New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-05-17
c Thank, to Mcssrs. ADAMS for late Boston papers.
The Philadelphia Riots--The Question
behind the Question.

The Philadelphia Riots--The Question
behind the Question.
We have preferred to consider the late out
RACES in Philadelphia simply as outragcs, and to
condemn all parties engaged therein according to
their several degrees of culpabty. We do not
stop to ask what is the religion OF law-breaker
and homicide, nor where he was born, and VIC re-
ceive his pleas of provocation with the severest
scrutiny. In our judgment, il is the first duty of
the Press, as of the Public, 10 condemn all who
have voluntarily broken the peace, thus bringing
disgrace on our Country and on Freedom. Let us
discriminate fairly-for there arc always degrees
in crimc-but hold none guiltless who has chosen
TO defy the laws and engage in murderous ARRAYS
in the streets and houses of crowded City, to
the great scandal of our Nation and the imminent
peril of the innocent and helpless.
But it pleases the majority of the Press to take
different course--to throw the blame as much
as possible on this or that party, according to
their several predictions or those their readers.
They are loud in condemnation of the Irish or
the Ndtirc Rioters but pass lightly over the out
RACES committed on the other side. The object of
some writers would seem to be rather TO provoke
similar atrocities than to prevent them-to exas-
perate the feelings of their readers so that any
future collision shall be sure to result in fearful
scenes of devastation and blood. Our own course
has been subject Of complaint in several journals,
and in the letters of sundry correspondents, most
of whom (maugre the assertions of A Catholic
Citizen0 accuse us of taking the part Of the
Irish, apologizng for their outragcs &c. &c. and
they threaten us with alarming consequences five
do not mend our hand. From a file of these mis-
sives we select the following, as the most per-
tnent and best hammered among them:
HORACE GREELEY, Esq. MAY 10. 1874.
Sir: Ii was said by one Of the Ministers from
Philadelphia attending the Anniversaries, that the
Native Americans whe got up The mob IN that city
were native IriStnien, i'll other words Orangemen.
Ii was said in the course of remarks advising kind
and conciliatory treatment OF Catholics. DO you
believe or have any reason 10 think that the Ma
tive American Party would advocate or desire any
such outragcs as those which have Just occurred
Ii seems To Inc that Your moral courage mclines
YOU 10 assume attitude not entirely just towards
the American party Others may have the moral
courage 10 say that no small portion OF the guilt OF
the recent mob NAV be attached 10 your Skirts
The origin of the difficulty is the attempt that
made by Governor Seward 10 buy Catholic votes.
You had the courtesy To say recently that the Anne
rcan party was hasty, impulsive affair, when it's
notorious that those who composed the party were
generally the steady moderate portion OF our citl-
zens, whose motives are good as yours; who
wish well TO the country, and who would not de-
prve foreigners OF any reasonable night or privilege;
but who love them though not more than they love
their country. MANY of these men have often acted
md h,a Of
company; but is that a reason why you should eS-
pect TO compel them always TO be bound by party
trammcls 10 just the extent you require Who
made YOU a Judge over me, Tor instance! Ii | am IN
the full possession of my faculties and judge il my
duty as citizen TO step out OF your harness for
time what civil or moral right have YOU 10 ridculc
or abuse me for so doing Ii by fair reasoning you
can prove me in error do So Besides, is il prudent
or wise as friend OF Henry Clay, tor you 10 be
wanting in respect to those citizens who guilty
of Nativism = Mr. Clay will need their help, and
many will wish TO aid him. who perhaps will not be
driven into il by party flashing or misrepresentation
of their past or present course There Is Mr. Gree
lev large body of men whose influence when ex
er,cd turns the political scale, but who are not
heard or seen much by politicians. They are truly
patriots and they look on, hear read and consider,
and then do Is they think right. They are the most
substantial safeguard OF the country, the undevla-
TING true friends of Liberty, Justice and Order Do
not forget in the heat OF political warfare that these
citizens have rights and dates, for the exercise OF
which thew. and not YOU, are esponsible-though
they have not each OF them len. thousand-voiced
medium 10 utter their thoughts and clothc them
with ten-thousand-toid responsibility.
GUS AZ AMERICAN CITIZEN.
To the same effect is the following extract from
an attack upon us in the Journal Of Commerce
of Wednesday
"For years the political demagogues OF our coun-
ry have allied themselve. with foreigners and for
eign religious negotiating with foreign priests Tor
tine votes OF their adherents until aman calling him
sell ohm Bishop OF Newly ork. had the efirontery
10 head political meeting OF his sect, and address
ing them BY their sectayIan name, 10 point out 10
them the men whom they were 10 elect as members
of the State Legislature. To this foul alliance OF
politics and religion was the keeping OF our Public
Schools consigned, with the demand that the Bible
mo. King James's translation, but all transatons
should be excluded from them. We had submitted
TO the e1purgation Of school books we had con-
sen,ed TO strike out truth from history, and inciden
tai remarks from moral lessons, and in various ways
10 cover up the foot of the Beast al his desire, but
when emboldenGd by concessions ne proclaimed
g the Bible sectaran book" and demanded lis
withdrawal from the schools, could NOT consent.
1t was clear that Amerca must submit 10 see their
dearest principles and institutions OF religion and