Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-07-22
DEMOCRACY AND RIOTERS.

In an article few days ago we pointed
out the connection existing between the
New York city government and the riot
ers, and the dependence of the democrat
ic party upon the lawless classes for sup
port. Although this was known before
the New York riot, that event brought it
more wildly before the public eye than
ever, making an impression not easily to
be effaced The New York Times says
the riot will have great weight in the
ly correct. Its influence is felt all over
the country, stimulating healthy senti-
ment in relation to political duties, and
telling fearfully against the party that
leagues itself with the lawless elements,
as in New York and at the South. Since
the Times speaks from the very centre of
this corrupt and dangerous coalition we
copy what it says upon the subject.
The events of the past week in this city
will have great weight in the Presidential
election of next year. They have brought to
the plain light of day facts which before rest
They have shown in a manner which a way
faring man. though fool, cannot misinter-
pref, that the Democratic Party is hopelessly
in league with the only dangerous class
es in our country. 1t has been proven, too
how utterly incompetent to deal with these
classes that party is--that it lacks foresight
discretion, courage, Skill or principle. We
have already seen modern Democracy made
the shield for violence, intimidation, and as
sassination for political purposes in the South
The apologists and defenders of the secret
bands of Ku-Klnx outlaws are to be found
only among Democratic journalists and Dem
ceratic politicians. Mortified and Disguised
as the country has been at the course of the
entire Northern Democracy toward the dis
graceful and threatening disorders of the
South, its horror and disgust have been deep
ened thousand times by the attitude of the
Tammany leaders towards the rufiians who
openly declared their intention of violating
the rights of this City, and the rights of its
citizens.
There are but two elements in our popula-
ton that offer serious difficulty to free and
orderly government. One is made up of the
ignorant and lawless men who have for two
years maintained reign of terror in the thin
ly-settled districts of the Southern States
These have kept alive the smouldering fires
of hatred kindled by the civil war. They
have robbed, burned, beaten, and killed on
every hand. Neither the property nor the
lives OF Unionists or negroes have been safe
from their cowardly and treaeherous attacks.
Their purpose has been as unconcealed as
their procedure has been lawless. They have
sought TO extirpate the Republican Party by
driving away or numbering its leaders, and
by frightening colored voters from the polls.
For this intent, and for the dastardly means
they have employed, they have yet failed in a
single instance to receive an adequate con-
demnation from the Democrats North or
South The energies Of that party have been
steadily directed 10 screening them from pub
lie Indignation, apd denouncing the measures
Of the National Government to repress or
punish them. II was hardly possible 10 con-
ceive Of more shameless decentralization
than that which has characterized all the acts
and expressions of the Democracy toward
the dangerous class Of the South.
But II has been reserved for the Democrats
TO show that still more shameless democrat
ixation Is possible, and that their marty Is
capable Of il. This has been done IN the
treatment of the second Of the two elements
Of American population which threaten the
free and orderly administration Of republican
government. The element is made up Of the
ignorant and lawless masses of our great