Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-07-27
The Late Riot. No. Q.


maturity OF the present seed-the develop
ment of the natural results Of the conduct Of
now. The light Of experience or revelation is
all that we have to guide or direct our future
course. We must then judge by the past.
And we ask our readers TO pause and reflect
upon future, legitimate on such present.
a. present, in this city, without law, without
order, without government, without security
of property, person or life. Ruled, (f rule it
may be called) by the demoniac passions Of a
yindictive, cruel and relentless mob. Think
of these things, act accordingly-judge for
yourselves.
Connected with these riots is one peculiar
ity, unparalleled perhaps in the history of
mobism, no arrests or any attempt to arrest the
rioters ucere nadde-a peculiar characteristic.
A dsinterested person would Immediately
ask the cause of this singularity, but the city
authorities would not deem it iudicious to re-
ply. This is not only peculiar to these mobs,
but is also an anomaly in the City Police
They have been proyerbially active in the en-
forcement of law. Is an impression abroad of
the violation Of the liquor law, they are i'm
mediately on the alert if a man is seen pub
licly intoxicated, in a moment the lookup
hides him from public gaze if a petty larceny
is committed, punishment speedily follows the
crime if an ornamental tree on Middle street
is mutilated, a special police is stationed
there, an ordinance is Immediately passed,
Furnishing such crimes, a reward is officially
offered ny the Mayor for the detection Of the
perpetrator, he is apprehended, tried, con-
victed, and being a small boy, is sentenced to
the Reform School for year. All this is
we'll; showing vigilance, activity, care and
skill on the part of the city authorities truly
praiseworthy. These are mentioned only as
illustrations of the ordinary course. But
when church is burned, house demolished,
and violence threatened to our citizens, no
action is taken, except arresting one young
man. A change has taken place in their
conduct-no attempts at arrest, no reward Of
fered, all is as still and quiet as chicken
resting under her mothers wing. We will
not say the city authorities thus guard these
rioters; we prefer to give facts and let them
speak. In this case sooner or later their voice
will be heard. Enough perhaps, has been
said 10 advise the public Of what in future may
be expected in similar cases from the authori-
ties. The rioters of course will reason from
the past as well as others, and consequently
will act in accordance with their desires, I'M
controlled by fear of opposition or of punish
ment What influence must this state Of
things have upon the prosperity Of our city,
pecuniarily, morally, socially, politically or
religiously!
We assume as a Seuled fact, that hatred Of
the Catholic and foreigner was the immediate
occasion of the church burning riot. This
was successful one-Jt which the partici-
pators may we'll boast and be proud but over
which the honest and sincere must mourn and
grieve, and its repetition may well be dreaded
by Catholics and foreigners in our midst
We state facts because they are so, but not TO
excite any unnecessary alarm. 1t is not diff
cult to foretell the effect of this matter over
our city in a pecuniary point of view. Monop-
olies are always odious to a free people.-
Freedom of thought ard action (restrained
only by others rights is the source Of all adj
we have the principle that only protestant and
American labor, protestant and American cap
ital, protestant and American religion shall
be tolerated in Bath. Not yet in SO many
words, this is only the commencement but
such an one as demonstrates more than words
can do, the end destined TO be accomplished.
Need we ask our merchants, our traders, our
ship builders, our farmers, our real estate
holders, our millmen, our mechanics, or even
our City Government itself, what would be
the effect if all foreigners and Catholics were
driven at once from our midst. What would
the good woman at home say to this 1t
would at once paralyze all business, and the
city would resume her ancient cognomen Of
"iSlcepy HoHot0." We do not mean that we
are dependent upon foreigners for our pros
perity but that there are many now engaged
with us in useful employments. Ifthey were
driven off and others prevented from filling
their places, we do say, the present business
state could not be continued. Let us not be
told, this is phantom Of the brain, for it is a
sober fact for business men to consider and
ponder. Many of the foreigners and Catho-
lies are honest and sincere in their religious
profession and belief; and can it be expected
they will long remain where the privilege to
''worship God according to the dictates OF
their consciences,'' is denied to them g
Would sincere proteStantS long remain in such
state Would our clergy, and our mission
AIRY societies recommend it 1t is said the
Catholic priest has more influence over their
worshippers than the protestant clergy. II
50, it is the height of absurdity to presume
the Catholic would remain where his views OF
religion could not be expressed And that
very restraint would even cause him to be
more Jealous, more DESTROYS to worship in the
church of his fathers This is the natural
and inevitable result of the riots of which we
speak. Others would be driven away by fear.
Some of these results have already been at
tanned. From one ship-yard in this city five