The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-08-12
Riot in Rich nm o n d i.


an account of riot at Democratic
meeting in Richmond, Monday night,
Occasioned by the interference of ne
groes with the moetiag. From the tel
egrams it appears that the negroes had
prepared to dispcrsc the assembly; that
they had provided weapons for the at
tack; that while General OULD was
speaking, negro, doubtless selected
for the purpose, interrupted him; that
he continued the interruption in au in
sulting manner, evidently to bring
about disturbance; that the Demo.
Gratis, losing their patience. became in.
vOlved in the riot which the negroes
provoked, and that several persons were
severely, some it is thought fatally, in
jured in the affray.
Had the meeting been one of Radicals
and negroes, and the disturbers Demo
Gratis, we would never have heard the
last of this "Outrage npon free speech"
AS in the case supposed we would not
have shielded the first offender, so un-
der the actual circumstances we call
attention to the deliberate provecation
and the result as indicating purpose
on the part of Southern Radicals,
black and white, to interfere
with the right of the people,
peaceably to assemble for the
consideration of public questions.
The worst characters of both races arc
now identified with the "loyap party
at the South. Their ignorance and
their british natures make them the
plant and dangerous tools of crafty
men whose schemes are those of vio-
lence and bloodshed. Force and law
lessness, the natural consequences of
Congressional reconstruction, axe part
and parcel of the Radical policy. What
peaceful and lawful means cannot ac-
complish, these. fierce expedients arc
brought in tC achieve.
The case then resolves itSclfiutO this:
The white residents of the South must
submit in peace to the horrors of Rad
ical rule, or they must risk their lives
by seeking lawful remedies. They can
not meet for political discussions; they
cannot organize for political action
they cannot vote against the ruling or
der of things in their section, save at
their personal peril.
Every intelligent man must see THAT
such course on the part of Southern
Radicals, although backed by tie mill
tary, car have in the end but one re-
suit. 1t must ultimately be productive
of social disorder, universal riot and
general bloodshrd; and if at the close
the wrong perish and the right triumph,
the occurrence will not be without its
parallels in human history.
EsAnother view of this case is worth
taking. If the Radicals of one section
thus set the laws at defiance to-day,
why may not the Radicals of another
section do the same thing tomorrow !?
If Radicalism in Richmond is now so
fierce and violent, why may not Radi.
calism in West Virginia become equal
ly ungovernable We know that this
miserable ism of the revolutionists has
many dcvstees in West Virginia. 1t has
no 6 passed from memory that Radicalism
has lnobbed meetings, ,nSulted peaceable
citizens and even murdered inno-
cent men in our own State. The attack
of mob at Triadelphia upon a reporter
for this paper few years ago, and the
numerous and unprovoked acts of vio-
lence committed by Radical outlaws
upon Democratic meetings and speak
ers, at different times in the last tive or
three years. 4ro cases in point. The
past, no less than the present, shows
that the Radical party is the party of
mobs, of violence and Of lawless force.
The limit of popular patience is the
only measure of its transgressions.