Year: 1872

In an editorial article on the disturb ances in Belfast, the London Times makes the following reflections:

 What is the occasion for all this kury, ruin and bloodshed2 Properly speafing, nothing at all. Belfast is, indeed, city of two camps. Tue Protestants dwell in one quarter and the Roman Catholics in another and their lines are as clearly de- fined as the German and French frontiers When war has broken out between them as in this instance, an edict of expulsion is passed against the Protestants in the Catholic district, or against the Catholics in the Protest ant camp, and the enemies are warned to remove on pain of hazarding their property, if not their lives. The two were living and working side by side, making their profit out of the same trades and enjoying the protection of the same laws. If a Protestant injured Catholic, or Catholic Protestant, justice would be done between the two with undoubted impartIality. There was no Parliamentary or municipal contest in progress there was nothing to fight for, nothing to win or lose. There was not even the excuse of resisting an illegal demonstration. The Legislation thought the other day it would try the experiment of allowing each party to relieve it's suppressed emotion by unre- stricted demonstration. The Protestants, it was thought might shout "God save the Queen" and 'No Surrender" one day, un- til their loyalty was satisfied or exhausted; and t1e Catholics might Haunt disloyal emblems and sing Fenian songs the next day until they, too, had let off their steam. But it proves that neither party is con tented with license for itself unless it can refuse it to the other, and the Protestants arc the moro intoleraDt of the two. They ! had their processions on the famous 18th, and the Apprentice Boys of Derry were capable of recognizing the corresponding right Of the Catholics on the 18th. But at Belfast the hostility of the two factions is too intense to be suppressed by any thing short Of force The Roman Catholics showed themselves in procession, their old foes at once attacked them, aud the battle became general. There is thus nothing whatever to account for this outburst of civil war except the chronic smoldcring hatred of the two factions. Each is always ready to spring at the others throat, and any excuse is welcome.

 The riot was a most serious affair. Re ports say that Belfast appeared to be a perfect wreck. Some idea of the extent to which the riot reached may be inferred from the fact that at the end of the fourth day the available force at the disposal of the authorities amounted to about five thousand five hundred men. One thousand eight hundred soldiers, fourteen hundred and fifty policemen, six hundred of the militia force, together with the Thirty fourth and sixty-second regiments attempt ed to put 8 stop to the violence, which broke out in one quarter as soon as similar violence was suppressed in another. Ac- cording to the letter of correspondent, the city presented the appearance of a wreck. Paving stones were torn from the streets, lamp-posts thrown down, window shutters torn from their hinges, and bro- ken doors and smashed furniture literally barricaded the streets and obstructed the movements of the military. Drunkenness went hand in hand with violence and pill lage. People fled from their homes in fear of meeting threatened death, and sought shelter wherever their sense sug- gested security. The story altogether is painful one, and the dreadful excesses prove to what an extent bitterness of feel ing will in0ame the passions of the igno. rant