Sir William Harcourt has directed the Magistrates to prohibit the
processions of the Salvation Army in towns. In a letter to the Stamford Magistrates, the Home Secretary admits that the processions are legal, but directs that they be stopped, whenever they are likely to lead to breaches of the peace. As it is noto- rious that publicans and roughs detest the Salvation Army, and attack the enthusiasts at sight and without provocation, this is equivalent to an order for stopping the processions altogether. In other words, Sir William Harcourt refuses the ordinary protection of the law to citizens who manifest enthusiastic religious sentiments in a vulgar, noisy, and excited manner. Considering the principles upon which we are supposed to be governed, that is decidedly weak. Suppose the Home Secre- tary, anticipating breaches of the peace from the conduct of the roughs, had, directed the Magistrates "to collect sufficient force to prevent any assembly from forming," to swear-in special constables, and to protect the legal march of the Salvation Army. These humourings of the Roughs will be carried too far, one day. The same thing occurred in New York two or three years ago, the dispute being between Orangemen and Catholics, and the Mayor thought of prohibitions ; but Americans are not weak, a native regiment turned out,—and the behaviour of everybody was smite charming ! The two sets of Christians could not have been more peaceable, if they had been Hindoos.
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