The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-13

which could not well last beyond the day
which gave it occasion. Unlike the draft riots
of 1868, it has no food except latent hate to
keep it alive. and the peace which every
where reigned last night is certain promise
that all danger is over. We may congratulate
ourselves that its consequences were not as
bad as they might have been, and rejoice that
the triumph was neither for the Orangemen
nor the Ribbonmen, but for the American SEN
timent and the majesty of the law.
One who saw any of the scenes of yester-
day as they are described in the HERALD to-
day could not fail to be impressed with the
peculiar behavior, attitude and appearance
of the men who took part in the disturbances.
They were sullen and arrogant by turns, and
by turns they were cowardly and courageous.
They seemed without leaders and without
motive. Plumber was not their object, for they
refrained from theft Only powerful impulse
to murder men who wanted to celebrate the
victory OF one English king over another on
the soil of Ireland impelled them, and this in
their eyes seemed sufficient cause for break
ing the law and defying the authority Of the
State. Are they the dangerous classes or are
they something more terrible than the
dangerous classes--the Commune of New
York? They certainly behaved like the
Paris Commune. There was the same
blind Indifference to life or death, the same
madness of enthusiasm, the same purposeless
searching after purpose. And the aspects
Of the city were much like those Of Paris dur
ing the recent conflicts in that proud capital.
Had there been anywhere a statue of the
Duke of York, who once owned the city, they
might have bowed down to it if they had
known it as the efigy of their beaten king.
A figure of the Prince of Orange would have
been for them Column Vend6me, to be torn
to pieces, as the Parsians broke into frag
ments the bronze form of the great Napoleon.
But, as it was, they could only gnash their
teeth in the faces Of those whom they chose to
regard as their enemies and throw thems elves
upon the citizen soldiery, who are their surest
protection and the best safeguards of repub-
lican liberty. y:'~.'' T.. ~
But we must not forget the grand lesson Of
this troublous day. The triumph is one which
only those can claim who hold American free
dom dear to their hearts. Governor Hoffman's
proclamation was only the voice of the people
in official form. 1t accorded nothing to the
Orangemen which the people would not accord
to all men. 1t was putting the seal of the
State to the utterances which the people had
already made through the press, and proclaim
ing anew that freedom of opinion, speech and
action must not be abridged. The triumph is
the peoples triumph, and to them be-
the arrogant humbled and the law vim
! dicated America cares not for the feuds
| and animosites which divide other countries,
but she does care for her own dignity and the
| due recognition of that grandeur Of liberty
which she proclaims. America pretends not
to be only for the Americans, but she insists
that all shall be free alike, that all shall he
bound by her laws, and that her flag shall be
over ALL II is the Star Spangled Banner which
offers freedom to the world and proclaims
peace and good will among men. Its folds are
| for the protection Of all men of every party
and every creed AS it was lifted up when
! Sumter fell, telling the world that American
| unity was more than name--as il was lifted
up yesterday, telling to the people of Europe
| that here they may even nurse their narrow
ness and bigotries to their bosoms--sO i. must
| always be borne aloft in the hearts and on the
! shoulders OF the young men of the New World.