The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1871-07-20
Bloody Riot.

'ue persons anu properly OF the cltlzens II
those States by Ku Klux organizations
and to suppress which the President ha
asked for and obtained extraordinary ant
dangerous powers. We aythat while th'
people Of the South are being ruled will
a rod ofiron for alleged ouiragcs by tht
Ku Klux, and arc forced by q bigotet
Presidentin,o degrading submission to ev
cry oppressive measure or law passed fol
their special locality, there was occurring
in the city Of New York on the 18th inst.
one Of The bloodiest attempts that ever dis
graced our land, to prevent American free
men from exercising their rights and priv
ileges guaranteed To them under the Consli
tuition; and the President, as wo can see
never made move toward supprcssing it
Had this occurred in one Of the cities OIL
any Of the late rcbcllious States, the cry
would have been hcralded throughout the
land "Ku Klux outragcs," and the whole
military force Of Tue United States would
have been sent down upon them. But
when these outrages occur in q Northern
State or city, the manner Of treatment is
quite different.
Is America any longer a free country?
The American reader may well ask him.
self thisqucstiOn with the deepest sincerity.
The events Of tue day mentioned, answer
in startling tones. The boast of our gov
ernmGnt has been that it was strong en-.
ough to protect all our citizens, whether at
home or abroad, in the full and free ex.
preston Of their opinions.
This boast was suddenly terminated
and in New York City, at least a new
government has come into existence. A
set Of lawless men, who claim to be Cath.
olics, but who are as much outside the pale
Of the church as they are Of decent society,
determined to prevent the procession of
the Oraneemen Of New York, in honor Of
the victory achieved by their ancestors at
the battle Of tho Boyne. The Ribbonmen
aud Hibernian societies had said the Or.
angcmen should not parade, and if they
did they would kill every Oraugeman up
on whom they could lay hands. The Or.
angemen determined that they would par.
AIDE, and exercise their privileges as all 9th.
er organizations did. The Oraugemen did
parade, after preparing themselves with
such weapons Us were necessary for self
protection, and the result was bloody RI
OF in which so or go we're killed aud about
10 were wounded. Strange to say not an
Oraugeman was killed in the trouble, al
though the attack was made directly upon
their procession.
These Orangcmen should have the full.
est protection Of the government in their
right to parade. The failure to give them
that protection was cowardly, criminal and
contemplate. II was u surrender Of law
to anarchy. 1t may be only the beginning
of a serious history to follow. Emboldcn.
cd in this attempt, who can say that a sim
liar attempt will not transpire when the
next Protestant procession is proposed
The couglomcration Of villainous humanity
protesting to have its religious opinions
shocked aud insulted by q Protestant pro-
cession, may, aud will probably, make
holder demonstrations in the future.
We believe in the rights Of all men,
Protestant aud Catholic, aud we join in
demanding arespect of those rights. And
if State governments cannot protect its cit.
liens in the enjoyment of those rights,
then the strong arm Of tue Federal gov.
ernmcut should protect its citizens.
The Catholics have recently celebrated
the twenty.dfth anniversary of the reign
Of Pope Plus, aud no single act Of vic.
lcucc was done them. Yet these privi.
leges are not to be enjoyed by an organi.
zation Of Protestant Irishmen, without
bloodshed.
In this affair Mayor Hall and Supcrin.
tcudcut Kelso, have won an uuenviable
reputation in catering to this Irish rabble.
But Gov. Hoffman in revoking their or
dcrs and guaranteeing to the 0rangomcr
protection in their rights has won the res
poet and admiration of the whole country