The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-18
Regulating street Froccssious-A Wise sug-
gsstlon.

The suggestion is unquestionably wise which
was embodied in the resolution offered by
| Commissioner Barr, and adopted at the meet
ing of the Police Board, yesterday morning.
The resolution was offered as a substitute for
resolutions previously offered by Commission
er Manierre, and provides that the President
appoint special committee Of two, to obtain
legal opinions, and to make report upon the
best method of dealing with street professions
| (other than those of the National Guard, or IN
attendance on funerals), so as to best secure
the public peace and the right of the general
public to an uninterrupted use of the leading
thoroughfares, and that the resolutions offered
by Commissioner Manierre DO referred to such
committee.
The suggestion ia wise, because, in the first
place, it implicitly recognizes the actual dis
tinction between the privilege, which the mr-
nicipal authorities may legally grant or with
hold, of moving in a procession through the
thoroughfares of the cisy, and the sacred right
of meeting guaranteed to American citizens
by the constitution. II was this sacred right
which our citizen soldiery and our brave and
well disciplined police perilled their lives to
defend last Wednesday, winning thus tho SYM
pathy and applause of the nation. 1t Is not
embarrassing to recall, in this connection,
the historical fact that the French
Revolution of 1913 was prccipitated by the
| application Of an obsolete law to the suppress
sion of the Reform banquets--a law which had
recently been revived in order to interfere with
the right Of meeting claimed by a few Bap-
lists in the department of TAisne. AT the
instigation of their prosecutors, among whom
the most prominent was the Bishop of scissors,
their persistence in exercising right guarad-
teed to them in common with all Frenchmen
by the charter, was visited by trials, fines and
Imprisonment NJ Odillon Barrot after
wards leader of the Reform banquets, who had
always been distinguished by his zeal for
religious freedom, cordially accepted al invita-
ton to become the leg gal adviser of the Baptists
Ga one occasion, at trial where his engage
ments prevented him from being present as their
advocate, his place was well supplied by
NJ. Henri Luttero.h, who, although no. agree
ing with their UNCONVENTIONAL peculiarities,
was deeply interested in the principle at stake
and in the constancy with which these humble
Christians had suffered to maintain it, The
case was decided against them by the higher
courts to which it was successfully carried.
II was still pending when the Revolution broke
forth, the immediate con sequence of strug-
gle for the same principle involved in their
case, a struggle provoked by the same law
which HAD been levelled against them. Thus
the heroic resistance of few obscure Bap-
lists TO an odious law was among the proxi-
mate causes of Fastening an event which other
causes had already rendered inevitable.
A revolution, both political and religious,
deeper and more widely spread than can be
conceived of by mere politicians, may have
been prevented by the fidelity of Governor
Hoffman to the rooted attachment of Ameri-
cans to one of the most precious of their con-
stitutional rights-.he right of meeting. But
this right, it must be admitted, consecrated
siresh as it was last week, is quite distinct
from the privilege of passing through the
streets in procession.
The suggestion in Commissioner Bars reso-
luton is wise, because, in the second place, it
can hardly fail to lead to the adoption of such
regulations for street professions as shall
| henceforth prevent the serious interruption Of
traffic, and the still more serious peril to life
and property occasoned by professions liable
to provoke hatred among classes and disturb
the public peace. 1t is undeniable that every
such procession must be regarded by all-in-
depcndently of religious creed or political par
tisapship-as q public nuisance. The abate-
ment of so grievous a nuisance cannot inju-
riously affect the right Of meeting, and impair
italy accomplished it is consummaton de-
voutly to be desired by all good citizens.
A PETROLEUM EXPLOSION IN RHEIMS. -
Another dreadful calamity has occurred in
France. This time it was the good old his
toric city of Rheims which suffered and not
il-lated Paris. Two days ago the telegraph
announced the destruction of the powder
mandatory of the st. Maur works Of Vim
cennes, in which a number of unfortunate
work people were either killed or MANNED
Now we hear of the explosion of quantity of
petroleum in the staid city of Rheims Fifty
persons, we are told, were either killed or
wounded by this explosion, and a number Of
buildings in the business portion OF the city
have been burned down. Let us hope as was
the case with the first Information about the
ST. Maur explosion, that the loss of life and
injury to person are exaggerated, and that later
news will lessen the casualties.
THE WHEELING West Va. Register says the
''promptitude with which the New York riot
! waa oue1le1 last Wednesday cops far IN show
that the city is not so wholly corrupt or 80