The Shasta courier., 1871-07-22
THE NEW YORK RIOT.

The streets of an American city have
again been made the theatre of one of those
disgraceful scenes, which lead Americans
to ask of each othes It the feuds aud ami
mosites engendereh, perhaps centuries ago,
are to- be- transpAnted to American soil.
aod become the cause Of an annual car
nival of bloodshed and strife in which, as
in the present case, not only the parties to
the fray, but unoffending and uninterested
spectators are victims of the spirit Of big
otry and religious intolerance which may
belong to the Old World, but should have
no place in the New The announcement
that the Orargemen of New York city in
tended to celebrate Gas was usual with that
organization,) the anniversary of the Bat
tie OF the Boyne, was at once the signal
for preparation ON, the part of many Of the
catholic Irish Of that city, for AN attack on
the procession which, was announced
would be one of the features of the day
Notwithstanding j, was known that the
INTENDED celebration would be protected, if
necessary, by the whole power of the State
and city, the mob disregarding the coun-
sells Of the more prudent of their faith,
actually commenced the threatened attack
with what result the blood of hundreds
Of their number will testify.
1t Is conceded that men of eyery pa-
tionallty and creed, have the right to cele-
brate such occasions as, in their estimation,
are deemed worthy of being held in special
remembrance. ln this view Of the sub
ject the Orangemen had an uudoubted
right to celebrate the anniversary of Boyne
Water in any peaceful manner which they
might deem appropriate. There are, how
ever times at which. it is wiser and better
to waive the exercise of right than to
persist in the demand. Orangemen and
Rlbbonmen are alike supposed, in assuming
the duties and asking the privileges of
American citizenship, to become citizens
in fact as well as in name, and to leave old
feuds and prejudices in the Old World be-
hind them. That this is not done the
events Of the 18th Of July, have time and
again shown-the battle of the Boype is
fought over again and again, year after
year, and the land of their adoption has to
pay the cost of the war.
The sympathy Of the American people
will, as it should, be given to the Oran ge
men In the exercise of their right. be
Roman Catholics have full liberty for celc-
bratlon Of their festal days, a liberty
which they do not fail 10 exercise They
should be equally free in according the
same right to all others. There is nothing
which Americans will guard with mo,e
jealous vigilance than liberty of conscience
and freedom of religious opinion. Any
attacks upon this liberty will be promptly
met and crushed And, in this connec-
ton We will say that we do not cherish that
high admiration of the course af Governor
Hoffman, which is exhibited by some of
our contemporaries. The conouct of the
New York authorities was disgraceful in
the demonstrating to the spirit of
mob law, while Hofpan remained at AL
bany, In professed ignorance of the prep
aratlons for breach of the peace, when
all those preparations wera known from
ocean to ocean. A timely exercise of the
powers he afterwards used would have
stopped the riot and saved the attendant
boodshed. 1t was not until recalled to a
sense of his duty by the noble proclamation
of Governor Randolph, that he came for
ward, at the eleventh hour as it we're, and
finding on which side public opinion lay,
sought. like the demagogue he is to act
with it.