of lightning, that magazine OF
infammable materials was kindled into flame
that for week held the city under perfect
ftSiSH Va eeiioi. lively 5oou ciuZeh IcaiiLeu
that II street preaching had been prohibited
no crowd would have been stung to madness
by interruption, and had there been no inter-
rupiion there would have been no mob, no vi
olence. All admitted the right of the aggres-
sors to ride through the street, and yet the
imprudent and needless exercise of that right
at that iuncture, caused degree of friction
that cost the city weeks disturbance of her
peace, an infinite amount OF bad blood and i'll
feeling, besides great waste of money.
Does not this bit of history suggest the true
line of duty in times of great public excite
ment when the public mind is sensitive, and
may easily be wrought upon? Is it not better
that all good citizens who have harangues to
make, should go into some hall where their
rights are easily recognized and may be pro-
teeted, or il they must speak in the open air,
that they at least go out of the public streets,
which are the property of the public not for
all, but for specific purposes And il street
crowds have once been interrupted, and init
nations of retaliation are thrown out, and
men are threatened by midnight bullics with
having their bowels ripped up and with being
sent unprepared into the presence OF their
Maker, we submit whether the Mayor does
not owe II to the peace and good order Of the
city, TO see that no opportunity offers to put
such threats into execution. This may be
done by excluding all "Angel Gabriels" and
+. o. J. SIS from gathering crowds in the pub
lie streets.
IAN ounce of prevention is worth pound
of cure; !" aud in these days when men are so
tender of Southern traitors and so ready to
make peace with them, and can treat them
with so much brotherly consideration, but are
ready TO rip up the bowels OF their neghbors,
and TO make them "see their Maker in two
minutes" common prudence would seem to de-
mand that every cause of disturbance should
be guarded against, and that loyal people
should not be needlessly goaded to desperation
and madness by insults dealt at them in the
common highway, If in the province of mu-
nicipal regulations TO prevent it. These are
our individual notions for which we ask no
one to become responsible.