The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-24
tax for period oftime omitted in the law, an
arbitrary proceeding which will not tend ia
heighten bis popularity.



Beecher On che Riot.
Nobody, we presume, will for a moment
doubt the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher's love
Of liberty and Of fair play. though we have
heard many express doubts regarding his
Christianity. His is certainly a strange
makeup Of character, and the metaphysicisu
or theologian who should undertake to analyzs
Mr. Beecher or to judge him by his words
would set himself about the hardest task he
ever undertook. Mr.. Beecher follows NO
known type or copy, and has ''neither son nor
nephew" who viii inherit his talents and whom
we might study in the years to come Hence
we are left to seek for a solution of the man In
himself; but In this attempt we are beset with
difficulties on every side, since all the regular,
standards Of criticism are set aside by him, :
and a peculiarly ''Beechery" mode Of dealing
with religious and political facts is adopted by
this reverend gentleman. n,,i
For instance, In the last issue Of his own
his pen appeared, which we rspublshed in the
HERALD on Friday, and In which he takes
strange ground regarding the duty Of Orange
men to parade the streets of New York In
years to come. In 1869 he would have dis
couraged such parades, but in 1870 and 1871
he was and is heartily in favor of their
marching, because by an accident they had
become the embodiment of . great principle
dear to every Amerioan-namely, the question
Of the freedom of the streets to all professions.
And to test this principle to the bitter end the
Orangemen, he thinks, should parade next
year without banner less or one inscription
rubbed out, and they should continue this
display from year to year until nobody thinks
of molesting them. They may then quietly
stay at home. How like the Apostle Paul Ia
this apostle of Plymouth church! Said that
sturdy old saint, who never quailed before the
face of any man, 'Tf meat make my brotbss.
to offend I will eat none while the world
standeth, lest make my brother to offend"
Says the Plymouth apostle, 'Tf The Orange
banners and professions make my brother to
offend I will repeat them year after year until
he shall learn not to be offended" Paul
avoid offending a brother. Beecher would
hold on to such right because 1t gives offence.
Our readers can draw their own differences.
But what interest can Americans have in
the squabbles and feuds Of foreigners Aud
why should Old World anniversaries, in which
we have very little more interest than ''ths
man in the MOON" be brought here to BE-
tested and perpetuated among rs to orr Ann6y-
ance2 We have anniversaries and holidays
enough of our own, and we can at any time In
crease the number of both If we please.
Neither William nor James has been OF any
benefit to us-for our forefathers have been -
grossly prosecuted by the followers of one as
of the other--and neither America nor Ameri-
cans are in the least indebted to England or to
Ireland for the civil and religious freedom,
which we now enjoy. The "Pilgrims" and
their descendants in New England were a.
jealous prosecutors Of those who opposed
them as were the Protestants or Catholics Of
| Great Britain or ireland before them. So that
we owe them nothing on any account, and
should be spared the humiliation every year
| of striking down one hundred or one thousand
persons for the assertion Of principle such a.
versy. And Mr.. Bsecher, as a minister Of the
Lord Jesus Christ, and to some extent an adj
mirer of the noble apostle to the Gentiles,
should have advised the prohibition Of
all foreign parades and shows In ous,
midst in the future, instead Of urging them
on, to the injury and disgrace oi
this metropolis and of the country. And In
the name Of the great law-abiding, liberty low
log, but religious constituency which the
HERALD represents throughout the land. we
protest against the Christian pulpit eucourag-
ing riot and bloodshed In any such way. Notin
the interest Of Orangemen or Ribbonmen do
We thus raise our voice or pen, but In the In
terest of that religion which is based on love
and forbearance and which thinketh no evil
and sufYereth long and Is kind, even to the
yielding up Of admitted rights for the general
good. In the interest Of peace and good viii
to men we protest against any such braggado-
clio Gospel as that preached by Mr.. Beecher in
his Christian Union last week.
Immigration and tho Character OF II.
immigration to the port of New York for the
months of April May and June of this year, ID
nearly equal to what 1t was last year. The
total for these three months, exclusive of tho
return Of passengers, and, therefore, positive
increase to our population, was 10l,Ol5. This
was independent, too, of arrivals at other
ports. Considering the war in Europe, and
other causes operating for the time to check