The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-10-27
THE DISCREPANCY AND RIOT SAT-
URDAY NIGHT.

Towards the close OF Mr.. Maynard'S
remarks Saturday night he was frequently
interrupted by the dlsreputabe conduct of
q score or two Of boys, Of both colors,
Stationed directly opposite the speaker,
near the railing Of the Capitol Grounds.
Their conduct grew out of thoughtless,
though, under the circumstances, exceed
ingly reprehensible Indulgence in a series
Of rude and boisterous EXPLANATIONS at
the usual numerous incidents occurring
in so vast q crowd. Such conduct
on the part of indiscreet and irresponsi-
bic youths, as tending to impart disor-
DERBY and disgracefu appearance to what
would otherwise have been an orderly
and well-behayed assemblage, is greatly
to be deplored by all erder-loving and
law-abidng citizens; and we are sure
that the sentiments we express were
largely entertained by most of the Con-
servatives present at the Saturday night
meeting. If the parents or guardians
of the ga'ni,s who make themselves so
pestiferous on such occasions cannot
compel them to observe decent beha-
vior when in attendance upon public
meetings, we should be glad to see
police regulation which would effectually
put a stop TO the nuiscnce.
OF the conduct of those of an older
growth, such as we witnessed in part on
Saturday night, we are not disposed to
en-, Flo ,,x,1 a
five or thirty rowdies, Qor while some of
them claim, and are generally conceded to
be gentlemen, yet their conduct on Satur-
day night effectually stamps them as rolodies
of the lo,oest order,) who, for two
hours, continued to contribute all
in their power to the disturbance
of the meeting and the interruption Of
the speakers, and subsequently, bringing on
riot of the most violent and dangerous
character, would, we hesitate not to say,
under o'her circumstances, have been
summIriy arrested by the police and
conveyed to the staIion-house. Aye, and
more, such an act on the part of the
authorities would have been upheld and
applauded by the Conservative papers
every one Of them. Instead of
shielding these rioters and disturbers of
the public peace. by stating that it was
" general row among the negroes" why
was not the real truth of the matter told
1t woul have served the ends of the party
much better, for there were quite a num-
Der of prominent and highly respectable
Conservatives present, who denounced the
conduct of these rowdies, and at the same
time acknowledged them to be members of
their own political organization. These
gentlemen will hardly sustain the highly
improbable and altogether rose-colored re-
ports given by the Conservative press.
The Enq'urT says: "We learn that
the rioters did considerable damage 10
property on Broad street, Why did not
that journal give the additional informa-
ton, which was in its possession, that the
damage was caused by crowd of white
men (Conseryaiiyes) who, making Manly's
saloon their rendezvous, salliel forth three
or four times armed with bricks, paving
stones, and other dangerous missiles, and
assaulted the premises Of coored
man on the other side of the street, break.
ing windows, threatening lives, and gener-
ally conducting themselves after the manner
of rowdies, bullies, and frst-class disturb
ers of the public peace? Was this mat
ter of such trivial moment as not to arrest
the attention of the newspaper reporters
to say nothing of the police authorities? |
Where was Major Poe and his squad during |
these repeated disturbances of the public |
peace? Why were the rioters allowed
to repeat their lawless attacks. |
under their very eyes, making assault
alter assault upon the parties and premises
named, and continuing their yiolencs
asufficient time to have brought the whole
force of the city to the spot? Why. we
repeat, were they not arrested and con-