Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1866-09-27
EBENsBURG, PA, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 81, 1866.
The Radical Riot at Indianapolis.

Johnson fom the pens and tongues of the
radicals has at last eliminated in some
thing rnorsr seTiouss The people of Indi-
anopolis have disgraced themselves and
the country by preventing the President
from speaking, and by getting up muir
derous riot before his very face. Instiga-
ted by the radical leaders, band of
rowdies and ruiIians made an attack upon
the procession who had turned out to
receive the President smashed the torch
es, tore up the banners and Missed and
hooted Mr.. johnson when he attempted
to express his thanks for the welcome ex-
tended TO him. These rowdyish proceed
ings being resisted, general fight ensued
in the square which the President over
looked, and clups, knives and pistols were
freely used. At least two persons were
killed and several dangerously wounded.
OF course the radicals will enGeaYor to
extenuate this shameful affair on the
ground that Mr.. johnson has provoked
hostility by political speeches. But in
point Of fact there is not the slightest c1-
cuse TO be offered for the authors Of this
riot We are no sticklers for that diyini-
ty which doth hedge king; but certainly
the office of President of the United States
Is entitled TO respect, aud this respect, in
form at least, extends to the Individual
who holds the office. If the President
desires to speak, it is the duty of every
good citizen to either listen respectfully or
walk away quietly. This much is due 10
the office which is the highest, as it ought
to be the most honored in the whole world.
Rut besides this the ordinary courtesies of
life and the sacred rites Of hospitality
ought 10 have protected the President
from personal insult during his tour.
When Mr. Lincoln travelled from Spring
field TO Washington he was comparatively
unknown to the masses of the people, and
many democrats hated and despised him
most bitterly ; bat nobody thought of
hooting him down when he endeayored to
speak. At Indianapolis, as Mr.. johnson
was permitted TO say nothing, the radicals
cannot claim that the disturbance was
excited by any remarks of his Much as
they affect to deride his utterances, they
are afraid TO let the people hear him, and
! all through his tour, at every place III
which they had a majority of the popula-
ton, they have interrupted and annoyed
him Other means of silencing him have
| tailed, they now have recourse tc riot
and fire pistols at those who assemble to
cheer him.
We confess that we should not have
been surprised if one Of the pistol shots
/ fired during the Indianapolis riot had
! killed President johnson. This Is what
! the radicals have been threatening TO do,
and what they will d + they can muster
up courage. Their incendiary rantings
and rawlings will end in assassination, un
| less they find some less dangerous mode
of getting rid of the man who stands
! boldly between them and the accomplish
ment of their revolutionary schemes
| We warned the President to he upon his
guard when he first started upon this
tour, and the pistol shots at Indianapolis
now emphasize our warning. before
long, If the present crusade against MI
! Johnson continues, we shall see some
radical Booth eager TO distinguish himself
in the same infamous and cowardly man
ner The danger is more imminent than
most persons imagine. We shall breathe
more freely when the President Is once
more safe at Washington. Ills loss 10
the nation at such crisis as this would
be incalcuiable We cannot realize the
situation ia which his death would leave
the country, Let us, therefore, beg the
Presiden to take care of himself and his
suit to take care of him. We do not IN
tend to excite unnecessary alarm ; but
their is really room for the gravest appre-
tensions. Those radicals who threaten
murder so savagely are none too good to
do it, and those rufIians who shoot down
the Presidents supporters will not long
hesitate to fire at the President himself
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