Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-07-19
Letter from New York.

Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette.
. New YORK. July l7.-Attcra series OF visits
to other places. We arc back again in New York.
The all absorbing topic here. IS vi course. the
recent riot Most people applaud tlIr c;''lrS"
of Gov Hoffman. though Mayor HALL aud Sn-
pcrintendent kcl>o have also, their aw'io9l>t>.
1t seems certain that some IL last "f the ml!i-
tary fired without orders. and it Is alleged that
they fired in the wrong direction. and Killed
innocent spectators instead uI rioters: yet Oh
the other hand. though firing without orders Is
a grave breach of military discipline. wc must
remember that their comraucS were lrs shot
down hy their sides and that the strict dl>cip-
line of the camp can scarcely be- expected III Il
citizen soldicrv unused to the laws "f war. II
is thought too. that had not their prompt re-
taliation intimilatcd the mob: many more lives
would, probably, have been lost. rs 10 the
innocent spectators, though there are. doubt
less. such who suffer III every tumuit. yet 1t Is
going rather far to call man Il mere spectator
who leaves his work and goes heavily armed to
see a parade Of his dcadlicst political! foes. On
the whole | think it must be admitted that
there was necessity for putting down; with
the strong arm. an attempt to dictate who
should have professions. and what tunes they
should play. or what badges might be worn:
and even if the law was not strictly followed III
the matter, We should Sympathlzc with
those who were maintaining the equal
rights of all. We, in Virginia, have sometimes
to witness professions in commemoratlon OF
events quite as CALLING to our pride as the bat
ties of Anghrinc or the Boyne are to 4 true
Irishman, and to look upon banners and mot
toes quite as insulting to those whom We honor
as are carried by Orangcmcn:. yet even were
we under no legal restraint, trust that the
influence of our good citizens would Keep IN
check the passions of the ignorant and thought
less among us on such occasions. There seems
to be strong feeling in New ork IN favor OF
prohibiting all paradcs except OH the national
holidays as it is said, with some justice. that
the constant obstruction Of the streets hy pro-
ceSsions has become nuisance Ot course: the
political preachers, and Radical newspapers
have seized upon the riot as material Tor the
manufacture of politico-religious capital. but
the people in general see so plainly the object
of those concerned that | scarcely think they
will succeed in turning feud between two
rival factions of foreigners to account. Is the
basis of crusade against the religion OF 4 large
body of their fellow citizens.
Business is said to be rather brisk for the
season, though, Of course. all the tashonabics
are out of town. or shut up in their back build
ings on pretence Of being so. [ have not, per
hans. had an opportunity of observing very
closely. but it seems to ME that there is less
building going on than in Boston. Indeed |
have been struck with the fact that though
the latter city has much smaller population
than Philade phia, its streets are tar more
crowded, and its business seems almost equal t"
that of New York. The explanation must BIZ
that more ne0plc do business in Boston and
live iu the adjoining towns and villages