The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-18
rs ROWDYISM TO RULER

From the somewhat hastily written article
In the nEMnttRAro Of Yesterday morning, on the
scandalols disturbances at the mass meeting
on Saturday night, it may have been Inferred
by some that we charge the Mayor with direct
completely In the disgracefnl proceedings. Such
was not our intention. Indeed, we cannot be-
ieye that either the Mayor, or the Chief OF
Police or any member OF The city government
would be g party directly to any such dis
graceful business.
What we meant to say. however, and what
we say now, is that the whole RESPONSE
hiity of the disgraceful affair of Saturday
night rests upon the Mayor, the Police Board
and the Chief of Police. Ii there had been
proper police administration of tho city no
body Of men assembling In mass meet
ing. no matter how objectionable their views
might be to lottery rings and row.
dies, cond have been interfeged with and
outraged as were the constitutional con
vention men of Saturday night. And we
here say that If the Mayor and Chief Of
Police and the Board Of Police Commissioners
do not institute rigid and relentless investi-
cation into this scandaluls affair, they will
then. by their rbn-action, become particeses
crinii,is. and deserve the condemnation, nay
the denunciation. Of oil good citizens.
There was no riot, there was no disturbance
which two or three resolute policemen could
not have suppressed. We were in the crowd !;
we saw number ofo nle rascals posted
through the assemblage throwing their rotten
eggs; we saw as plainly ms intelligent men
could sec that tho whole business was in the
hands of q number OF hired rut1ians, and .,at
the plan to disturb and break up the meeting
was prearranged and systematically Carried
out. .
We remained in the crowd for over an hour.
and not policeman offered to interfere,
though there were number of item in the
immediate VICINITY of the meeting, and some
Of them In the very midst Of it. We therefore
now, in behalf of the good name of New Or
leans, and in behalf Of good order demand of
the city authorities an investigation into this
affair We demand in behalf of the people, to
know why mass meeting of citizens was
broken up under the very nose of the police
by d gang Of rowdies and rascals and why
there was 10 interference by the police. who are
paid by the taxpayers of New Orleans. Thisex-
PLANTATION must and shall be made, or the All
thorities will be held to rigid account. qf
there is q decent display Of vigilance there
can be no difficulty in bringing to justice the
ringlcaders Nope Of the rowdes were dis
guised; none of them we're unknown. All
that Is necessary is for the authorities to
make an honest and manly effort to eSculpate
themselves and brieg the rascals to light, and
It will be easily accomplished.
The good people of this city are deeply in
tercsted lip this investigation. Not very many
years ago the bummers, thugs, ruf1ians and
murderers Of this city were organized by the,
Know Nothing purity to control the elections
here by intimidation and by driving from the
polls the quHt citizens. 1t is evident that the
Louisiana Lottery and other rings and mon
opolies propose to resort to this desperate
game TO save themselves from defeat by the
people. o
The riotous and disgraceful proceeding of
Saturday night was the inauguration of a con-
spiracy on the part Of the Lottery Company
and its adjuncts, and If the authorities and the
people do not rise up in their might and put
down the hired thugs and bummers of the
lottery party, they may expect to see the
city carried at the next election by the rings,
and representatives sent to the next legisla-
ture from this city. who will bring disgrace
and shame upon the State.