The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-07-31


EiSlaiure-Railroad from Toronto 10 Kingston
Roman Catholic movement I'm favor Of the English
Church In Canada.
ToRosTo, July II, 1851.
! To the Editor of the National Era:
Last Saturday was the anniversary Of the bat
tie Of the Boyne, and was celebrated here as was
the one last year, by procession Of 0rangemen,
notwithstanding there is law Of the Province
against such improper demonstrations.
The day was ushered in by continued dis
charge Of musketry during the preceding night
Probably about three hundred members of the
Orange Lodges, at places in the vicinity of To-
ronto, assembled on this occasion with banners,
headed by the city band of music, and marched
through the streets to church, TO the great annoy
ance of the Roman Catholic portion of the popu-
lation, and in opposition to the wishes and feel
ings of every respectable person with whom
conversed.
The Orange association is a peculiarly Irish
! institution and it is to be regretted that that
portion of the population who are from Ireland
will not consent to bury those animosities, which
are so rife in their native country, on arriving in
a Province where the lsws-fSQUire no religious
distinctions, and which these displays are calcu-
lated to perpstuate.
The day passed off, however without disturb
ance; but the evening till very late hour was
interrupted by the discordant noises made by
drunken orsngemen-one Of the peculiar fea-
lures Of these observanoes being that of getting
drunk, by way Of manifesting the great regard
these people have for the Protestant religion and
commemorating battle fought in $780, between
the adherents of James the Second and William
the Third, in which the latter were victorious,
and James had to take refuge on the Continent
1t is very obvious that religion has but little to
do with such displays as that to which have
alluded which, to use the language of Roman
Catholic divine in this city, "rouses men to
action ueverys rGeir talents, enrches their facul-
ties vivifesthAir lamentations and mollifes their
hearts,
The divine to which | allude delivered dis
course at the Catholic Cathedral, on St. John the
Baptist's day, which was marked by much good
feeling and enlarged views Let us learn says
Father Teller, learn to understand, to esteem,
to love the nobleness of another race the frmness
of another character, the boiling energy of an.
other bloodn And yet it was man who could
utter such sentiments as these, whose feelings,
with those of the other members of his commun-
ion, were grossly outraged by the Orange pro-
cession Of the twelfth Of July.
The reverend father is not only the advocate
of the union Of these Provinces but he desires
also, the union Of all GLASSES of the community
union which, cemented by religion, is, he says
the only guarantee left the original settlers for
the full development Of the resources OF this fine
Province. May the spirit of religion, he adds
(Which WHITES and retrieyes, the spirit of union
and faith, be the soul of our laws-the soul of
government--the soul of our educltion--of our
commerce-of our industry--of our agriculture
of our institutions"
Strange, that while Roman Catholic is found
uttering such sentiments, at once in accordance
with religion and wise policy, the members Of
Protestant denominations are almost striving to
cut each others Threats. Every day satisfies me
| INC more sue unCuriuriza spssS W urvE men
here are actusted, who have feligien on theiI
lips but very little of 1t in their hearts.
The clergy revenues have for a long tim
served as a rallying point for the members o
other Protestant creeds in their onslaught upor
the Church of England and were that apple Of
discord removed they would turn upon each
other.
To keep alive these anti.C Christian feelings,
schools and colleges are established and endowed
by different sects and the Bishop of Toronto is
busily engaged in erecting college for the ex-
elusive education of students whose parents belong
to the Church of England; because, forsooth, the
University of Toronto has been thrown open to
all religious denominations, in accordance with
the liberal and tolerant spirit Of the age.
The Lunatic Asylum has again become the sub
ect of discussion in the House of Assembly
motion having been made yesterday for commit
tee TO inquire into its management which was
opposed by the Government, purely, as It ap-
peared to me, on party grounds, and which was
negatived by the Obsequious majority they can
always command in the House
That the medical superintendent Of that insti-
tuition is totally dsqualii d for that important
office, is evident from facts that have been made
public; he is inexperienced in the management
Of the insane, of violent temper, and abusive to
the unfortunate patients who are placed under
his care, and SO negligent in the performance of
his duty, that very respectable female, who was
sent to the Asylum for safe keeping, was allowed
to hang herself, although the superintendent had
been informed Of her propensity to commit
suicide.
| have visited institutions In the United States
wherever | have travelled, which strongly con-
trast with those at Toronto, and have that at
Chsrlestown, near Boston, now ia my minds eye,
where Dr.. Bell, professional gentleman, pre-
sides with great credit and satisfaction to himself
and advantage to those who have the good fortune
to be committed to his care. That at Worcester
is equally well conducted and ! was much
pleased with what saw at the Asylum in Coum-
bia, the capital of South Carolina.
Here, however, q system VI fsvoritism and po-
liticsl partisanship prevails, and the comfOr, and
welfare of an unfortunate class Of beings, In
whose behalf the sympsthies Of every humane
and generous mind are enlisted, are sacrificed at
the shrine Of political expediency, or some other
equally base and ignoble motive
bill has passed the Assembly, abolishing the
law Of primogeniture In Csnada. Ii was opposed
by the Conservative members, on the ground Of
its being English and destructive Of the entire
law Of real property IL was also contended that
the cutting up estates for the purpose Of dividing
them among heirs had been productive OF injury,
and that wherever the practice prevails, as In
Ireland, France, and other countries, the effect Is
70 degrade the peassntry The subject, however,
is one which has repeatedly engaged the attention
OF the Assembly during the last twenty years,
who have at various times passed bills similar TO
that referred to, yet the Council has hitherto
negatived them.
The estimates for the next fiscal year have