The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-07-20
THE NEW YORK RIOT.

ptoSiooo'
THE NEW YORK RIOT.
The 18th OF July, the anniversary of the
victory achieved by William of Orange over
James the Second, on the soil of Ireland,
was signaljzed by bloody riot in New York
city. This result was not unexpected It
was known that the Orangemcn, Or Profess
tant Irish, had made arrangements to cele-
brate the day by an imposing procession Of
several thousand persons. 1t was equally
current that certain class of Irish Catho-
lies, instigated by political schcmers, intend
ed to attack the procession. Apprehensive
of serious difficulty, if the Orangemen car
ried into effect their programme, Chief of
Police Kclso issued an order prohibiting the
procession. The motive that prompted this
officer should not be questioned. The policy
might be. He desired to prevent boodshed,
and he adopted this mode of accomplishing
that object. Governor Hoffman subsequent
ly issued proclamation declaring that the
whole power Of the State would be used, if
necessary, to preserve order, and enforce law,
and that the procession of Orangemen should
be protected in the peaceable exercise of the
privilege of celebrating the victory of Will
liam the protestant, over James, the Catholic,
at the battle of Boyne. The order of Kclso
was revoked-the Orangemen. to the num-
Der Of about 100-many Of them feeble old men
and small children-formed into procession,
covered on every side by about 1000 soldiers
and 700 policemen, number ing about 20 sol
diers and policemen to one Orangeman.-
As the procession moved through some Of
the principal avenues, shot was fred They
progressed and another shot was heard. An
ipdiscriginate and disor ganized vollcy clme
from the 84th regiment in response directed
at the locality whence the discharge Of the
pistol came Then fearful scene ensued-
Over 30 persons were killed dead, among
them women and children. There were, du-
ring the day, over SO persons known to have
been killed, and a great many more wounded
There seems to be prevailing sentiment
that the disturbance was concocted and exc
cuted through the Vaccinations Of the Rad
ical party of New York, for the purpose OF
bringing into disfavor the preseut Democrat
ic administration of that city. A large
number of the rougher classes had recently
Joined the Hibernans, with the sole purpose,
it is thought of instigating the bloody con-
hict that occurred. The more respectable of
the Catholics, and especially the Bishop and
the Priests, are very decided in their con-
demnation of the action Of the mob, and had
advised, from the Pulpit, on the Sunday pre-
vious, that the Orangemen be allowed to eel
citrate the anniversary in peace. But this
did not suit the purposes of the insidious
leaders. They wanted political capital, and
they sought to obtain it through the blood Of
deluued, and in some instances; innocent vic
tins.
Already kilograms have been flashed over
the country counselling revival Of the
Know Nothing Party. This, Of itself, is SUI
ficient to explain the motives which lead these
designing plotters of mischief to the accom-
plishment of their bloody work
The Radical press of New York are, just
now, in savage mood about the liberty that
was proposed to be abridged in Keso's order,
prohibiting the procession. That order was
issued in the face of imminent peril, and with
the certain knowledge that if the celebration
did take place, riot would ensue. The same
journals condemn Gov. Hoffman for issuing
his proclamatlon-which necessitated the
withdrawal Of Kelso's order, declaring his
purpose to uphold the majesty of the law,
and that the Orangemen should be protected
in the privilege they proposed to exercise
Gov. Hoffman felt called upon to exercise the
whole powe. Of the State to preserve order
and to enforce the statutes. 10 have done
otherwise would have implied cowardice, and
the subordination Of the whole civil machin-
cry to the behests of maddened mob, urged
on by political marpIots who cared nothing
for human life, so they could make out case
to further party ends. The motives which
prompted both orders, we believe were good
| differing, however, in the modes OF accom-
plishing aa end, as the authors differed in
their spheres of action, and the standpoint
from which they viewed the matter
In giving an asylum to the oppressed and
iupofefisheo people OF the OIu Woflu, IL WAS
never designed to make this the theatre upon
which to crafty their party hatreds. 1t was
expected that they would become American
lied, and SO identified with the progressive
events Of the country as to smother out the
! animosities engondered two hundred years
ago. Freedom in this country, was not in
tended to be construed as license to invade
the rights of community, and imperil the
lives of citz:ns. It becomes a question Of
serious import, whether or not the safety and
peace, and the observance and enforcement
Of the laws Of this country do not impera-
lively demand an abatement of the privilege
OF celebrating events that occurred in the
| old country, out of which there is great dan
ger of repeating the horrify;ng scenes of the
18th of July, in New York. We should
not allow the contentious and blood-thirsty
spirit of clans and associations of Europe to
be transferred to our soil for Development
There is no good in them, and our laws should
be stern in preventing mob law, as well as
qucll'ng it when attempted 10 be prac'iccd