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The
outbreak was the natural consequence of pernicious teachings widely
scattered among the ignorant and excitable populace of a great city;
and the only possible mode of dealing with it was stern and bloody
repression. Had the mob been assailed with grape and canister on
Monday, when the first disturbance took place, it would have been a
saving of life and property. Had the resistance been more general, and
the bloodshed more profuse than it was, on Thursday, the city would
have enjoyed a longer term of peace and tranquillity than we can now
count upon.
... if we are to put down our own riots,
citizens interested in the preservation of peace and order must be
willing to tender their services. It is due to truth to say that the
citizens of New York showed very little alacrity in responding to the
call of the Mayor and Governor for volunteers to suppress the late
riot. Of 400 muskets which lay idle at the armory of the 37th regiment,
only 80 found men to carry them, though urgent appeals for men were
made by the authorities and the officers of the regiment. We can never
expect to keep the peace unless we are prepared—one and all of us—to
turn out in cases of emergency, and fight. -THE
RIOTS.
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About five years ago I
had this Harpers
Weekly draft riot citation as part on my masthead. It speaks
for itself, but wow. Never back then did it cross my mind that I
could find myself living under a government that would see me (I'm
using the royal "me" here) as the bad guy. And encourage the
likes of Code Pink to take up arms against me! Shows how
quick things can turn when the people don't take care of business and
water the tree.
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