The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-19
Important Trial I'm the Court OF Sessions
The Irish Race I'm America.


be continued this day in the Court of Sessions
This will be the fourth day two days having
been consumed in getting jury. The trial
will probably occupy three weeks, there being
one hundred witnesses for the prosecution
alone, and probably twice as many for the de-
fence The facts of the case are brought
strongly to our recollection by seeing among
the Geographic intelligence in yesterdays
HERALD the following fearful account OF an
Irish riot on the Illinois Central Railroad
CHICAGO, Dec l6, 1853.
A bloody riot took place among the laborers on
the Illinois Central Railroad, At Lasalle, yesterday,
| growing out of reduction of their wages. About
| two o'cock an alteration arose between Albert
Story, contractor, and party of lrishmen, during
| which one Of the latter was shot dead Shortly
after wards Storys Office attacked aud pilaged,
| and Story, who had concealed himself in barn,
was found and brutally murdered, his head and body
at bat escaped. IL is reported that Mr.. Dunn Sto-
rvs foreman on the other side OF the river has shot
nine lsborers. The Sheriff OF Lasalle county was
| during which one Irshnan was shot dead and two
| wounded, thirty Of the rioters were taken. The
rngleader Of the rioters has escaped but measures
have been taken for his apprehension.
The facts of the Fourth Of July riot in this
city are not of so appalling nature, but there
might have been the same story to tell if the
disturbance had not been promptly suppressed,
or If firearms and other deadly weapons had
been at hand. 1t appears that among other
civic societies the Ancient Order Of Hibernians
marched in procession in honor Of the
anniversary of the Declaration of indie
pendence and some Of their number came
into collision with an omnibus driver, which
led to general riot, so that ultimately
the police, the firemen, and other citizens, be-
came actors in the drama. We shall not antici-
pate the testimony of the witnesses or the ver-
dict of the jury by any one-sided detailed state
ment Of the case; but we have just indicated
sufficient to show that it was an Irish riot.
1t is fact equally melancholy and indisputa-
BILE, that the Irish in this country, particularly
of the working class, are always getting into
rows and riots. What is the cause? Why is it
that so many of particular race are found
taking part in these scenes of violence and
bloodshed? The Irish are the most generous,
lberalhearted, Industrious and energetic race
Of modern Europe. They are the most quick
witted, and they ore the most enlightened,
wherever they have the same opportunities as
other nationalities They are naturally noble
people, endowed with the finest qualities Of the
human race. What then, is the cause of their
coming into constant collision with the laws,
both in their own country and in this? We sus-
pect that it springs from the deleterious infu-
ence of the Catholic clergy and hierarchy. This,
we apprehend, is the fountain head to which the
evil must be traced. The Irish Catholics are
taught to believe that their allegiance is due
rather to their ecclesiastical rulers than to the
laws Of the country in which they live. Their
bishops and priests inculcate blind obedience
to their will, instead of hearty and cheerful
submission to the authority of the civil code.
They are exhorted to reverence and obey
Church whose seat Of power is in foreign
land, rather than the institutions of the coun-
try Of their adoption.
For proof of this we need not go further
than the recent rescript of the Catholic Arch
bishop Of this diocess, in which he calls on his
flock to arm against apprehended attacks In
fact, all the riots and all the difficulties growing
out Of nativism in this country, have their
source in that grand mistake of the Catholic
hierarchy in telling the members of their reli-
gious denomination that obedience is due to
their spiritual superiors rather than to the law
of the land. Instead of belonging to the coun-
try and the age in which they live, they are in
duced to believe that they belong entirely to
the Church, ard to different age. Let any one
read the Freeman's Journal, Brownson's Re
uieu, or any Of the saccrdotal organs in the
United States, and he will find that they breathe
the spirit ofthc Catholic Church Of the sixteenth
century rather than that OF the nineteenth.
Three centuries ago it was prosecuting Church,
aiming at universal dominion over the political
world. Then it had power to enforce
its authority and extend its rule. A change
has since come over the spirit of that dream,
and now The Catholic Church in this country
is only on the same footing with any other
Church. The attempted encroaehments and
the constitution have naturally produced OPP
position; and the result is that we have before
us two factiens--on one the intolerant Catholics
Of the sixteenth century and the other the
fierce Puritans Of the same age, instead OF the
humane Christians of the nineteenth century
who seem to have returned to the mild and
forbearing spirit Of primitive Christianity in
the first century, when the Church was not en-
lowed by the State, and when there was no
assumption Of ecclesiastical dictatorship para
mount to the powers that be-" The innova-
ton attempted upon the broad principles Of
civil and religious liberty established by the
constitution is of recent date. When Bishop
Dubois had charge Of the diocess there was no
disturbance between the Catholic population
and other citizens The evil commenced under
the auspices of Bishop Hughes, and it has con
tinued under his influence to the present hour
1t is an effort to naturalize the imported
notions Of Italy, and by means Of these
exCtics to sunnlant that freedom which