The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-05-23
Reported Organization and Preparation for
Riots in New York City.


! From the New York Times, May 9.
We have received directly from the DO
lice authorities of the city information Of
recent organizations which are now in prog
ress for the purpose, and with the distinct
| object, Of resisting by violence aud blood
She'd if necessary, the execution and enforce
ment of the Excise and other laws which
are obnoxious to large class Of our citizens
The information is of a startling charac,
ter, we'll calculated to excite general alarm
and we should not make it public on any
less reliable authority than that of tie Police
Department, or for any other object than
that which prompts that department tel
give it, nanely-to deter the parties con
cerned in these conspiracies from attempting
to carry them into execution, by warning
them that proper authorities are fully pre-
pared to resist and defeat them.
1t has been for long time evident that
the enactment and enforcement of the Elk
C Sc law has engendered among the lower
classes, especially of our foreign born pop
ulation, feeling of hatred toward the POI
lice upon whom the duty devolves of en-
forcing its provisions. We have foreseen
that this would be the natural effect of such
law, and have done our best to enforce
the necessity OF so shaping its provisions as
to avoid so serious d public peril. This
feeling OF hostility has been eagerly famed
by sundry politicians and liquor dealers, who
hoped, by this means, to defeat the execu-
ton of the Excise law. The recent diff
Guilty between Superintendent John A.
Kennedy and Police Justice Michael Con-
molly has added fuel to the fame, and the
entire body of foreign aborers are now just
ripe for the tumult they have so deliberate
Iy planned. The professional thieves of the
city are also active in the movement,
hoping to reap profit during the progress of
the riot.
For several weeks past the disaffected
population in the different wards have held
frequent secret meetings at various points.
At these gatherings the language used has
been of the most hostile and bitter charac-
ter. Speakers have alluded to the dreadful
scenes enacted during the draft riots of
July, 1868, with evident relish, as though
they regarded them as triumphs. The Po-
lice and the Excise Commissioners have
been cursed and threatened with vengeance
for their strictness i'll carrying out the pro-
visions of the law. A large number of
these liquor dealers who have been denied
licenses have taken an active part in the
gatherings, and they have spoken with
strong resentment of the destruction of
their business. In short, the meetings are
described as having been wild and frenzied
in their denunciations and threats of ven
geance.
Fully aware of these proceedings the
Police Commissioners, through Superin
tendent Kennedy, have placed a select
number Of reliable special detectives on the
alert, and these officers succeeded in obtain
ing access to the meetings 10 some in
stances taking active part III them, when
they deemed themselves to be objects OF
suspicion. The detectives have g spot.
ted nearly every prominent leader in the
movement, and in some cases they have
kept continuous watch upon their daily
movements. The Superintendent of the Pc
lice has the names and residences Of all these
ringLeaders and the details of the entire
movements are also fully known.
Of course, we have no positive details OF
this projected riot for publication, as the
police authorities consider them safer in
their custody than with the general public
Enough has been told, however, to warn
our readers of the dangers which threaten
the community, anu uleaSuTeS SuOUlu De
taken accordingly. In case a riot should
break forth in our midst, the public may
rest assured that the authorities are we'll
prepared for such an emergency, and cannot
, be again taken by surprise
1t may be well in this connection to give
a few figures relating to the fatal casualties
occurring during the riots of 1868. The
police nave ascertained, beyond any doubt,
that there were eLe0ea hundred and fifty. R0t
| persons ktJted or died Of their woundS re-
ceived during the 18th, 14th, 18th, and
10th of July, 1868. OF these there were
twenty five soldiers, policemen or negroes
killed, leaving the number of rioters who
/ met their deaths from wounds received
= eleven hundred and thirty. 1t will be vel
f also for those connected with this move
ment in any way to remember that none
of the military organizations of the city
all of which are at the disposal of tn,
] public authorities in case of necessity, ar
now absent as they were in 1868.
Il . bof r,o.- Il, l.,