Gilje argues in his piece The Road to Mobocracy: Popular Disorder in New York City that Pope Day was originally a parade of the Pope with the Devil right behind him whom seemed to be be influencing the Pope, while a young pretender would be waiting faithfully for a command. This scene would be brought up to where they housed the the captured French captain to portray the anti-Catholic message. Gilje then provides a oxymoron statement claiming “The meaning of this ritual is complex: it expressed faith in the standing order and simultaneously questioned it.” Since Pope Day was meant to be a Patriotic day to celebrate New York’s Protestants, Gilje claims that it was also subliminally impose a challenge to the social hierarchy. The patriotic gesture was really just a facade to hide the ever imploring signs of social conflict. Gilje makes a strong argument by showing the parallel between social unrest with the abuse of higher social class members.
Silver vase that was decorated with the symbol of the devil that was meant to be close by to the Pope.
