Orange Demonstration - 1893

“With daybreak this morning, the shrill notes of the fife and the beat of the drum could be heard in the streets, and when the day was still young, large crowds made their appearance on the street. Orange lilies and orange and blue colored ribbons could be seen everywhere, with occasionally a banner floating aloft and men wearing uniforms or sashes about by the hundreds. It was evident that the Orangemen were determined to celebrate the glorious twelfth in good style.”

          “Glorious Twelfth of July : the Orangemen of Eight Counties Celebrating in Hamilton” Hamilton Times.  July 12, 1893 ¹

The 12^th of July, 1893 began under threatening skies in the city of Hamilton. There was much concern that the weather would seriously interfere with the plans of the local Orange Lodge members, who were expecting over 2,500 Orangemen to soon start arriving on trains, steamboats and various other forms to transport.

Despite occasional morning showers, there was tremendous activity on the streets as member of the local Orange Lodge rushed here and there to meet the visiting Orangemen:

“From an early hour, the streets were filled with men, women and children, each of whom wore some emblem or article of attire in which the loyal colors of orange and blue predominated. Each train brought accessions to the crowd and hundreds of rigs drove in from the surrounding villages and towns bearing their quota of holidaymakers. ¹

As the morning progressed, the rain clouds moved out and a warm sun made its appearance assuring the members of Hamilton’s Orange Lodge that their plans for the day would not be adversely affecting:

“About noon, the contingents from Lincoln, Brant, Haldimand, Oxford and other counties began to arrive and each marched up from the depots with bands playing and colors flying, while hundreds of feminine friends and admirers tramped along on the sidewalks beside them. The Indian band and lodge from Brant county attracted a great deal of attention, and, considering the large number of relatives and friends that accompanied them from Oshweken, the Orange lodge must be a very popular organization among the noble red men.”²

² “Celebrating the Twelfth : A Grand Procession of Niagara District Orangemen”  Hamilton Spectator. July 12, 1893

Around 12:45 p.m., the local and visiting Orangemen began to assemble in the vicinity of Gore Park for their procession through the city streets to Dundurn park:

“The procession moved up James street to Hunter, along Hunter to Walnut, thence to King, westerly on King to Park, along Park to York, thence to Dundurn. It was about one mile in length. Walking fairly compact, the leaders were back at the corner at the corner of King and James streets by the time the last part got away.”¹

At Dundurn Park, the programme organized by the special committee of the Hamilton Orange Lodge included a series of athletic contests, a baseball game, music, speeches and, later in the evening after dark, a fireworks display. Over 5,000 people paid the entrance fee to get in the park, and the day’s events were completed without a hitch.

The baseball match pitted a team from Brantford against a local club from Hamilton known as the Victors:

“It was watched with a good deal of interest by hundreds of lovers of the game, the Brantford contingent in the crowd of spectators being large. The match was umpired by Mr. Randall, of this city, and his decision generally gave satisfaction, although, once or twice, there was a feeling among some of the crowd that he was partial to the home team. There was not much ground for this impression, however/ Two or three close decisions cropped up, and if his critics had been in his place, they might have decided just as he did.”¹

The Brantfords began the game by playing poor baseball, falling behind 6-0 by the end of the 4^th inning. They improved in the latter innings, but the Hamilton Victors held on to their lead, winning the game 6-3.

Throughout the afternoon, many of the people at the park found pleasure on the dancing platform, the music being supplied by Knagg’s orchestra. Every half hour in the vicinity of the dancing area, Prof. Burton entertained the crowd with performances by his trained dogs.

The key event of the afternoon was the programme of speeches by prominent Orangemen, who addressed the crowd from a little knoll under the shade of several large trees just off the main drive throughout the park.

As there was a high wind during the afternoon, the speakers placed themselves so that their voices would be directed downwind so that the large audience could hear as well as possible.

William Griffith, County Master of the various Orange Lodges present, began proceedings by mounting a park bench. After a few words of welcome to the visiting Orangemen and their lady friends, he introduced the first speaker, Hamilton Mayor Peter Blaicher.

Mayor Blaicher, after welcoming the visitors to Hamilton, told the audience that he believed it was time for Protestants to prepare for troubled times:

“He felt that a great danger threatened this country; that the people were on the verge of great religious strife and soon every man would have to declare himself on one side or the other. The Manitoba school question and many other matters indicated the necessity for calm, cool judgment on the part of Protestants.”¹

“As strong and consistent Protestants,” the mayor said, “we must not stir up strife with the eastern province in such a manner as would tend to drive into open rebellion those we consider to a certain extent our enemies, but Protestants must be prepared to uphold their rights with calmness and good judgment. It is going to be a question whether the Dominion shall maintain its integrity, and all should be determined to maintain it intact as loyal and true subjects of her majesty (Applause). As we grow older, we become less  fanatic and more conservative, but always more staunchly loyal to our country and our Queen (Applause). While remaining firm in this attitude, we should still be careful to conserve the rights and privileges of others, remembering that all our fellow citizens are entitled to the same rights and privileges that we demand and enjoy. These should be gladly accorded them, but not more.”

Mr. J. H. McConnell, of Windsor, was the next speaker and his spirited address struck a sympathetic response from the audience. Announcing himself as “an enthusiastic Protestant ready at all times to defend the blood-bought possessions of religious liberty,” Mr. McConnell warned his listeners of the threat of the black and yellow flag of the papacy which, he noted, was the first flag to be hoisted on the World’s Fair buildings in Chicago:

“ ‘We don’t want to stir up strife,’ Mr. McConnell continued, ‘treat the Catholics with love and charity. Orangemen should vote for Protestants. There is no greater evidence of inconsistency than that of an Orangeman hollering himself hoarse for Protestantism on July 12^th and turning out on July 13^th to vote for a Catholic. (Laughter). Then I think that the men who get drunk on this great day and go home cursing their Catholic neighbors and the priesthood after they have subscribed to our grand constitution are perjured villains.

“ ‘Don’t make yourselves common. Get enough intelligence in your heads to keep your mouths shut from the Papist public. We are dealing with an enemy the most cunning, deceptive and smooth in the world. The day of party politics in this country is past. Catholic churches should pay taxes. As things are now, Prtestants dance, Catholics fiddle, and the Pope furnishes the music. (Applause.)’ ”¹

After a series of speakers on the topic of the Orange order, the portion of the day’s programme devoted to oratory was concluded, and the audience dispersed throughout the park.

Around the supper hour, a light shower fell, causing many of the local citizens not to venture out of their homes to go to Dundurn Park for the evening’s festivities. Also, a number of the Orangemen from out of town caught early trains to return to their home, leaving less than 1,500 people in the park to hear a concert by the Sons of England band.

It was nearly 10 o’clock before the fireworks began:

“The display included a number of very beautiful and ingenious devices, such as a jeweled crown, clusters of diamonds, silver fire-wheels, golden showers and showers of snowflake shell, weeping willows and very fine God Save the Queen and Good Night set-pieces. There were, in addition, the usual rockets, maroons, tourbillions, etc. and the burning of colored fires.”³

³ “The Sons of King William : A Grand Demonstration at Dundurn Park” Hamilton Spectator July 13, 1893