The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-11-29

AN ASTONISHING PRESEN7MENE
The Pittsburgh Grand Jury Declares that
The Militia 1Uere the Rioters.

this city, They were met by an unex-
peCted mpediment in the refusal of the
State officials to testify. "The refusal" ,"
they say, "of those who wrought the mis-
chief reduces the scope of our investiga-
tion within very narrow limits" The
report then speaks of the origin of the
trouble here, which was the discomfort
brought about among railroad men by a
reduction of wages, in which common
cause was made through secret organza-
tions, extending through several States
and over many thousands of miles ofrail-
roads. The jury theng gave an account of
the Sheriffs action, and are of opinion
that he had not exhausted his power be-
fore calling upon the military, The au-
thorship of the proclamation which was
issued in Gov. Hartranft's name, or the
authority for it, they have been unable
to trace beyond the Pennsylvania Rail-
road depot. The Governor certainly did
not authorize it. The document then
proceeds; Before any collision occurred
the Pennsylvania Railroad officials were
importuned not to attempt harsh meas
ures. On Saturday the crowd had been
augmented by reason of the suspension
of work in the numerous mills at noon,
and Sunday, another idle day, following,
would further add to the excitement; but
asad fatality seemed to attend these conn
ellis, and orders were given to clear the
tracks. This was done, when pistol
shot was fred upon the crowd, and some
stones were thrown at the Philadelphia
soldiers. The testimony is conclusive
and overwhelming that, without orders
from the commanding officers, the sold
iers commenced firing into the crowd,
and before they could be checked the
firing resulted in the immediate death of
ten citizens. The Coroner's report gives
twenty-five deaths on Saturday and Sun.
day. This was the wanton, unauthorized,
wilful killing by the private soldiers that
the inquest can call by no milder term
than murder. The jury lays great en-
phass on this chapter of the tragedy, as
it was the beginning of the riot Speak
ing of the Philadelphia troops in the
round house, and the dispersement of
the Fourteenth and Nineteenth regi-
ments in a demoralized condition, they
say the whole military operation from
first to last was a blunder, and exhibited
pitable absence of training and exeCu-
tive ability worthy of Commarder-in-
Chief who selects Major Generals for
their political or social, rather than their
military, qualifications. The occupation
of the round house was fatal mistake,
if not crime, and invited the mode of
attack resorted to, which was firing the
cars to burn them out. The jury speak
of the retreat of Gen. Brinton from the
round house, and the flight of the State
officials to Beaver They deny the allie
cation that the citizens were in sympa-
thy with the mob, and say they stopped
the fire and restored order They deplore
the fact that the military, rather than
the police force, were brought into con-
fliCt with the mob; and speaking of the
question of liability, reject the doctrine
that the city or county should pay DANA
ges inflicted by mob which was excl.
ted to violence by the unlawful acts of
the State military, In the summary of
their deliberations they say:
First-That by cool judgment, civil au-
thority, and practical good sense, the
strike could have been controlled and
bloodshed prevented.
Second-That the riots followed ineV-
itaby the conduct Of the military, too
largely controlled by railroad officials,
and ending in frightful massacre.
Third-That there was not sufficient
authority for the presence Of the Phila'
delphia troops, nor for the important
proclamation and orders issued in the
name of the Governor.
Fourth-That if the civil authorities Of
the State had been present, or the con.
servative advice of the citizens listened
to by the soldiers, the calamity might
have been averted,
Fifth-That the frightful condition of
society on Sunday afternoon was the re-
suit of meddesome and insolent course
of the State officials, civil and military,
and that it was thecitizens Of Pittsburgh
who, recurring to the first principles of
society, and arming themselves with such
primitive weapons as they could obtain,
made a street organization, formed them.
selves into squads, and, under active and
energetic leaders, stamped out the law
lessness, arson, and murder that were
rampant in portions of the city, and
threatened to engulf all. q,
The Grand Jury has been thwarted
openly and privately in its endeavors by
those to whom the whole truth should
have been welcome vindication. Its
VNalu thn nnnnnitn pnnplu
sion. The final incident remains, and
that is, the arrival here days after the
people of Pittsburgh, by their unaided
efforts, had suppressed the disturbances,
ofa gallant array of citizen soldiery, sew
eral thousand in number, gathered at
great expense from every part of the
Commonwealth, headed by the Com
mander.in- Chief the Army and Navy of
Pennsylvania, backed by the combined
military genius and civic lustre of seven
Major Generals and host of Brigadiers,
waited on by staffs that would far more
than have sufficed for an army corps,and
far exceeding in numbers the array that
followed Sherman in his march to the
sea. The presence of these troops here,
long after all danger had passed, was in
tended as threat to our citizens, and a
mark of contumely to the country. Their
martial achievements under the lead of
the Governor, the Commander-in.C Chief,
have only their parallel in that tremen-
dous military feat of the French King,
who marched his army up the hill, and
then he marched it down again." That
display of harmless heroism closed out
the Pittsburgh riots. Not only were the
riots here suppressed more promptly by
the unsided power of the citizens than
in any other city of the country, but in
seeking out and furnishing the guilty
there has been extraordinary energy dis
played fy the officers Of the law, the ju-
ries and the courts. This Grand Jury
has returned indictments against nearly
one hundred persons accused of partici-
patton in the riots, and there is every
disposition that they shall have prompt,
impartial and fearless trials.