The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-21
HENRY WARD Ry.EcHER on TIE RIOT.

TIE Orange PcOccssioM-Net the Battle of
tue BCyne but the Question Of Liberty in
New York.
FROM the Christian Union, Henry Ward Beecher's
organ, July 1871
Mayor Hail. In his letter OF 1890 republished as an
explanation OF the grounds Of his action In 1871,
says:-"lt is the undouDted right or bodies OF men,
smii large, peaceably to assemble and peaceably
to march in procession, In rherance OF enterprises
benevolent religious. or POLITICAL" This Is sound
doctrine. 1t Is the true American doctrine. We are
an assorted people, gathered from almost every ma
1 ton under the sun. The Teutonc and the Celtic
races have contributed the largest share to our
their own religions reEaining their national Gus.
toms, they come to nation which demands OF no
s az ne sa b amy naa he ms ss 40
his rights as not to limit or violate the rights OF
! others.
This great liberty Is not simply privilege, It Is
an education: It requires every man . 70 allow n
thus imposes seli-restraint No man has a riRnt to
be pyovoked at any exercise Of another's rights
which does not restrict his own. The Roman CathO
| lie may preach. publish, make public exhibitions;
may controverJ every Protestant notion or sympathy
aud It Is the business OF every Protestant to mind
his own business, and II he does relish Catholic
exhibitions 70 keep out Of sight OF them.
Heterogeneous community Oh any other basis. Otner
mems lioerty is not to be amenable TO our dogmas,
our tastes OF our susceptibties Each Sect race or
party Is 10 0etermiue Its policy, religious belief
mode OF worship and method OF exhibition, and no
one, whether magisn private citizen, has any
right to Judge for them to make his own feelings
the test Of others rights.
THE TEST OF FREEDOM.
IL Is not possible that 80 large liberty should
be exercised without at times tendng to stir up an
tagonistic feelings AT precisely such times is the
party IN the city Of New York. made up Of the most
unpopular men, and protesting cause abhor-
rent TO every sentiment OF the majority,
ought to be protected even more sedulousiy
IMAM II they were Popular majority Great princl-
temptation that laws vindicate their right to au-
thorlty The sacredness OF rights Is never evinced
when the rlcn and rong are secure but when the
poor and the weak are protected.
MORAL RESTRICTION FOR TIE FREE USE OF LIBERTY
But ought parties or societies TO exercise their
partalities OF their fellow citizens ls there
moral restriction for the free OF our liberties
Certainly. But no debate can be tolerated about
the proper use OF liberties until those liberties
are ascertained, acknowledged and protected.
THE ORANGE LODGES TO INSIST UPON THEIR RIGHTS.
In 1859 we should have dissuaded the Orangemen
from any mode OF celebration Likely to stir up ILL.,
feeling without any noble end in view. But In is7O
the procession, and still more emphatically when
IN 1871, the superintendent OF Police forbade
the procession, 1t became tine duty of Orange
lodges to insist upon their rights. no longer
aquestion OF prudence or OF peace. The laundering
OF the magistrates mad turned 1t into question OF
liberty which concerned every citizen IN America,
and the Orangemen were clothed with great prin-
Now they bound try this question OF the tree
dom OF the streets to all professions TO the bitter
NECESSITY OF EDUCATING THE IGNORANT IN THE
DOCTRINE OF CIVIL LIBERTY.
1t Is on this ground and essential to the educa-
ton OF the ignorant In the doctrine OF civil liberty,
with all It's selrestrants, that we declare our hope
that the Orange societies OF New York Will arrange
for another procession not FOR angers sake spte
but TO bring the public TO full understanding OF
the great principle OF liberty which must be learned
thotOughly II this nation Is to continue.
WHAT THE ORANGE SOCIETIES OUGHT TO DO.
The Orange societies should parade next year
without banner less or one inscription rubbed out.
They should not do 1t on an implied promise that
projected for once they Will then do 1t no more.
They ought TO move through the streets OF New
York until nobody thinks OF moestlng them. when
that time arrives 1t will be matter or no public
portance whether the annual procession ia kept up
or not. But so long as u dog ways his tongue
against an arrangements procession, or q bewndered
magistrate f0rgets his duty toward them the public
good requires their continuance.
THE oRANGEMEN REPRESENT PRINCIPLE.
Ii The Orangemen OF New York fail next year to
march through the streets OF the city they Will be-
tray sacred duty. BY accident they have become
the representatives OF principle winch lies at the
foundation of modern civilization They do not just
now represent spent fact In history but living
principle. II Is not the battle Of the BOyne in Ire
land, but the question OF liberty In New York.
In another article, under the head Of mayor
Halls EXAMPLES Mr.. Beeeher says:-
We are not anxious to convert this bunder OF our
city authorities TO any political end. We do not
regard them as sinners above all that dwell In New
York. We consider them simply as men VINO do
not understand the simplest elements OF cvl lib
erty, aud who partly IRON desire TO cOncllIate
merous votes, and partly from the bewilderment
natural TO those who are not adequate to great
emergencies, have come near TO sacrificing the
public liberties IN the interest OF party politics.