Year: 1871

THE PUBLIC AROUsED-voICE OF THE PEOPLE


AND THE PREss-wHAT THE oRANGEMEN


SAY.


A struggle for civil rights has suddenly
grown out Of attempt OF city authorities TO re-
press the Orangemen. - The excitement OF war
times the only parallel to the storm or indignation
aroused in the community by the denial to small
band Of Irish Protestants of the right to make
public . demonstration, 81 with such banners and
music as p. may please them,- in a times OF
profound peace Every instinct tof Americans, hab'
ated to freedom often approaching LICENSE is aroused
in protest against the proposed abdgment OF the rights
of portion of citizens and the attitude of the civil
authorities universally declared to be that of base
render the mob which has for two weeks been in exist
ence, holding secret meetings. equippng itself with
arms listening to nammatory speeches, and defantly
threatening carry out its murderous purposes. The
priesthood has pleaded for peace but confessed that the
spirit of violence breaking the bounds OF Church
influence Good citizens, taught by the exigencies
OF the war; expected TO ample preparations made for
promptly crushing the mob element which has more
than once dsgraced this metropolis. To their amaze
ment however they found, with the dawn of yesterday
that chiefs Of the City Government had hosted the
white flag II seemed like the treacherOus surrender OF
powerful municipality into the hands Of its enemies
The act could be interpreted In but way-Tammany
Hail. ruling the city by fraud longer dared to curb
the rabble OF its followers. The Orangemen though
otherwise debarng themselves from sympathy by need
lessy perpetuatng irritating traditions Of feuda times
were Immediately elevated to the dignity of victims OF
outrage upon civil rights and almost universal voice
of condemnation spoke the sense OF the community.


portion OF the public press is inclined to maintain
the idea that the suppression Of the Orange celebration
is matter OF interest Irshmen only, and Irshmen OF


very low order at that The fact is that the impression
made by this act is felt most profoundly in circles
usually unmoved by those events which con-
vulse the volatile classes OF the COM
munity. For instance, there little show
Of interest in the matter last night at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel, where crowds or sharp traders
assemble at short notice. and in great excitement when
anything occurs to affect stocks and gold and merchan-
disc But the odfashioned quiet folks, both rich and
poor took the deeply to heart and the fur
ther they were away from the excitements OF the city
the more profound was their feeling. Among the


aaces Of the Protestant aristocracy, in the little
bystreets where devOut Methodiss cOngTegate all day
sad hearts were brooding what they naturally
slider blow at religious liberty.


An incident that occurred in Exchangepace, in front
OF the First NaonaBank at 10 m illustrates well the
feeling manifested among business men. tall, fine
looking there harangued the crowd holding his hat
in one hand and in the other a marked copy of daily
newspaper spoke forcibly against the Mayor, and
in thunder tones challenged the Hbernans Of this
any other city to interfere with the parade. 81 stand
here to-day gentlemen" said he, as American eit
Gen. and as such believe in equal rights for one and





ha. right to parade the public thOroughfares then
others have the same prerogatives. The Catholics OF
NewYork have sounded the tocsn Of war; and let it be
on their heads" Anger was expressed by many OF
the wiser Catholics also. at this infringement OF liberty


There are downtown merchants whose patriotism ana
religion are rather matter of tradition AT sucn time
even these pause in astonshmeut join the popular in
dignation and exclaim with enthusiasm Where then'
Sir are our civil POLITICAL and religious liberties = be-
fore they resume their work. Very few OF those who
were most indignant seemed TO care much about the
Orange controversy per and the fact was senelay
depored that the Irish had undertaken to re-
yiye the old feud There a widespread conviction
expressed that there would be very important re-
suits from this weeks work-some even pre-
dicted the revival Of the Know-Nothing party
So hard is it for who do not understand the nrst
principles of liberty to appreciate the feelings OF
those who do that many Hbernians expressed great
surprs that Americans should feel indignant at their
attempt to suppress the orangemen.