Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-07-18
The Montreal Riot.

When the contemplated Orangeinens pa
rade at Montreal, on the 18th, was aban
Ioned, out of a prudent regard for the pub
lie peace, all apprehensions of serious results
IN that behalf were allayed. But it seems
that the peace of that unfortunate city was
lot to be so easily secured. A serious riot
occurred, in which Thomas l.. Hackett, aged
twenty-five, commercial agent, was ill.,
SANITY killed, and several others more or
less seriously wounded. The collision be-
gan as a party OF Orangemen were returning
from Knox church, among whom was young
lady who wore an orange ribbon. In passing
Trough Victoria square, where an excited
crowd had been gathered all day, she was
lssailed by another woman, who tore the
ribbon from her breast. She defended her
self vigorously with her parasol, and speedily
both men and women became involved III
the fight; but, although pistols were freely
drawn, not shot was fired. About this
time another party, returning from the
church, came along, among whom was
young man wearing an orange lily. The
mob rushed on him, knocking him down and
brutally kicking him. 1t was in defence
of this young man that Hackett met his
death. Angered by the treatment he was
receiving, llackett drew a revolver and fired
into the crowd. In an instant score of re-
Aolvers We're out, and promiscuous firing be-
gan. Soon a tall, powerful man closed in
with Hackett, and bringing him to the earth,
placed his pistol to his temple and killed
him instantly. Thus appeased the firing
ceased though the crowd fingered, no at
tempt being made by the police to dispense
it or to arrest the mulderers, though they re-
moved the dead body Great indignation is
expressed at the ineficiency of the author
tiles, and the end is not yet.
That the Orangemen of Montreal, or of any
other locality, have perfect right to give
private and public expression to their senti-
ments in their own way, if they feel disposed
to do so, just as much as the St. Patrick
societies or any other similar organization,
whether American or foreign, cannot for
moment be denied aud the government
which fails to protect them in the free exer-
else of that privilege is unworthy OF the
name of government But it should be
remembered that the rival Irish organizations
which celebrate respectively the seventeenth
OF March and the twelfth of July, have their
birth in bitter hatreds and antagonisms
growing out of evils that have been mainly
confined to another hemisphere, and have no
place in this new world. "Ribbonmen
and "Orangemen are born of the quarrels
which have been the curse of Ireland, and
bigotry alone furnishes the food upon which
they are fed. This fact alone is sufficient to
prove the anti-American character of any
and all outward and offensive displays of
these antagonistic sentiments, whether made
by one side or the other 1t is on this ac-
count, and because Orange parades and st.
Patrick parades in America are calculated
inevitably TO revive on this soil, through the
ignorance and bigotry of many of those who
take part in them the deplorable evils that
have caused so much suffering in the mother
country, that all American citizens, and
Canadians as we'll, of whatever nationality,
should frown upon and discountenance Them
The bloodshed in Montreal should convince
every lrish-American, whether Catholic or
Protestant, of the anti-republican, anti-C Chris
tian character OF such antagonsm kept up
under the mask of religion, aud should
insure the American people against any and
all future public demonstrations of this
nature,