Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-28
The Recent Riots in Berlin.

At present Berlin is the cynOsure OF the
news-ratherers Of Europe, who are sending
ont n mass Of telegraphic matter regard
ing the rioting which commenced III tha'
CITY few days ago and has contlnueu a'
intervals ever since. However. until these
kilograms have been sifted of sensational
features and the colorlng OF individual
prophecy, it would be well to make haste
SLOWLY III reaching conclusions "a TO the
sicnifcanco of the disturbances and
their bearing upon the govern
mental reyinls Of the German empire
Despite contentious to the contrary, IL
seems certain that the developments 50
far do not Justify the belief that the out
break was the result Of collision with any
party having for lis object the suoyersioh
Of the existing authority. Berlin, 1t should
ia remembered. is the London OF the
German empire. embracing IN its roughs
the dregs of all classes OF society. Wnile
il is fact that so-called labor riots have
recently occurred in many OF tho larger
cities of Europe, 1t is also fact that much
more of the odlum Of these disorders has
attached TO the laboring classes proper
than can with justice be charged to them.
The Berlin mob is likely to prove no ex-
ception to this rule, seeing that when the
whole truth comes out it will III all prooa-
bility be shown that the percentage or
real workingmen actually actively engaged
in il was comparatively small. such an
experience would comport with the ex-
p,rience Of the rest of Europe, and with
that OF this country.
That leayen of dissatisfaction is working
| in the laboring clements of Europe cannot
be denied, but that tar from going to the
extent that some do and declaring thatthis
agency is synonymous with the leaven OF
revolution. There is no real parallel be-
tween the causes that have led TO the late
disorders in tho cities Of Europe and those
which started the wave Of revolution
in 1913. This is especially worthy of re-
mark in connection with the Berlin riots.
Nor is the manner in which tho rioters OF
today have been dealt with. as compared
with the treatment of tho Berlin mob in
1913, any less worthy of remark. However
indiscreet the young Emperor might have
been in his Brandenburg speech-which
NAV or NAV not have been one Of the In
fuences IN infaming the lower orders OF
Berliners-he has unquestionably shown
discretion IN the methods he has used IN
putting down the rioters.
In 1873 the powers resorted 10 were mus
kerry and artillery. The streets were de-
luced with blood. and the feeling against
the grandfather of the present Emperor,
old WILLIAM, for the part he took in the
hatchery wa. so intense that he had 10
fee h.s weak and yacillatIng brothers
domains, and for years afterwards bore
the nickname Of the Cartridge Prince"
The means employed last week to restore
order were the batons and the flat sides
OF the swords Of the police. and the day
following the principal disturbance the
Emperor rode through the thoroughfares
of bis capital. attended only by one mill
tary aid and two policemen.
When we consider that the Social Demo-
Gratis are recognized party in German po-
hucs and their leaders have repudiated all
connection with the rioting. and when it
is recalled that the Emperor could have
brought thousands of rifles and hundreds
Of pieces Of artillery to bear on the mob ct
a moments notice, the contention that the
situation is any graver than that which
environs the temporary uprising OF the
lower order Of any great metropolis has, il
would seem, very little base to rest upon.
II is hardly possible that if the affair had
been premeditated the fact would have re-
NAMED unknown to the government, or
that If it involved danger to the imperial
prerogative it would have been left to
the police TO quell.