The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-08
THE FIREMANs RIOT or YEsTER-


lition of the organization that tacitly if not
openly countenances such proceedings on the
part of persons connected with it. The
warmest friends of the volunteer fire depart
ment have been forced into denunoiation of
a system that, whatever its services in the
past may have been, has now
plainly become inimical to public
order. The fire which occurred yesterday
morning at the corner of Twenty-third and
Arch streets was undoubtedly the work of
some person or persons connected with the
fire department, and the evidence points
very plainly to the members of the Spring
Garden Fire Company. The object of kin
ding the fire was to obtain an opportunity to
make an attack upon the Western Engine
Company, for, as its hose carriage was pro-
oeeding to the fire, it was set upon by gang
of rufians, the men driven from the ropes,
and The carriage seized and run to SAMSON
street wharf, where it was thrown into the
Schuylkill. 1t is impossible for
the respectable members of the
fire department to extenuate, apologize
for or explain such a dastardly outrage as
this, and so long as such things are permitted
to be done by men calling themselves fire.
men, the public will feel that the volunteer
department is directly responsible. There
are many estimable citizens connected with
the different fire companies who protest
against being compelled to share the dis
credit of the evil deeds of their comr ades,
and who eagerly assert that such outrages as
that of yesterday morning are the
work of runners and hangers on,
who have no proper connection with the de-
partment. The time has come when such
excuses as this will no longer avail, and as
the respectable members of the fire de-
partment have never displayed any activity
in discovering and bringing to Justice the
incendiaries and rioters who disturb the
peace and destroy life and property, we are
forced to conclude that they are either un-
willing or unable to do their obvious duty as
fremen and citizens.
1t is scandalous that, under the plea of
being public protectors, gangs of ruffians are
allowed not only to exist in all sections of the
city, but are largely maintained at the pub
| lie expense; who enjoy an almost tndisputed
| liberty to commit the crimes of arson and
riot whenever they feel inclined to entertain
themselves with little excitement; and it is
obvious, from the alarming increase of such
outrages as that of yesterday morning. that
| the only remedy for the existing evils is in
| the disbandment of the volunteer system
and the organization of paid
fire department. That the rufians who
kindled the fire yesterday morning
and made the attack upon the carriage of the
Western Engine Company will ever be dis
covered and made to suffer the penalty of
their crimes, past experiences of similar oc-
currences forbids us to hope, and the one
remedy that remains in the hands of the re-
spectacle law-abiding portion of the commu-
nifty should be applied without further delay
| CONVERSATIONS FOR THE WAR
| WAR, which is brutal, bloody, and horrible
at best, is doubly SO when no good end is
served by the conflicts that entail SO many
miseries on mankind, and when thousands
are led to slaughter for no higher object than
the qualification of the ambition of selfish
despots. All the better instincts of humanity
revolt against such contests, and in this age,
especially, they are severely condemned by
enlightened public opinion.
The details of the recent German victories
in France, which TEEN with frightful stories
of human suffering, of mangled soldiers aud
MANNED civilians of unutterable woe in the
ranks of the invaders as well as in the beaten
armies, render it more desirable than ever
that Christian statesmanship should zealously
strive to extract from this mass of misery,
devastation, and desoiation tangible blessings
for the survivors aud for the descendants of
the generation which has suffered so griey-
ously. If history is to record that in 1870
the Germans, being well prepared for war,
inflicted terrible defeats on France, and that
subsequently, when France was well armed,
she returned blow for blow, with superadded
interest, without there being any tangible
sequel to either of these wars, or any new
security for tho welfare of mankind being
developed, demons may laugh at the wicked
ness of such struggles, but angels will weep.
The political situation of the parties to the
present war fortunately enables them to place
it far above the catalogue of fruitless con-
tests, and to make its termination as humane
and honorable as its commencement was
cruel and disgraceful The Germans de-
mand guarantees against renewal of hos
tilities, and these France should be as ready
to give for her own sake as for the welfare OF
her antagonist. No greater boon could be
conferred upon the two great neighborine
nations of the continent than the establish
msnt of distinct understanding that hence
forth they should war no more, and all the
Victories that the Grown Prince can win, on
the one hand, or q succession Of future