The Wilmingtonian., 1886-08-21
Eends and SuDerstitIoas.

Ecnds and SuDerstitiOas.
Political fends need not necessarily be
considered as inimical to the healty growth
of nation. But there is great deal of con-
trast between such and those to be seen in
Europe at present viz the religious and ra-
cial ones.
There is not a more disgraoeful picture in
the annals OF the civilized world this mo-
meut than the religious fend of the Orange
men and Roman Catholics of the North of
Ireland, Again, there is the racial feud of
the Hungarians Or Magyars and their Ger
man fellow-citizens of the Austro- Hungarian
Empire, a feud which may, at any moment
disrupt the government The racial feud of
the Greek and the Sclav is also an uudying
element of weakness in the lutte Kingdoms
and principalities of Southeastern Europe.
In the British colony of Hindostan, how
ever, the immemorial religious antipathy of
the Hindoo and Mohammetan is a source of
strength to the English government for by
skillful playing of one race against the
other the English rulers are enabled to main
tain their power.
But, to return to the Belfast troubles and
the IRREGULARITIES of the case, 1t is the
strongest, most difficult to be understood
picture of ALL 1t is the crudest of all quar-
rels. There is no more logic in it than in
the faction fights of the South of Ireland
where it is the ancient fashion for the dwell.
lers of one county Or hundred when meet
ing the natives of another country or riding
at fair or any popular gathering to engage
in battle, pummeling one another with the
knotty seillelagh. This is the custom in the
Southern Irish counties of Tippevary, Cork,
Kerry, and Waterford. Faction fights Of a
feudal nature seem to be an amiable weak
ness of the race. Iu these cases however the
fend is not Of a religious origin, the rioting
is among co-religionists.
In Belfast it is between Roman Catholics
and protestants. The latter have taken
the name of Orangemen from tho English
King William III who was invited by Il e
British to accept the crown of England upon
the abdicatou of James II. King William
was previously Prince of Orange barony Of
the Netherlands. The name of the barohy
had no connection whatever with the colol
Corange) the latter being the word or yer.
bal accident that afforded opportunity for a
color badge in contrast to the Irish green
Since the date Of the accession of the Dutch
Prince to the English throne and his routing
of James IL, (who it may be remembered
was the Duke of York and Albany after
whom the empire State and its capital were
named) on the banks of the Boyne river il
the North Of Ireland the Prosteslant faction
of that part OF the island have adopted the
name Of Orangemen, have formed secret
lodges, banding themselves together for the
perpetuation Of the ascendlncy of their par.
ty over their fellow subjects the Roman
Catholics. It isa question Of political as.
cendancy OF one faction over the Other, that
ascendancy being based in the first instance
upon religious difference which has now
been maintained with the bittercst and most
cruel animosity for exactly two centuries.
In Ireland there is of course no danper nj
its precipitating a disruption of the empire
But the governmental Diff ,ulty is this that
although the natural alTiuity of the British
government would be with the Orangcmer
who claim to be loyal to England the latte
are in such an extreme numerical minorit,
to the Roman Catholics that any taking
sides' in the fcuG would be only the mos
.krfa