Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-07-20
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The Late Riot.

tAc attehuOh OF our reaqPrS ana the puDlic to
the probable cause of tie riot, and to the con-
duct of our city government.
The sympathizers with and side supporters
of the mob, attribute its origin to the fact Of
three of our citizens riding through the crowd,
to disturb, as they say the advocate Of Native
Americanism and ahti-cathollcism. That
these citizens were only in the exercise and
enjoyment of legal right, cannot admit of a
doubt. They were ant are legally justified
in their conduct but it displeased the mob
or, in other words, it was lUrOng to exercise a
legal right! "Injudicious," they say
Why! "Becduse IL might encite the mob ~
Citizens, then, must fossego the rights granted
by the laws of the lakd, and guaranteed to
them by the constitution of the State, because
those acts are not justified by the code OF etl-
ouette held by a mob that burns churches in
the daytime, and turns tnto the street at MD
night women and suckling babes, and then
proceeds at early Sabbath dawn to demolish
their dwelling The principle is, that mobs
may be ercttSed, and thslr conduct somewhat
palliated, not to say justified, when they are
opposed to individuals exercising their legal
rights This is the position of this mob and
their sympathizers,
Now how foolish foEmen of common sense
TO allege that this circumstance wasthe origin
of these lawless and wicked riots Look, for
a momeut, at the facts A very short time
elapsed--probably not bore than fifteen min
utes-between leavingjhe teacher of morali-
ty, religion and Ameriranism, at the Custom
House, and firing the South Church. At the
Custom House there Vas no American flag
displayed, but it waved from the church while
on fire, and was PLACID there by this same
mob. When and iCllsre aCas 1t obtained, and
for ,chdt purpose On the breaking up of
the lecture, was not 4 flag hoisted from the
window OF the MirrOrbffice-the government
paper! If so, whyL By whom Was it
not cheered by the crowd, and did they not
Immediately proceed to burn the church
Let some one who hAows, answer these in
quiries and then the public can judge Of the
cause of the riot.
Had the carriage been driven through the
crowd, even to dispefse it and break up the
assembly, was that an illegal act! A few
days prior to this transaction, some FIVE or six
gentlemen, one of then member of the city
government, were qttetly on the sidewalk
discussing the Nebraska question, when the
City Marshal appeared, dispersed them, and
summarily ended the discussion. Had these
gentlemen Immediately burned the City Hall
or the Marshal's hose, would they have
found any apologists IN our city! The truth
must be confessed THAI some persons are ex-
tremely anxious to excuse this nefarious pro-
ceeding, aud hesitateseot to resort to any ar
tifce tending to lessen its aggravation. Do
not let us add hypocrisy to the other crimes.
The real cause hes deeper than the circum-
stance before mentioned. The persons in the
carriage were not ID any manner identified
with the South Chsfch, the foreign popula-
ton or the Catholir religion. If the mob
were displeased wits these gentlemen, why
burn the church, ps disturb the peaceable
Catholics ! Can there be any connection be-
tween ms cause aud such an effect Surely
not. There must have been some cause and
en- 4 have been any other than determine
10 prevent Catholic worship hereafter in
this cityi Remember the declaration of the
roiers 70 Mr.. Dycett--"We're the Know
Nothiugs, and have come to notify you that
we have burned your church, and if you build
another, we will burn that tool" Call to
mind the fact that while the church was in
flames, some of thesmob shouted, eff there's a
id Irishman here let's throw him into the
fire." The facts6 then, conclusively show
that hatred of the Catholics, instigated per-
haps by the street preacher, was the cause
of the first outbreak ard the other followed in
its natural order.
The question thefis, why should these men
be DESTROYS of injurfhg the Catholics. Is it
because their religions faith is radically wrong,
or because its influence is injurious to the
country! Are larger proportion of Catho-
lies disturbers of peace than Protestants 7
Have the Catholics kps suclf, in this city, eyer
been guilty Of any riots, tumults or disorderIy
conduct! Can Pmtestants say as much
We are not believer in Catholicism, neither
in church burning but here are the facts
Let the community Indge whether the mob
did not consider theywould be almost if not
quite justified in theit acts by portion Of our
citizens and does got this fact also throw
some light upon the kJdntile maJeciLity Of the
city authorities in this riot We must say
they owe the publica full statement of the
reasons of their conduct-their apparent weak
ness. their lack Of CLERGY and of promptitude
Our object is TO induce the authorities to take
measures that shall esiectualIy prevent the re-
currence of similar pfbceedings.
About six weeks Aince, late on Saturday
night, lawless mob Of young men and boys
assaulted the house oeehe Of our most respect
Bile citizens, with stones and clubs, shouting
''Break in the windows ~ &C., and with loud
noises, broke his fences. This disgracefu
affair was finally claped with serenadc o.
tin horns and other Instruments. The City
Marshal was thele, bdt no arrests acere made
! The editor of the MirfDr was present part O