New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-01
THE DRIFT OF LAWLESS ACTION.

The necessity Of adhcring TO constitutional
and lawful methods for the redress of gl1ev-
ances was never more clearly shown than in the
riot at Cincinnati The purpose Of the initial
movement was undoubtedly innocent and even
praiscworthy, though it indicated a feverish
condition of public sentiment. The law-abiding
men who held the indignation meeting, how
ever. gave the impulse to another element, still
wer-intcntioncd but with less sclf-control.
These started the movement toward Inc jail,
and from that instant every step attracted some
more law less influence, and as the Transition from
passionate apprehension of iniquitous verdicts to
deliberate assaults upon the constituted
authorities went on, it is easy to sec how the
well-meaning elements fell to the rear, and how
their places were taken by violent and sinister
ones. The history of all similar uprisings
teaches IL c impossibility Of keeping any mob TO
a conservative policy, or Of preventing it, action
from becoming irrational, frantic and mocAicv-
GUS The Cincinnati press states that the riot
ers on Friday night-the assailantS OF the jail
were mostly wOrkingmen. But it is evident
that the incendarlcs of the Court House were a
different kind. These were the restless, law
less creatures who haTbor i'll all great cities,
and who eagerly avail themselves of any open
ing to start a destructive disturbance.
When the attack on the jail had failed the
original motive of the uprising had passed
away But by that time the streets were full OF
men who had more sinister motives, and they
kent I'D the excitement. AS has several times
happened previously, strong feeling grew up
against the militia. 1t is not to be believed
however, that this feeling was shared to any
extent by the aw-abidinS classes. They must
have realized that the militia were bound to do
their duty at such time and that the safety OF
the community depended upon the filmness and
fidelity of the citizen sOldicIy. When men
undertake to superscde the laws, moreover.
whether they are the best or the worst classes,
they have no right to complain because they
encounter resistance on the part OF authority.
If any community had n right to set aside IFS
own authorized machinery informally whenever
if took the notion, chaos would soon come
again. Nor are the militia to be blamed for
doing what they were enlisted to do. Nothing
indeed can be more unreasonable than the COM
plaint at such times that the troops were too
severe. Troops are never called upon except
when severity has become absolutely necessary,
and at such crises the sharpest methods are also
the shortest and the most humane.
1t is evident that from the beginning the
character of the resistance to the authorities
was changing constantly for the worse, and that
though plumber was fortunately prevented in
time. it was the ultimate aim of many who re-
newed and kept up the fight toward the last.
The people of Cincinnati have had an ex-
perience which yhey will no doubt profit by,
however. They have seen that the popular
apathy which permitted the growth OF those
conditions whose outcome became 80 intolerable
cannot be atoned for by sudden explosions OF
blind indignation. Such explosions only make
things worse by afordng opportunities Tor the
firebrands of society, and by familiarzlng the
lawlessly inclined with license
1t is, moreover a bad symptom when an
American community, trained In the practice OF
self government, familiar with all the constltu-