25 DECEMBER 1869, Page 2

The 18th, at Derry, passed over in peace, the two

parties being intimidated by the display of force made by the authorities. The Orangemen held their procession and burnt Lundy in one place, And the Catholics had -theirs and burnt King William in another. It was believed for some hours that the Government would pro- hibit both, but they very wisely took the opposite course and pro- tected both. The display is objectionable because it is made such a handle for insult, but for once the Orangemen seem to have been more in the right of the two parties. Their display was very old and has never been forbidden, while the Catholics, not content with asking its suppression, threatened the Government that if it did not yield they would employ force. It was abso- lutely necessary to show that Ireland was still ruled by law, and fortunately the precautions taken proved effective.