Daily Republican., 1880-10-18

tack the eolored mems headquarters
with or withou. provocation.
OF course opinions vary as to how the
riot commenced, for twas riot. There
| Is no lack Of evidence that the oolorsd
men had not prepared for an attack
upon the parade. Had they contem-
plated an attack, they would hardly
have had festival going on in their
hall at the time, where there were a
number Of women and children attend
ing. Persons in the parade and living
| in the vicinity are positive that there
were not more than twenty colored men
on the pavement when the riet cosn'
menced. Did this handful Of colored
men stand there and wilfully attack .
Democratic parade that the Democratic
-gans will say contained thousand
men or thsreabouts I II they did, then
indeed must they have been inspired
with the spirit Of the Spartan band OF
three hundred that guarded the pas
Of ThsrmOpaly. But who commenced
the riot2 About this there are con-
aicting opinions, but there are plenty
Of persons who saw the beginning and
the end OF II who say that officer Rick
ards fred the irst shot, that he rode
mp on the pavement, tried to ride over
some OF the oolored men, with obscene
profanity cursed them, rode several
tines up and down the street in front
OF the hall like fend incarnate, chased
a helpless colored woman down Walnut
street, and after the rio. was under way
urged men TO the attack, ordering them
to gut the place out.
This was one Of Mayor Almond pc
lice, a sworn officer 10 protect the peace.
In etead Of being on duty and assisting
in preserving the peace was mounted
on horse, loaded with pistols, charged
with being the main instigator Of the
riot, and after II commenced he became
one Of the most conspicuous Of the riot
ers.
There are reports which say that the
arst attack was made by somebody In
the ranks throwing stone or brick
through the Republican transparency,
which brought pistol shot from the
building. Aaother report says that a
Oolorsd boy on thsEside walk picked up a
stone TO throw through Democratic
transparency and still another repor,
says that number Of oolored men were
on the roof Of q building, and, with
out provocation, fred on the parade.
The latter report lacks truth to sustain
it, as the cave Of the roof is at least thin
~ feet from the ground and we are in
formed there was no trap door by which
It could be reached, nor was there any
ladder against the building.
II il to the interest Of those In the
parade to frame excuses for their con.
duct, but there Is no excuse for the
riotOus cutting out Of the building and
destroying private property no excuse
for breaking in the windows Of church; |
no excuse for mobbing and smashing
in the windows and doors Of the dwell
iDgs and business places Of colored
people in the vicinity. II the colored !
people after having every time they
turned been beaten, outraged and shot
at, did give some effsnse on Saturdsy |
night, was 1t more than could have
been expeetedi We do not know that
they did make any attack first, bat ad-
mitting they did do so, is there a white
club In the city either Republican or
Democratic that would no. have sought
revenge.
1t is to be regretted that the unfor-
tunate occurrence took place, and We
are glad to see conservative citizsns Of
all shades Of politics condemn It. One
cause for oongratulstion is that no
person was killed amongst the furious
fusilads that was carried on, though
quite large number are wounded, one
or two seriously. The affair is q dis
grace to our city, and demands not
only the fullest investigation but the
punishment Of the ring.leaders Of the
.:..oot, whoever they may be. or whether
they he black or white.