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The Alois Yesterday.The outrages upon law and public order yesterday, in this metropolis, will revive the heart of every rebel, and of every hater of our institutions the wotIiI over. The assiduous fanning of every mallg-nant pension by a portion of our public Press, and by platform demagogues, has at last resulted in an open outbreak, and for hours a tnnb, embracing thousands, raged at its full bent through an extended section of our 01 ty, wilh arson and bloody violence. The ab» sonce of nearly our entire military fores, in their great patriotic work of aiding to boat back the invaders of Northern soil*, gave these public enemies a rare opportunity for carrying things with a high hand. The law was notonly defied but was successfully resisted. For the first lime within the memory of thia generation, it could not command means for its protection. It stood paralyzed, helpless, humbled. It was a spectacle that may wall crimson the check of every true American with shame. Yet, if that were all, there might be some resignation, for public humiliations havo been no rarity in New-York. But, unfortunately, there is danger in it, as well as disgrace. There is something portentous In this lawlessness at this juncture.It has long been declared by the rebel journals, and also by the European journals in the interest of the rebels, that the Conscription actcould not be enforced, and that this would compel a discontinuance of the war. The anti-war journals here in the North, while they in general have not ventured to recommend violent resistance to {he Conscription, have yet studied to excite against it every unreasoning passion and priuudice. Malig-nants, too, of the VaUandighm type, have for months been doing tbeir best, by artful harangues, to foment a spiritot resistance. These men understood (heir work thoroughly. Their business was to bring about violence, and at the same time keep themselves personally uncommitted to violence; and Ahtost himself never managed that business more skillfully. Every discerning man saw what it wonldend In—(he mob in the street taking upon themselves all the risks, these gentry in their closets rejoicing In the fray in which they dared not mingle. The Government could not Wind Itself to this flagitious course of action. It made some effort to defeat It; but it was found that this only armed these public enemies with new power, for they turned it to their advantage hy pretending that It was now a question of freedom of speech, and gained new influence by setting themselves up as its champions. Thus the dangerous element has been continually growing. It has spread more or loss through every part of the North/ It has reached all ths baser portions of society everywhere, and mado them restless, and ready for almost any violence. In most communities this spirit is effectually kept ,under by superior public opinion. Bui there are localities where this public sentiment lias no such force. This has been shown In the rural districts by the outbreaks which have already occurred in Ohio and Indiana. It Is now beiog shown amid a city population, where the passions of men are far more Inflammable, and where the facilities for effective organization are far greater. What its real strength is no man can yet measure ; but yesterday's demonstrations sufficiently attest that it is quite strong enough to be formidable and dangerous.The practical question now is, how this spirit of resistance is to be met. la It to be done by discussing the merits and the necessities pf the Conscription act ? DecidedlyNo ! It will be a fatal mistake for the friends of the Government to suspend their action on the turn of any such question. No man who is at heart for tbe war, by which alone the Government can be sustained, has a serious doubt about either the constitutionality, or Ut4 justice, or U»e propriety, or the necessity of this resort for rephfalahing the national armies. Even win It otherwise—were the measure actually one that could be reasonably questioned, it would not affect present duties one tittle. The one sole fact that must determine the action of our public authorItias against these demonstrations is, that the Con-
Newspaper Details
New York Times
New York, New York, US
Tue, Jul 14, 1863
Page 4
Full Page
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New Y.
NY, USA 01 Dec 2020
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