New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-30
fonrpy TUPPOVEYENTS IN PIOTs.

A paper by General T. J.. Molineux, in the
Journal of the Military Service Institution,
directs attention to the fact that If we should
ever have riots again in New York, the mob
would have advantages and resources II never
had before. The paper Is curious profess
sonal study and, fortunately, does not possess
an urgent interest in the sense that any one
fears Or expects riots In this city. The Draft
riots of 1868 and the Orange affair Of 1872
were both due to special exciting causes, which
NAV never be duplicated. In none Of the great
cities of the world have the poorer classes IA
great a power over their own government az In
New-Y York, and nowhere would they ever have
less 70 gain by the blind revolts against consti-
tuted authority rs the source of all misfortune
and poverty that are sometimes seen among
the ignorant populations of European cities.
Here there is too much intelligence, wages are
too good, there are too many newspapers, TO
hermit the existence of a mob class and there
never was less danger of riots than now.
Yet every city is liable to sudden ebullitons
of bad temper In the pOpulaoe, and It is wise to
be prepared to meet them. If they never come,
the preparations will have done no harm. The
mob of the future in any quarter OF the world
will be stronger and more dangerous by reason
of modern inventions than tho mob Of the past.
The riots at Lyons, France, showed that the
mob had already learned the use Of dynamite
and other explosives 1t is obvious that II will
be necessary under such circumstances, to keep
mobs at greater distance than formerly when
they were armed with perhaps only sticks and
stones. This can probably be done without
relaxing any OF the rules of law, which have
sometimes compelled soldiers to submit to
actual onslaught by the mob before the military
power was allowed to assert itself. General
Molineux believes it is merely a question Of
| time when troops will be forced in their turn
! to use dynamite against rioters
The Partisan barricade has never been
| Americanized but General Molineux points ont
that the New-York streets are crowded with
| the best material for making barricades-viz.,
the telegraph poles and wires. Cut these
down, and formidable mass of timber and
| wire would be erected which would DO almost
| impossible to troops subjected to a fire from
surrounding buildings. Troops could make
similar barbados, of course and with little
engineering skill they could be made useful
against rioters and yet not impossible by the
| troops Instead of the old-fashioned omnibuses
and carts, which played SO important part in
| Partisan barbados iC is suggested that both
sides will use horse-cars, with which strong
| barbados could be made.
Peaceful citizens need not be alarmed at such
suggestions, and imagine that any one expects
an emuete. But it is an old adage that in peace
| is the time to prepare for war, and the degree
| OF readiness On the part of the National Guard
| to quell disturbance which might be pre-
| cipitated upon us Is worthy of the considera-
| ton Of the authorities General MolineuI
suggests, among other things that dealers in
arms be required by statute to keep a record of
their sales, with the names and addresses Of
purchasers, SO that the authorities may know
where arms are. Armories public buildings,
and even private residences, should have re-
serve lighting facilities in the way of lamps,
| lanterns, oil, candles, ETC., in case the light
supply should be cut off. The protection OF
the water supply should be provided for. There
should be better system Of signals for con-
veying orders, both by flag and torch signall-
ing, the Photograph, and alarm bells, in case
wire communication is interrupted. These are
some of the more important Of the measures
of prevention General Molineux suggests. lie
makes many recommendations regarding
methods of dealing with the mob ITSELF which,
it is to be hoped, the National Guard will never
have to put into use.