Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-10-20
M}istellameuns &eading.
RIOTING IN BELFAST.

For some months past the Irish city of
Belfast, usually the most bustling and
prosperous of Irish towns, has been in a
condition of disorder, which has resulted,
now and again, in ferocious and bloody
riots. The slightest preteXt seems to have
been the signal for the gathering of mobs,
collisions between the people and with the
police, the sacking and burning of build
ings, and the killing of men, women and
children.
The latest outburst of this spirit of vio-
lence was caused by the arrest of two
drunken men for fighting in the streets.
This incident clearly shows to what an ex-
cited pitch the feeling Of the hostile par
ties in Belfast has attained.
The causes of this state of things are,
unhappily, easily found. They exist in
the bitter animosity with which the two
branches of the Irish race regard each
other. They arise from hostility which
is both religious and political.
Belfast is the capital and centre of that
estant, is descended from English and
English rule in Ireland. 1t is the chief
is the stronghold of those who have been
|
land, and who are utterly opposed to the
establishment of an Irish Parliament.
This Protestant and "loyal" section of
the Irish is represented by the famous
"Orange" society. The Orangemen de-
rive their title from William, Prince of
Orange and King of England, who was
the Protestant champion against the Cath
olc James the Second, two centuries ago.
They form secret society, which has its
lodges throughout northern Ireland. The
objects Of the Orange society are, to main
tain the ascendency of England in Ire
land, to oppose the Catholic majority, and
TO use every effort to prevent the adoption
of Home Rule.
Belfast is the headquarters of the Or
angemen, and this is why the city has long
been so turbulent. For, in numbers, the
Protestants and Catholics in Belfast are
nearly equal. Each party is intensely bit
ter in its feelings towards the other and
on the occasion of the political holidays,
the professions of each are often attacked
by the other.
If the Catholics have procession on St.
Patrick's Day, a mob of Orangemen is
very apt to assai it with stones, and even
pistols; and the same thing is almost GER
tain to occur if the Orangemen parade on
| the nnlEeTSary OF tne Dattle OF tne bOyHe.
There can be no doubt that the bloody
riots which haye occurred in Belfast, at
intervals, during the past five or six
months, have arisen from the intense feel
ing caused by the proposition of Mr.. Glad
stone to grant Home Rule to Ireland.
This scheme aroused the fears of the Or
angemen, and lifted high the hopes of the
Catholics. The result was that their mu-
tual hostility was intensified, and led to a
state Of anarchy and violence which the
authorities of the law have not yet been
able to suppress.
Race, religious and political hatred, is
thus responsible for the terrible condition
of things which exists in Belfast. This
hatred is hereditary and ancient, begin
ming with the period when the English
crown forced English settlers upon Irish
soil.
1t is hard to see how it can he softened
or removed. The Orangemen fear that il
Ireland had her own Parliament, that
Parliament would persecute the Protes-
tants of the North. On the other hand,
the Catholic majority, as it is to-day, is
profoundly disaffected to English rule. 1t
is pity that time has done so little to
soften and wear away race hostility
which is rancorous in its intensity, apd
barbarous in its action.