The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-05-31
From the New York Home Journal
Aner.LeSsOn
OF the ASt0r-Plaee RlOl.

seems TO us, of which the late Astor-Place
tragedy is Wholesome and forcible re-
minder The first, that THE LAW IS
SUPREME, was thorough, as it well
needed to be, and has been sufficiently
discussed in the daily papers. The second,
though perhaps in the long run almost as
important, has scarcely been alluded to by
our brethren of the Press, viZ:-that
WEALTH IN A REPUBLIC SHOULD
BE MINDFUL WHERE IT'S LUAU-
RIES OFFEND. We trust our readers
viii not find tedious the one or two views
we may find it necessary TO express, IN IL
lustration of our meaning.
To charge the deplorable riot of Astor-
Place upon those who are alone guilty of
it, is not difficult, and has been very gen.
orally and correctly done. For its inshga-
ton, promotion, uproar and violence, the
lowest class of our citizens-the mobo-
cratic, unprincipled and turbulent-were
alone to blame. The reprobation of the
act and of its perpetrators should be with
one voice; but the next common phrase Of
exclamation: 'ho1o dared they do it!''
should for once be answered as a ques-
ton. HO,U dared they? Upon feeling
exclusively their own-upon blackguard-
ism which pretended no likeness to a
more respectable prejudice-upon mere
ruffianly hostility to a more fortunate class
the Astor-Place rioters would never
have thrown stone. ..Rowdyism," in a
country as enlightened as this, never comes
fairly into respectable neighborhood, ex-
cept in the shadow of something for which
it hopes to be mistaken. In its own
name, and with only its own indictments,
1t is comparatively harmless. What feel
ing, then, which may be worth inquiring
into, was its stalking-horse and unavowed
encouragement!
1t would be an absurd injustice, to the
common sense of any people as busy as
ours. to attribute so grave an excitement
to mere interest in the quarrel between
two actors. Popular feeling is deep
well, and to its far depths stone has been
dropped-but Mr.. MACREADY is mere
feather on the surface, chance-raised by
the bursting, under him. of one of the
bubbles. Nor do we think it can be cor
rectly described as the breaking out of a
deep-seated hostility to England and Eng
lishmen. The most popular actors among
us are English, and MAcREADY, till he ap-
peared in new light, was an English ac-
tor, whose best professional successes were
the harvest of an American popularity
Nor was 1t any more parhsanship fol
FORREST, than that an American actors
with an English actor offered the assail-
ants of the Opera more specious war
cry of patriotism. The chance to make
political capital was doubtless a concur.
tent stimulus; but there was, we think, a
stronger and more deep-seated cause than
any of these-no less matter than step
taken IN the Progress Of Luxury, to th.
peculiar shape and erciusiUeness OF
,chich, they kneao there aoas, IN the re-
spectacle and economical class, q genera
,oaeCiiliRgness to submit. Would it be
amiss, while leaving the actors and abet
tors of the riot in unqualified condemna
ton, to look a little into the feeling tc
which they so boldly pretended!
The most jealously guarded line of hui
man distinction is the limit of the privile
ges of wealth. 'sThus far shalt thou come
and no farther" is the mental challenge
with which every discontinued poor mar
plays sentinel over the vaguely defined
rights given him by custom. With wha
the rich man does in his own house, which
'is his CASTLE" or with what he wear.
upon his person, or buys with his money
the malcontent does not feel defensively
encroached upon; but he has equal right
with his eclipser in courts of justice, OF
the public highway, and in public vehi
cles; and has certain accommodations il
the public theatre. which have been set
tied by the usage of centuries, and whicl
he does not willingly permit money Il
usurp. The pits of theatres, though oc
cupying the most advantageous portion O
the house, have, by long-weighed ne
nessity of considerate provision for tht
Many, grown to be the locality for thos,
who could pay little. 1tis curious, by
ihe-way, that the boldest invasions O
these ''copyholds of custom" exist in ou
country, the Pits of the two first theatre,
of this republican metropolis having beer
taken from the poorer class, by being made
as expensive as the Boxes.
At the Queens Opera, in aristocratic
London, II was thought very bold step
in Mr.. Lumley the Lessee, that he cut off
season after season, another and anothe
line of the seats in the Pit nearest the
orchestra, supplying them with elbow
chairs and letting them for high prices a.
''stalls." I've heard very distinguished
English statesman comment upon this in
vasion of long-established popular privi
lege, as wrong, and likely to lead to trou
BILE, if carried farther. The right to have
some,ohere, an opportunity to see The
Queen and noble ladies unbonneted, anC
Zoo 10 foo -s,1I To IL ...I