The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-06-28 00:00:00

try. lie would like to see the commissioners conti-
nued in office for a short time longer, in order that an
opportunity might be afforded of ascertaining whether
they still continued to effect modifications in their for-
mer plans ; and when he had seen the line of conduct
they pursued, he would be ready to give an opinion as
to whether they should be intrusted with the power
for the, term of five years." To such a declaration,
coming from such a quarter, and echoed by the voice
of reasonable opponents of the system throughout the
country, we would gladly see the government of Sir
Robert Peel defer. We have no doubt of their power
to carry their proposed measure in its present state,
unless obstructed by a resort to the forms of the house;
but we are satisfied that it would infinitely more ad-
vance their real strength—which is in the affections of
the people of Great Britain—if this medium step, be-
tween the successful exercise of that strength and de-
feat by faction,,werc acceded to with a good grace and
in time.

We are not disposed to quarrel with the course ta-
ken by the authorities, in dissuading, the members of
the Orange Societies from their proposed procession
on the 12th of July, although we must acknowledge
that we are not assured of its perfect justice. Of the
ridiculous anticipations of danger to the peace of the
town, trumpeted forth by the Radical and Popish press,
of course we entertain the most profound contempt.
The leaven of the old serpent, and not the spirit of
Englishmen, spoke in those tirades. It was Rome
herself which feared the open display of Protestant
strength—of Protestant union and Protestant loyalty,
and not any body of the right-hearted people of Liver-
pool, which feared outrage and commotion. The
Orange body of Liverpool, as they have shewn in the
ready response which they have made to the wishes of
our local government are not the men from whom any
danger to the peace of the town was to be feared; and
upon no other grounds, certainly, ought a demand to
have been made upon them, involving in its concession
SO much pecuniary sacrifice—not only of a temporary,
but of a permanent character—as that which will result
from this disappointment of their most ardent wishes.
For it must be borne in mind that the object of this
display was not merely the commemoration of the de-
livery of our reformed religion from the hand of Po-
pery ; far less was its object to triumph over the feel-
ings of any class of our fellow subjects. The Orange
body contains amongst its members numerous and well-
managed benevolent societies ; and it was to strengthen
these, mainly, that the proposed procession was resorted
to. It is well known that the accession of young mem-
bers is a desideratum with all benefit societies. By their
imposing processions, which gratify the young, the
Odd Fellows Order, the Druids, and many others,
have, within the last few years, very materially increased
their funds. At the present moment a society—the
80ld-street Club—the oldest and perhaps one of the
most respectable benefit societies in the town, is pre
paring, having experienced its urgent necessity, for a
procession ; and it certainly does appear a little hard
that, of all these, the Orange Benevolent Societies are
the only ones which are not permitted to resort to so
legitimate a mode of furthering those charitable pur-
poses for which they arc especially designed.
They have submitted, however, with a readiness
which does them infinite credit,—hut which, however,
in one quarter at least, we do not expect will be appre-
ciated,—to the request made of them by the authorities
of our town. We do trust, in consideration of such
submission, that the rule as applied to them will be
strictly applied to all. In themselves, we can see little
that is worthy of being perpetuated in any of these
processions. They are silly and childish affairs; ex-
pensive to the actors in them, and a nuisance to the
town. We trust, therefore, that, whether connected
with political societies or strictly non-political ; whe-
ther on St. Patrick's Day or St. David's Day ; whe-
ther to celebrate the memory of the great and good
King William, or to celebrate rebellion, and to deify
rebel leaders or agitators—Sarsfield the brave or Daniel
O'Connell—we have done for ever with these fooleries.
If this result be achieved, the inhabitants of Liverpool
will have cause to congratulate themselves upon the
absurd fears or the dishonest machinations which have
led to the suppression of this display, and thus laid the
foundation of a rule which, for very shame's sake, must
now be adhered to impartially towards all.