The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-06-17 00:00:00

DEMOCRACY IN LONDON.

A "scene" between the now divided elements of
what are called respectively English " Communism"
and Irish Republicanism" occurred on Sunday, at
elerkenwell-green, and illustrated unmistakeably how
diverse are the opinions of the extreme sections of the
English working classes and those of the Irish popula-
tion resident in London upon the recent political events
in France. A meeting, numbering several hundred
well-dressed men, assembled on the Green about 11.30
am., the ostensible object of it being further to discuss
the propriety of holding a demonstration in Hyde-
park to sympathise with the members of the defunct
Commune, and to protest against the extradition of
Communist refugee.. Most of the London Democratic
and Republican Associations were represented. Mr.
P. W. Johnson, formerly one of the council of the
Reform League, presided.
Mr. J. Johnson, secretary of the Universal Repub-
lican League, spoke at some length in defence of the
acts of the Commune, laying the blame of shooting the
hostages upon BL Thiers, who, If he wished to save
their lives, should not have persisted in bombarding
Paris. li, the speaker said, priests dabbled in politics
in France as they did hi Ireland, they mast put up
with the consequences. (Cries of " No.' ) He deplored
the execution of the hostages, but there were extenu-
ating circumstances for it. (Renewed cries of " No,
no," and "Hear, hear.") In conclusion, he said that
as the Commune had been fighting, not alone for Paris,
but for the cause of French unity—English and Ger.
man labour—it deserved • demonstration at the hands
of the democrats of London. (Cheers and disapproba-
tion.
Mr. Hennessy (an Irishman) Paid that the working
classes, through paying too much attention to foreign
polities., had paid to little attention to what was
going on in their own land. A sum of £15,000 a year
would soon be proposed for another of the Queen's
sons. Should not the working classes raise their voice*
against that ?—(cheers)—and hold a demonstration
on the subject in Hyde-park' Should they not demon-
strate against Mr. Bee Wright's persecution of the

poor Sunday trailers at the—West-end? Should they
not demonstrate against the Westmeath Coercion Bill?
(Loud cheers.) They could exercise no Influence on
the Commune question, except an evil one. ("Oh,
ob.' ) The outspoken words of the Reform League had
induced the C'ommuniata and the Iranians to act as
they had, hoping to get help from the English working
classes. which the latter were unable to give. (CLeerii
and '' No.") Let them ask Mr. P. A. 'Taylor, M.P.,
to take the chair at a meeting of • million people next
Sunday In ll).de-paik to protest against Prince
Arthur's £l5 000 a year.
. . . .

The Chairinan tiAled that the Reform League ever
encouraged the Feniana or others to use physical force.
He went on to nay that the shooting ot psople by the
Versailles Government was a disgrace to the civilisation
of the nineteenth century.
Au Liebman : That is a lie, Johnson, and you knew
it you wreck' all be AG bloodthirsty if you dare.
(Great uproar.) The French shot no one in the name
of religion. (Chairs and Mesta)
The Chairman went on to say, amid much interact).
tion and excitement, that the atrocities of the Versail!es
Government was more important subject f n which
to hold a demonstration than any mieerahle £15,000 a
year. ("No," cheers, and interruption.) Let them
meet in Hyde-park on Sunday week to protest against
the Versailles atrocities.

Another Irishman: They diirnt shoot people in
the name of religion. (Cheers, hisses, and much ex-
citement).
The Chairman: If Irishmen wißh to come they can.
Of ear, hear.)
The Irlehman : Why should Irishmen go?
The Chairman: Because we always took the part of
the Irish. (Uproar.)
The Irishman: Why, the Irish Poulain were gentle-
men compared with the Com muniets. ("Oh, oh," and
Interruption.) Well, the Fenian* committed no rob.
beries— (cheers) -nor would they hold with such
robbers as the Commnnista. ((roans and cheers).
The Chairman When the Government pot tbe
Irish down they put tui down. (Cheers.)
The first Irishman : No Irishman would interfere
wit h.you ; but when you made the statement you did.
about religion I told you you were a liar. (Mooting and
cheers.)
The Chairman: Let our Irish friend came from
behind the pump to the front. (Laughter.)
At Oh; juncture, when the excitement on both sides
was becoming intenaitied, and the detective, were
awaiting the dZnottement, Mr. .1. Johnson proposed that
a demonstration of sympathy with the Conirmtne should
be•reld on Sunday week in Hyde-park. Thin appeared
to be agreed to by the majority, and the meeting proper
became divided into groups.