Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-06-29


eifecting an extensive organization in the
heart of the Commonwealth, and the feeling
of hostility between them an the Catholic pop
ulation Is reaching high pitch. Threats of
the most violent character are made on both
sides, and the city is flooded with vague Iu-
nors Of intended iucendiarsm, poisoning of
families, and other murderous outrages, said
to be in contemplation by the foreign resi-
dents, who now constitute about one-third
of the whole population of the city; and
many of the Irish domestics employed in fam
lies throu ghoat the city, openly affirm that
such deeds are to be committed, at a time
soon to be determined. The Catholics are
known to be arming, and preparing them
selves for an anticipated crisis, and the know
Nothings are taking similar precautions.-
The excitement is also spreading to other
towns in the vicinity, many of which have
numerous foreign population.
We copy the above from the Springfield Re-
publican. as an exemphfcation of the old ad-
age, that " you must go abroad to get the news
from home.'' An article of similar charac-
ter to the above also appeared in the Barre
Gazette. Now, it is very evident that these
editors have been essentially hoaxed. We
have not seen an intelligent person in this
city who gives the slightest credence to the
scock and bull stories thus set afoat-set
ahoat, too, in some cases, no doubt, mali
maliciously, but more frequently, as an ex-
pertinent on the credulity of listeners. 1t is
very true that meetings have been held here,
at which which exciting and infammatory
denunciations of Catholicism were made, yet
we have too much confidence in the good
sense and manly feeling, to say nothing of the
Christian spirit,o our native population, to be-
lieve, for a moment, that any of them would
be induced, by any such appeals. to commit,
or meditare acts Of violence ON their foreign
born neighbors, whatever opinion they might
form of their religious faith. They know
too well, and they respect too much, the
rights of citizenship, and the rights of con-
science, to be guilty of acts SO derogatory to
the character of Americans and Republicans.
On the other hand, we believe, most con-
scienciously, that with the mass Of our for
eign population, there is no unkind feeling
towards their native-born brethren, nor any,
thing which should induce us to look with
suspicion upon them. Why should there be:
They are here amonst US, and here they ex-
pect to live and to die. Their prosperity de-
Ponds, essentially, upon ours, and you might
as wen suppose that man would quarrel with
his own bread and butter, as that they should
seek occasion forill feeling between themselves
and US. All their interests combine to induce
them to cultivate our friendship, respect, and
good will. We believe they understand this
very well, and, understanding it, they will act
upon it.
The man who would stir up enmity, hatred,
and strife, in a community, should be looked
upon, by common consent as common nui-
sance, and should be avoided as such. If we
differ in opinion, let us express it freely, and
discuss it in a manly and christian spirit,
without rancor or personal hostility. Such is
the course that we have no doubt will be pur-
sued by all classes Of our population, and the
time, we trust, is far distant when there viii
be any occasion, in point of TACT, for such ar
ticles as those which have appeared in the
Springfield Republican and the Barre Gazette.
We may remark, in this connection, that
the number Of our foreign population is great
" overrated by the Republican. At the cen
sus last year, it was less than one sirth of ouI
whole population, including the ehildrea Of
foreigners, born here. The native population
of the city is increasing in much greater ra-
ito than the foreign.