Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-07-21
TUESDAY. July Fl. 1868.
The Irish Catholic. and the Rioters.

Theactiye and conspicuous partwhich Irish
men had in the disturbances last week will
bring on them the just odium due to their
crimes 1t will be fortunate if it does not
also awake against the whole Irish race the
undscriminating animosity which they have
often had to combat before; but which has
been slumbering for the last five or six years.
Now, as often before, the ignorant and vicious
few have sown the wind, leaving the whirl-
wind TO be reaped by the whole cass-inno-
cent as well as euilty--to which they belong
But in these perious and exciting times
there is the greater necessity that public
opinion should discriminate wisely and justly
before its lightnings are unclaimed. If it is
true that Irishmen formed the controllingpart
of the riotous gangs that have disturbed the
peace of our cities, it is also true that they
were but an insignificant part of the whole
immigrant population - the rest mind
ing their own business, and doing their duties
as good and well-meaning citizens should. 1t
is also true that the alien rioters were en-
couraged or directly fellowshipped in their
guilt by native born Americans-outlaws not
through the misfortune of ignorance or social
degradation, but 10y their own deliberate and
satanic choice. While we are visiting our
wrath on the degraded wretches whom emil
grant ships have spawned upon the cities, the
worse scoundrels, who set them on, and
against whom the Indignation of outraged
public sentiment should be first addressed,
escape nearly all censure
The intelligence and virtue of the Irish pop
ulaton is found in the Catholic church. That
church, without touching political questions
that are constantly rising in. the adn.inistra-
ton Of such government as ours, has been
conspicuously on the side Of order and the
established authorities. The absurd and
senseless speech of Archbishop Hughes to
the rioters may obscure but can not obliterate
the fact that the Catholic clergy, so far as they
spoke at all, proved themselves true ministers
of order and peace. Father Mooney, of the
Church of St. Bridget. New York, warned
his people to shun the profane, vicious, and
Incorporate men, who were the food for riots.
as they would shun the plague. He did bet
ter in warning them to beware of the false
friends, who smiled, and bowed, and
clapped their hands, in order to en-
tice Catholic Irishmen to their ruin
Father OFallen, of the church of ST.
Mary, proclaimed that none who were in the
mob could receive the sacrament of the
church until they had made full atone
ment, and gave warning that against those
who did not make complete restitution as well
as confession, the gates of Heaven would be
forever closed. Father Malone, of the church
of ST. Peter, expressed the most touching
sympathy for the colored people who had
been prosecuted, and appealed to his con-
gregation to protect these helpless people
wherever they suffered. Several other priests
pronounced the maledictions of the church
upon all who took part in the riots, and
counselled all their we'll disposed people to
abstain from street gatherings, and endeavor
to maintain the peace.
While there are voices like these giving
good counsels to their people with the sane
ton of spiritual authority, it is absurd, it is
unjust, to make an indiscriminating charge
against tine people of whom they form the bet
ter part. Let all merited Indignation and pun
ishment be visited upon actual rioters, and
upon the disloyal influences that set them on.
1t is narrowing the conflict, it is lowering the
standard, it is behttling the true cause to
make it for a moment subservient to preiu-
dices of race. The issues which command
all the interest of the country are too large
and important to be complicated for a day
with these social accidents, which no man can
alter, and for which no man is to blame.