Worcester daily spy., 1871-07-17
The Pupils Of Tammany.

mediate friends.
The Pupils of Tammany.
No where, hardly even in New York itself,
does the riot of Wednesday seem to have excit
ed so pro found an interest or so lively indigna-
ton as in Cincinnati. The papers tell of crowds
thronging the streets on Wednesday, anxiously
watching the bulletin boards, and discussing the
affair with an absorbed earnestness that hardly
left any thought for the ordinary business of the
day. The current of opinion set strongly, al
most unbrokenly, in one direction; the only di-
rection it could take with thoughtful, liberty
loving Americans. So apparent was the
strength and unanimity of this feeling, that the
few excited individuals who ventured here and
there to express their sympathy with the impu-
dent demands of the riotous organizations were
hustled away as soon as possible by their more
cautious friends, lest some of the gathered in
dignaton of the bystanders might be visited up
on them. No disturbances are reported, however.
lis as aquestion ofreligious intolerance, whether
public demonstrations by Protestants, as such,
shall be violently suppressed by Catholics, as
such, or forbidden by the city authorities out of
consideration for the feelings of the latter or
through fear of their threats, that this matter
seems TO be most interesting to the Cincinnati
ans. Recent acrimonious controversies there
between the Catholics and others on questions
relating to the public schools, have left the pub
lie mind sensitive on these points. A jealousy
of the assumed encroachments and pretentions
of the Catholics is apparent. A halter announces
that he will have, in few days, large supply
of "Orange hats" for which large demand is
expected. The Cincinnati Gazette, saying that
ii has not been the custom of American Protes-
tants to have their organized bands and to par
ade the streets, asks why there should not be
Protestant organizations and parades, and if
these are not made necessary for their own and
the common defense.
The significance of the events in New York is,
it seems to US, somewhat misapprehended by
those who talk in this way The Catholic church
should not be held responsible for the acts Of
these rioters. The Catholic clergy warned their
people against them with earnestness, giving to
the remonstrance all the weight of their spiritual
authority; but the men who were active in the
riots are to be found in brothels, bar rooms and
gambling dens, much more frequently than in
church; they pay more heed to the counsels of
the leaders of their political clubs than to those
of the priest 1t is hardly fair to charge the
disturbance upon Irisnmen, as such,
for O'Donnoyan Rossa and his Fenian compatri
OTIS may reasonably claim to represent the Irish
sentiment, and they Intellectually urged their
countrymen to abandon their purpose of inter-
fering with the 0rangemen. 1t is the msfor-
tune of that church and nationality that most Il
not all the members of the riotous organiza
tons we're both Catholics and Irishmen, but
they became rioters, not because of their re-
ligion or nativity, but because of the couupting
influences which the municipal politics Of New
York have engendered. Ignorance and depravi-
ty learn readily the lessons taught in that
school. short experience teaches them that,
with certain political services for the
Tammany ring they can buy immunity from the
restraints Of the law.
1t does not take long for them 10 reach
the conclusion that, if they are required
TO break some laws at the bidding of their lead
ers and are allowed to break others at their own
pleasure, they may freely exercise their own in-
discretion as to what laws shall be violated and
what rights trampled upon, and may require
their nominal leaders, their actual slaves, to sus-
tain and protect them in their lawlessness If
they were not Catholics and Irishmen they would
not have chosen this occasion for their outbreak;
but the quiet of Irish Catholics in other cities
shows that they might have been both without
attempting to murder Orangemen, if they had
not also been New Workers and followers of Tam,
many.
The alleged purpose Of the Orangemen to par
ade again more than once within the year, has
been deprecated in many quarters for fear of
renewed riots. We think this is mistake. So
long as an Orange parade provokes apprehen-
sion ofa riot, the question is:not settled. Let
them be encouraged to turn out once a week, if
they will, and let them be amply protected at
whatever cost, until their enemies are used TO
their professions and they cease to excite remark.
What is needed is not, by one tremendous effort
to quell single mob, and then declare that the
mob spirit must be conciliated lest it should
soon call for another effort as great; but to make
1t understood that the whole power of the gov
ernment and the people will be used whenever
and as often as it may be necessary 10 make and
keep the streets of the city safe for all its citi
zens lawfully therein, and that these powers can
never be used for better purpose, nor money
or life better spent than in vindicating the au-
thority Of the law and the equal rights of all.