The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-08-03
of speech and Social Inoendiari.s.

Freedom of Speech and Social IIncendiaries.
Through the energetic efforts of the
Democrats Governors of New York
and New Jersey, the frInness and
good conduct of the Metropolitan Po-
lice, large portion of which are Irish
Catholics, as well of military regi-
ments, in which that element of our
population predominates, the riotous
attack IN New York upon the Irish
Orangemen procession was repulsed,
the assailants severely punished, and
the American principle of freedom of
speech and political action was main
tanned. We are satisfied that it would
be doing the greatest injustice to our
Irish and Catholic fellow-citizens gem
orally to suppose for one. moment that
they had, as q mass, the slightest SYM
pathy with this yindictive demonstra-
ton, the only effect of which, as they
well knew would be to damage them
and to benefit their opponents. But
we expect, indeed we already perceive
indications, that this untoward affair
win be seized hold of by those parti-
sans who exist upon prejudices, and
national religious hatreds as toads are
said to upon foul Yapors, to excite, if
possible, crusade against them, and
to stimulate a; war of sects and nation
alities. We see the men and we know
the parties who are and will be en-
gagged in this disreputable and rascal
ly business. We, therefore, in the
early steps, desire to say, with all en-
phasis, that while we hold those who
made attack upon the procession as
men who are utterly unfit to appreci-,
ate the blessings of civil and religious
liberty, and who ought to be severly
and summarily punished for their out.
rage; that we regard those who would
now seek, for base purposes, to make
party capital by widely scattering the
burning embers of religious and ma
tional hate and intolerance as even
worse men, and far more dangerous
to the peace of society, although they
may not come under the provisions of
the criminal statutes. They are social
incendiaries of the vifest and worst
character. There is no population in
which there is not to be found some
bad men. Because a comparative few
of our adopted feliow-citizens who
are Irish by birth and Catholic by re-
Hligion have been guilty of an outrage
in New York, affords not the slightest
reason for general war, which is incl
ted upon all Of that name and sect. We
observe among the parties who now
profess to be such sticklers for politi-
cal freedom the very men who mobbed
Democratic speakers in the North,
who destroyed their newspapers, Ell
ther by.violence or by the direct edict
OF the Administrative power, not q
decade of years ago, and who, In adj
dition, arrested and imprisoned their
speakers, sustained a military starap
in preventing the assembiage by mill
tary force of q Democratic State Con-
ventiOn to nominate State officers in
Kentucky, and who refused to allow
men even to run independent candi-
dates for the votes of their fellow-cit-
izens. Pretty champions these for
free speech and free PROFESSIONS =!
Why they would have been in favor
Iof throwing into Bastile every man
who would have Joined procession
that was then in the least antagonistic
to their sentiments We remember
this, and shall always remember it to
expose the hypocrites who afterward
pretend to that federation to which
they have not the slightest claim. The
riotous mob in New Y ork were indoc-
trinated with their opinions The
Democracy are the true friends of po-
litical freedom in its purest 9and un-
adulterated state. They stood by the
principle in New York as they stood
by it during the war from 1861 to 1865.
We can pardon almost anything but
the assurance and Q impudence of
Iscamps who wanted to suppress the
Enquires. not ten years ago because
they were opposed to its political sem
timents, and who now howl for free
dow of speech.-Csss. Enquirer. l,iaa9'