New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-07-13

city. The safety of several hundred
thousand people who probably know
nothing Of the original cause Of the quar-
rel are endangered because one class of
men in New York city are determined to
prevent another class from celebrating
the exploits of their ancestors under the
command of King William LII. So great
was the excitement at one time yesterday
that the Chief of Police of New York
gave orders that the Orangemen should
not go out on their parade. Governor
Hoffman, however, took different view
of the case, and directed the authorities
to protect the procession with armed
forces.
We have no special Partially for these
Orange demonstrations in honor of ''dead
issues, as our Democratic friends usually
call most of their defeated pet measures.
We can not see that any good can come
of them, nor on the other hand, can we
see the harm. If men in America choose
to feel jubilant ON the return of an ami
versary of an occasion great in its day,
but of no possible consequence to any
nation, dynasty or principle of modern
times, why not let them show it? And as
the parading through the streets does not
harm any one, why should the procession
be attacked? We have number of holt
days in which the public generally turn
out to honor the occasion. When the
American eagle is brought forth for parade
on the Fourth of July an insult to the
British lion is not necessarily implied,
nor do the sensible sons of Britain so con-
strue it. Our national day has even been
celebrated in London, and Engishmen of
rank and good sense have been present on
the hospitable occasions, without sup
posing for a moment that any slight was
intended to be cast upon their great nation.
The merry chimes of Christmas have been
rung out from the churches for more than
eighteen centuries, and in all the countries
of the civilized world, without provoking
the ire of the Jews or melting them to
riot.
Why, then, may not a handful of
Orangemen be permitted, in free
America, to show their appreciation of
an event they delight in, and in which
their ancestors were participators Is
there anything in the issues which were
involved in the battle of the Boyne that
takes them out of the ordinary course of
historical events, and makes them a
sealed book to all future generations?
1t would appear that Governor Hoffman
thinks not. He regarded the paraders of
yesterday in New York as peaceable,
law-abiding men, and entitled to protec-
ton as such. His private views as to the
propriety of Orange professions may be
the same as those of the majority Of
American citizens. He possibly regards
them as foolish but harmless displays,
not unlawful, and, therefore, to be en-
joyed in peace by those who choose to
participate in them. They can not be
prohibited by law, and should not be
prevented by violence, The opposing
faction has the full right to get up their
parades at will. And they freely exercise
this right, even though sometimes the
objects of their demonstrations may not
be so free from objection or the suspicion
CT illegality as the Orange displays un-
questionably are.
The principle can not safely be ad-
mitted in the United States that one
faction may prevent another from the
innocent and quiet expression of their
sentiments upon any question, whether
it be a matter relating to American
policy or the old issues long ago fought
out between William of Orange and
James Stuart by the Boyne water.