Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-01-24


fierce scorn of "modern improve
ments."
We have dwelt upon tho growth
and iitcnsitication of these exciting
causes in this negro's regard to show
that the authorities at Rochester must
have known and felt the danger which
was arising there. We arc assured
that they were conscious OF their duty
to protect the wretch in their keeping
at all hazards but it is not so certain
that while feeling their responsibility
MS officials they recognized the full
measure of their duty as men dealing
with a mob of fellow citizens. mad
dened by an unusual, abhorrent crime
The police assembled at the Jail and
the militia were assembled under
arms at the arsenal AS evening drew
on about one hundred Of the National
Guards were marched TO the prison
At eight o'clock the police charged on
tho crowd which had assembled and
were uttering loud threats 4; they sue
ceeded in dispensing it for the time
being. An hour later found a mob ol
one thousand persons about the jail
some OF them throwing stones at the
soldiers At this time the order was
given, "Forward !" and detachment
of the militia advanced at the charge
evidently to clear the streets, which
could easily have been done, Then
while still advancing, some stones
were thrown, and two companies fired
volley into the crowd, killing two
men and wounding man and n boy.
The moral Of tho whole story lies
in this last act, and it suggests the
very grave question. Are there nc
rules to be observed by military
bodies, no precaution to be observed
no warning given before life is ruth
lessly sacrificed in this way? II haI
almost always been considered due tC
humanity in civilized countries thai
blank cartridges should be first fireC
on crowd before proceeding TO fire
bullets Unfortunately in this case
annoying as the yelling and stonC
throwing may have been, it does noI
appear that there was any necessity
for firing at all. 1t is undoubted thaf
there should bc some clear, simple
rules laid down to guide the military
in dealing in dealing with civil disturb
anees, outside OF which IL would b'
criminal to go; but they could only
at best be such as would suggest them
selves to any cool Drained officer wht
knew how to restrain as well as leaC
his men. Recent events have showr
that our citizen soldiers, unused I,
being brought face to face with thes
abnormal occurrences, are apt to b,
too hasty in the use OF their weapons
II the officers need coolness, the ranl
and file need discipline Of patienc'
and self restraint to which they ar
evidently strangers. We submit thes
things TO those in high authority 4
see il there cannot be formulated som
regulations whereby the soldiers in
estimable virtue, self control, may b.
Z
enjoined, and some line drawn be
tween firing as duty and rash, ire
sponsible slaughter.
AT the latest accounts cannon ha'
been planted around the jail, and a
the reserved military force called out
The police made a charge on th
rioters yesterday afternoon, disper'
ing them, The prisoner had been in
dicted by the Grand Jury, and th
necessity of removing him from th
jail was avoided. Fortunately for th
peace of the city the heavy rain {
last night did much to preserve quiet
ness by sending the mob home. Ihes
people must learn that they canno
take the law into their own handi
and they and tho military must re
member that we cannot afford to lC
the freedom of our institutions, game
and preserved at such cost, be frittcI
cd away before mob law or militar
intemperancc. The corpscs of th
two respectable citizens killed o
Tuesday night should be lesson
both.-N Y. Herald, 4h,