The daily union., 1854-10-21
THE DIFFERENCE CREATED IN SEVENTEEN YEARS
BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND wHIGs ON A GREAT

THE DIFFERENCE CREATED IN SEVENTEEN YEARS
BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND wHIGs ON A GREAT
PRINCIPLE.
great calamity is sometimes required TO arrest great
wrong The loss of the noble Arctic which reghted with
some the pures and bravet of people was suddenly
sent to her oceangrave may least moderate the fearful
competition between rival steamers in the midst oi the
mysterious waste of waters The of prescription
which now setting without retiring ebp IN one IRE
ssble onset upon rights both civil and religious though
never so powerful the present moment was swollen
into quite torrent Of excitement seventeen years
ago Then the war war upon religious opln-
ions The great event which startled and brought back
public opinion in 1887 the destruction of the ursuline
Convent at Boston, Massachusetts, The defamation of
uconsderate eagogues and nfurated bgots passed Tor
uobno until this sad event broke upon the public ear
like the voice of doom At the whole country became
alarmed at the danger that result from infusng into
politics these secsrisn elements and public meetings were
held in various parts of the Union Not only were men
shocked at the attempt degrade portion of our c
zens into interiors but they that the the law
could be deed in one case it could be resisted in all Those
who felt safe in their religious opinions, and in the ncei-
dent of being in the United States could not feel sale
for the rights Of property which, any time and under
thinking mob All interests aroused and those
who could not feel that great sentiment of American nd
erty had been violated mpeed to act by more sor
did but too often, more controlling considerations.
One Of these meetings held Ia Baltimore, Maryland
and we are indebted friend for copy OF the proceed
ings which took place that OCCASION published IN
the Baltimore American of October 1887 These proceed
ings which we publish this morning, double sig
70 be
ment Such meeting this, called out to rebuke gross
and cruel outrage had its effect upon both parties at the
time and was an honest and patriotic expression of feel
ing But since 1887 while many of the actors in the Bal
,imore meeting of that day still survive, very great
change has come the spirit of the dreams OF some OF
them We are now the midst of the most extraordinary
excitement which this country has wtnessedektra-
ordinary because we principles asailed which, for
two hundred years have laid at the very foundation
of political freedom and which, for the same period
of time and for years beyond the memory of man, have
been the terror of tyranny Not only political equality
with the American people denied to citizens of foreign
birth but it also denied OF American birth be-
cause of their religious sentiments 1t is true We have as
yet lad no eonyens destroyed but great cities have
been disturbed by coRending sec and the Sabbath itself
has been stained by their ominous disputes But what DO
we now see in that Baltimore which was so prompt to
speak in 1897 when only one OF these Scred rights was
attempted to be violated? What do when snccess-
full organizations prescribe honored and respected citizens
for their crceds and their places of nativity We such
papers as the Baltimore American sound in 1881 now at
work leading the cohorts and prescription
Wesee the Baltimore following the example We
see great whg leaders work melting these dangerous ee-
men goryng their success We see the city bear
inr the honored name of Baltimore given up to band OF
bpots and ntolerans, who triumph 10y aid OF the great
body of the whig party with honorable exceptions
Nor do we speak without whg authority for thor both
the Patriot and American whg organs but the letter
of Mr. Merrick published days ago in these columns
shows that of those who whg leaders all or most OF
all are now in the ranks Of the party of intolerance
and prescription We need give other authorities ioI
our statement.
Take the other side of this question: however, and the
reader will find that b. c. Howard, Joshua fansaht W.
Preston &C. &C. all democrats and all prominent ia tn'
meeting of 1897 are the same s'd, backed oy IN
orsat democratic party We close article at this point
conscious that we could leave better impression
any other part Of the picture.
PRESCRIPTION A SHORT-LIyED SENTIMENT in
FREE COUNTRY.
Il =. So