WALKKNG FOR GOD AND RAISLNG HELL The Jubilee Riots, The Orange Order and The Presemation of Protestantism in Toronto, 1875 TIMOTHY EDGAR STRAUCH A thesis submitted to the Department of History in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Queen's University Kingston, Ontario, Canada April, 1999 Copyright O Timothy Edgar Strauch, 1999 National Library Bibliothèque nationale 1+U du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. rue Wellington Ottawa ON KfAON4 OttawaON K1AON4 Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microfom, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/fïh, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantid extracts fkom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author' s ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. Abstract Throughout the nineteenth centwy, the City of Toronto was plagued by a series of religious riots pitting Irish Catholics and Irish Protestants against one another. As the majority of Toronto's population, the Irish and their traditional points of contention dominated the religious and political landscape of the city. One such matter was the right of religious procession. Over the years, in both Ireland and British North Amenca, the Irish communities had grudgingly accepted parades on March 17 and July 12 as a means of maintaining ties to one's ethnic origins. However, outside of these occasions, any procession was ardently opposed as an affront to one of the respective constituencies. This clash of these ethocultural groups was most evident during the Jubilee Riots of 1875. In a city characterized by its Protestant majority, it is clear that a Catholic procession, as a means of assertkg their religious principles, would be the source of much controversy amongst Toronto's Orange-dominated civic administration. Yet, the events surrounding the final two Jubilee processions are, upon initial consideration, indicative of a more tolerant Orange Association in that Toronto's Orange Mayor, Frances Medcdf, allowed the Catholic pilgrimages as a matter of religious right. In addition, when the Catholics were attacked by angry mobs of Orangemen, Medcalf used an overwhelmingly Orange police force and militia to suppress the nots. Accordingly, to rnany historians, this episode suggests that Orange domination of city institutions - the mayor's office, the police force - had been lessened as a result of the Jubilee Mair. However, a study of the media coverage, court proceedings and case files indicates othenvise. These sources dernonstrate, in fact, that this seeming shift in the balance of Orange-Green forces was merely a calcdated ploy of upper-class Orange leaders who remained dedicated to Catholic suppression. Acknowledgments While preparing this thesis over the past year, 1have benefited immensely fiom the support and encouragement of numerous people who 1encountered dong the way. For al1 of these individuals, recognition in the following acknowledgments is only a small indication of my appreciation for their contributions to my work. First, I would like to th& my family and especially my parents, who taught me to be the best 1could be. Whenever 1needed a sympathetic ear, a Little encouragement or just a ride to the train, they were always available and willing to listen and help. They now know more about the Orange Order, Papal Jubilees and Catholic processions than any of them ever wanted to and 1am indebted to them forever. In the Department of History, 1would like to thank sorne of the perçons who contributed, in ways large and small, to the completion of this thesis. Foremost 1would Like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Bryan Palmer, whose patience, criticism and expert editorial advice guided me throughout each phase of the writing process. His efforts are sincerely appreciated. Also, 1 am grateful for the assistance of Dr. Donald H. Akenson whose wise counsel and quiet criticism challenged me to engage the larger issues of Irish sectarianism and its relation to the Jubilee Riots. His contributions t.ymade this a better thesis. From the Department of Geography, I would like to thank Dr. Peter Goheen whose generosity in sharing both his persona1 insights and research material was instrumentai in the formulation of this thesis. As one of the few scholars who have studied the Jubilee Riots, his advice was invaluable. Finally, 1 must thank my fiïends Rob Rade and Paul Pagliuso for their support and understanding even when 1 became intolerably self-absorbed. Without them, the Toucan would be a lonely place. Most of dl, 1thank Sandy Ramos whose contributions to this thesis were innumerable. Her guidance, selflessness and understanding supported me through the rough spots and helped me maintain focus. I dedicate this thesis to her. Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................... u*. m.. m.. Acknowledgements ..................................................... III Table of Contents ........................................................ iv List of Tables ............................................................. v Map of Downtown Toronto ............................................ vi Introduction: Old Battles Lost and Won .............................................. 1 Chapter One: Setting the Stage ......................................................... 27 Chapter Two: A Breach of the Brotherhood? ......................................... 45 Chapter Three: Trials and Tribulations .................................................. 6 1 Chapter Four: To Keep the Old Flag Flying ..........................................85 Conclusion: Still An Orange City .................................................... 98 Bibliography ............................................................. 108 Vita ........................................................................ 114 List ofTables Table 1: Riots in Toronto, 1840-60 .. .. - ... .. .,. .. -. - - 12 TabIe 2: Ethnic Structure of Toronto, 1871 .. ... .. .. -. .. ... 15 Table 3 : Religious Affiliation in Toronto, 187 1 .. - .. 16 Table 4: Grand Jury Investigations in the Jubilee Riots .. .. .. 58 Table 5: Defendants in the Trial of the Jubilee Rioters .. .. ..... 64 Table 6: Sentences for Convicted Rioters .. .. - .. - ... .. ..,..,. 8 1 Map of Downtown Toronto 1 Adapted hm:Conygham Taylor, Toronto 'Called Back." fiom 1886-1850 (Toronto: W. Briggs, 1886). Introduction Old Battles Lost and Won: The Development of Orangeism to 1875 The ongins of the Orange Order, which became so powerful in the nineteenth- century city of Toronto, lay in the ancient rivalries between Protestants and Catholics in Ireland. Yet, within Irish historiography, there is insufficient evidence to indicate the precise circumstances that gave Bse to the creation and widespread diffusion of Orangeism arnong Ireland's Protestant community.' The origins of the first lrish Orange Lodges, however, are considered an extension of the infamous Battle of the Boyne, the last decisive battIe of the English revolution of 1688 when the Roman Catholic King, James II, was driven fiom England. He returned to Ireland with the support of the French and was enthusiastically received as a symbol of impending fieedom for the Irish Catholic population. However, with the retum of James II, Ireland was contested territory as forces led by England's Protestant monarch, William of Orange, secured victory over the Irish on 12 July 1690.~This victory, which placed Irish Protestants in a privileged position over Roman Catholics, was henceforth celebrated as a holiday by Protestants who paraded each twelfth of July with Orange sashes and pictures of their 'deliverer', King William of orange.) Although the Boyne episode became the rallying point around which the Orange Order wodd be formed, the Order as an institution would not develop for another hundred years. ' Cecil Houston and William Smyth, The Sash Canada Wore: A Historical Geography of the Orange Order in Canada (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1980), p. 8. 'Hereward Senior, Oraneeism: The Canadian Phase (Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited, 1972), p. 2. By the time of the French revolution in 1789, Irish radicals of Protestant background, hown as the United Irishmen, atternpted to secure the suppoa of Irish Catholics in a national struggle for independence fiom Great Bntain. During the same period, Ireland was witness to the rise of a Catholic popuiar movement called 'The Defenders', a mobilization directed against the Protestant hierarchy in the south of Ireland which threatened the position of the Protestant majority in the ort th.' In 1795, the perceived threat of The Defenders and their Catholic aggression gave way to a revival of Orange ideals, which ultimately resulted in the organization of a unifïed Orange Order. By 1796, the Catholic Defenders joined forces with the Protestant-nationalist United Irishmen under the leadership of Theobald