The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-16
What the Riots Signify.

Justin McCarthy's Dispatch to Herald.
what is the meaning of the riots in Belfast2
What will be the effect of the riots on the polit
cal question:"
Such is the substance of inquiry made of me by
an American friend
sRiots in Cork and Tipperary," he writes,
''the average American would have understood
as the result, perhaps, of disappointment, but in
Belfast where the great majority consider they
have won. it seems strange they should them
selves begin the disturbances"
am glad he asked the question, and should
like to make the answer clear, so far as an an
swer from me is worth anything to American
readers
The fact is, Cork and Tipperary are not dis
appointed but well satisfied, I almost might
say triumphant On the other hand. in Belfast
the Orange party is not satisfied and not tri-
umphant. 1t is very much disappointed and in
furiated. What they think of is not so much
that they have carried so many seats in Belfast,
but that they have lost West Belfast to a lead
ing member of the Irish National party. Who
ever else may underrate the meaning of Sex
tons victory. the Orangemen of Belfast do not
underrate it. They look to the neighboring city
of Derry, so long the stronghold of Orangemen,
and see how the Orange majority has dwndled
of late-only twenty-nine majority last winter,
only a majority of three this summer. The
great chances are that the majority will be con-
verted into a minority as the result Of an cleo
ton petition, and in any case after next registra
tion the city of Derry will have gone over to the
Nationalist party forever.
Represented by distinct and considerable
majority of Nationalists as they are, the
Orangeman's ascendency is doomed to death.
Therefore the lower classes-rougbs and corner
boys-are furious and break into savagery
when they come within sight of a group of
Catholic Nationalists.
What effect will the Belfast riots have on the
political question: They will have, at least, the
effect of showing what kind of minority that
is which the English Tories and secessionists
have been clarifying We say to them, this Is
the work of your loyal and peaceful minority.
These are the men for whose satisfaction you
would deny the demand of whole people
These are the men, these murderous rufians in
the slums Of Belfast, for whose sakes the Irish
people are to be denied national rights, and kept
In perpetual enmity with England.
The House of Commons meets for business
next Thursday, and no doubt we shall have this
subject of the Belfast riots made the occasion
for a long debate. Sexton, as member for West
Belfast, will, presume, put the anti Orange
case. No man could do 1t better It is not yet
settled what course the Radicals and home
rulers will take with regard TO the address gen.
orally and the policy of the government In
fact, we DO not yet know whether the govern
ment will announce its intentions to repair
any Irish policy, or will boldly say they
have no policy, or what they will do.
No one takes much account of Lord Sails
bury's declaration against home rule in his
speech the other night Salisbury is in the
habit of saying one thing and doing another.
With all his great gifts and high personal char
acter he has often exhibited himself as a sort of
Captain Boabdil in politics. Captain Boabdil
vows the first time he meets Downright he win
bastinado him, but when Downright turns up
suddenly Boabdil remembers he 10 bound over