The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-03-02 00:00:00

DEMONSTRATIONS IN HYDE PARK
ON SUNDAY.

On Sunday "Peace" and " Anti-Russian " demonstra-
tions were made in Hyde Park in the presence of an im-
mense number of persons. The crowd extended from the
Marble Arch to Piccadilly, and at the close of the proceed-
ings some of the men concerned in the demonstration
paraded the thoroughfares between Hyde Park and West-
mihster. Meetings were also held in Downing-street, where
Lord Beaconsfield wag seen and cheered.—The following
account of the meetings is from Monday's Times :

The proceedings in the park commenced at half.
past two o'clock, when the anti-Russian party,
bearing flags and banners, and accompanied by a band,
took up a position a little to the west of the Marble
Arch. A large crowd soon assembled, and loud
cheering was raised as the "Polish Society of the
White Eagle," bearing a Polish flag surmounted
by a silver eagle, and a placard having on it the words,
"We protest against Russian barbarities," was seen
coming across the park. The following handbill had
in the meantime been distributed
"Russian Meeting in Hyde Park --Englishmen ! A
last attempt is to be made by the baffled agents of Russia
on Sunday, February 24 (to-day) to corrupt and undermine
the patriotism of our Countrymen. Do you wish Count
Schouvaloff to telegraph to the Czar that any meeting of
En2lishmen have passed resolutions in favour of the policy
of the
_post dtspotic and cruel Power in Europe—a Power
that aliberatelv crushes all 'national freedom' with the
Iron heel of military force, and shuts out British industry
from all her territories? Any resolution passed at their
meeting will be a direct encouragement to Russia. -Nothing
but a vigorous and determined policy will prevent war,
which the Russian party, if successful, will inevitably
briig about, as they brought about the Crimean War in
1853."

The people gathered at this meeting were of three
distinct classes at least—one class being very respect-
able people, including some well-dressed young men,
in organized bodies; the second the general publie, who
had come to look on for amusement; and the third the
"roughs."
The chairman was Lieutenant Armit, R.N., who,
after calling upon the band for the " National
Anthem," which was listened to with uncovered heads
proceeded to address the meeting. They had met that
day, he said, to protest azainst the mechanical demon-
strations got up in opposition te the Government at an
important crisis, and to point out to "our mistaken
fellow-countrymen" that it did not represent English
opinion. He proceeded to dwell upon the acts of Rus-
sia from the time of Peter the Great, and declared
that the desire of that country was to dismember
Turkey as .he had dismQmbered gweden and Poland.
Russia had strangled British trade wherever she
could and had strangled freedom wherever it had raised
its head. Hence, he contended, it was our duty to see
that Russia did not occupy a position in which she
could do this country incalculable injury.
Mr. Bartlett then moved the following resolution
That this meeting trusts that Her Majesty's Government
will oppose in every pos.inie way a Russian occupation of
Constantinople, and expresses its opinion that it is the duty
of all Englishmen, without distinction of party, to support
Lord Beaconsfield in his patriotic determination 'to uphold
the interests and the honour' of the British Empire."

He termed those who were about to attempt the other
meeting "the baffled agents of Russia," not the paid
sgeni,s, he allowed, for he did not believe his country-
men would be so base as to barter their country. He
spoke of the value of the position of Constantinople,
and reminding his hearers of N apole3n's words—" A
first-class Power possessing Constantinople will be
mistress of the world "—he declared that it was the
duty of this country to prevent a power like Russia
from holding that city. There would be no peace for
England if Russia held Constantinople, and the reso-
lution asked that confidence should be expressed in
Lord Beaconsfield because it was known that he tho-
roughly appreciated British interests in this and other
respects.
The resolution was seconded by Colonel Coope, who
said that having been among the Russians he knew
their feelings, and was convinced that this country
could not trust them.
The resolution was carried amid much cheering.
The second, spoken to by Major Durrant, was—

" That this meeting trusts that immediate steps will be
• -
taken to protect the lives and property of the persecuted
Altissulman inhabitants of Turkey, and to support and en-
courage the Ottoman Parliament, as the best means of
securing that civil and religious liberty of which Russia is
the mo,,t persistent and intolerent enemy." .

_
By the time that this stage in the proceedings had
been reached, it could be seen that the " Peace"
demonstration was being made, and the proceedings at
the north-east end of the park closed nastily by the
resolution being declared carried. The meeting was
then asked to go to the other end of the park, where
resolutions would be moved against those proposed by
the " Peace " party. The proposal was heartily
adopted, the banners were hoisted, the band played,
and the undisciplined column moved across the grass
towards the other meeting.
The Peace party had not met at the historic "Re-
former's Tree," but had taken up new ground at a
short distance from Apsley House. They had neither
banners, flags, nor bands. The "special constables,"
appointed to keep order numbered several hundreds.
In the centre there was a table and couple of chairs,
while provision had been made for difference of opinion
by ha.ving ready placards with " Amendment "
written upon them in large letters. 'Within the
circle were the Hon. Auberon Herbert, Mr. Brad-
laugh, and the Rev. Mr. Staunton, of St. Alban's
Baldwin's-ga.rdens, Holborn, and many well-known
working men leaders. The crowd gathered in great
numbers about the circle which seemed to be secure,
the " specials " being locked arm in arm. Mr. Brad
laugh and Mr. Herbert were cheered and slightly
hissed as they ascended the table platform.
_ _

Mr. Herbert said they were there that day to protest
against any act on the part of the Government which
might lead to war. The object of the meeting was a
very simple one—they desired to declare, on the part
of the large number of the people gathered together in
the park, that England had no reason for departing
from her position of neutrality. The people were
even more peaceably disposed than the Government
(cheers), and the meeting then being held would warn
the Government that if they took auy warlike action
they would find themselves unsupported by a
great part of the English nation. (Cheers and cries
of " No, no.") The meeting had been convened net
only to protest against unjust and unnecessary war, but
also to assert that the English people would maintain
at any price and at any,cost the right of free speech
and of free meeting. (Cheers.) Those rights had been
too much interfered with of late. (Cheers.) In Lonuon
certain persons had become impressed with the idea
that they had only to give a certain quantity of beer
or a certain amount of money to break up the meet-
ings in favour of peace. But that day it would be
seen that the men of London were determined to stand
by their rights, determined that these rights should
not be taken from them—

The speaker here stopped, a -rush being made by a
number of well-dressed young men on the south-east,
at the same time that a huge column, with banners
spread, was advancing from the north-east. It was
easy to see that the " specials" in the ring had had
no military training, for some left the part which
needed the most strength to repel the attack made by
the young men. The chairman and the clergyman
disappeared, and the Peace party then stood ready to
greet the on-coming column. Mr. Bradlaugh had a
special constable's staff in his hand, and parleying
with the head of the column demanded that the flags
should be put down. Each of the men who had com-
posed the circle brought out a constable's staff. The
platform was meanwhile left in the possession of one
person. The Peace party tore down the Tiirki,-h
and Polish banners from the poles, and theieupon the
anti-Russian party made a rush to and broke up the
platform.
The nigUe now became almost general, for all classes
of persons had got mixed up together, and in the
struggles of those who wanted to pass out of harm's
way an extraordinary scene was presented. There
must have been 60,000 or 70,000 people, but only a
very small number was inclined to take active part in
the proceedings. The fight, which was more noisy
than hurtful, &d not occupy much time. One or two
men
.chrabed small trees, whare they took up the
remams of the Turkish flag, and displayed it upon the
leafless branches. It was draped too low, however,
and Wail seized and lost. One of the mats of the day

was a regular fight in a tree between two well-matched
antaeoniste. This light was witnessed by the whole
crowd, some of whom took it upon themselves to dis-
lodge the fellows from the trees by pelting them with
heavy sticks and stones.
While the people were thus amusing themselves some
of those who formed part of the first meeting made up
a procession at Hyde Park-corner, and with the pieces
of flags on sticks marched through Piccadilly,
Arlington-street, and St. James's-street, to Pall-mall.
A halt was here made at the Guards' Club, and as
there were some officers in uniform at the window
lusty cheers were raised for them. Singing "Rule
Britannia," the mob proceeded to the Carlton Club,
where cheers were again given. At the Reform Club the
reverse of a pleasant demonstration was made. Cheers
were raised at the Guards' Memorial in Waterloo-place,
and then the crowd went direct to Downing-street. There,
however, the street was found already filled, and a body of
police under Inspector Eddis, was guarding the door of
the Premier's residence. Lieutenant Arnait and his
friends were admitted, but it was said that Lord
Beaconsfield was out. This proved to be the case, for
his Lordship's carriage was seen unable to enter the
street. The police slowly cleared a way, and Lord
Beaconsfield in company with Lord Barrington
stepped out amid loud cheers. With a word or two
only his Lordship passed on, and Lord Barrington re-
ceived the strange Sunday party. He was told the
effect of the meeting in the park, and copies of the
resolutions placed before the first meeting were,handed
to him. A deputation asked leave to wait upon the
Premier to present the resolutions. Lord Bar-
rington, when he returned, stated that Lord Beaconsfield
received the resolutions with pleasure and would take
an early opportunity of receiving the deputation. A
chair was then placed at the door, and Lord Barring-
ton from it addresscd the immense meeting, saying :
"I beg to inform you that Lard Beaconsfield is much
gratified with the enthusiastic receptiog you have
given him and he will take an early orrurtunity of
receiving Lieutenant Armit and a few of his friends."
The crowd greatly cheered this short speech, aud,
after parading about the doors of other Government
buildings, started off to Trafalgar-square.
' At a meeting of members of the Demonstration
Committee held in the evening at the Occidental-hall,
the Hon. Auberon Herbert in the chair, it was
resolved to advise the Committee to convene a meet-
ing as soon as possible to continue the movement in
' favour of peace, and also in defence of the right of
public meeting against organized and violent opposi-
tion.

The Daily Netts, in noticing the proceedings after the
meetings says:—" Thousands of spectators who had taken
no part in either meeting stood by the rails of the roadway
and on the grassy slopes of the park to witness the turmoil
still going on. Flags and banners had been torn to shreds,
but there still remained the bare poles to which red rags
and the remnants of the torn originals were affixed. Bands
of stalwart, roughly-clad men and lads carried these through
the masses of the people, provoking ever and anon a struggle
that ended generally in an ugly rush by the pole-bearers,
who did not always come off victorious. At length after
various melees, the last of the trophies disappeared. Even a
huge piece of timber, stout and strong as a bed-post, which had
formed a support of the peace platform, and had since been
waved by some modern Samson over the heads of the Phili-
stines, was no more seen. Fighting had practically ceased
A fine fresh and bright Union Jack was carried round about
and through the vast crowd, of course without provoking
any animosity or exciting a dissentient voice. Perched thick
as rooks on two young trees were a score or more men and
boys waving defiantly some well preserved strips of Turkish
flags. Attacks on these arboreal upholders of the Turkish
cause were at first limited to pulling down the lower
branches of the trees, . or. shaking off their occupants.

Those higher up held their precarious tenure for some
time, until their assailants directed upon them a shower
of tufts of sward, pieces of wood, and whatever came to
hand. Receiving these and being unable to return the
compliments thus paid, the men on number one tree
gradually dropped off, leaving only one young man, who,
fairly well protected by the branches, would not budge an
inch' and was left in possession of his post. Occupants of
tree No. 2 had looked on supinely at the attack on their
neighbours, while pluming themselves on their )wn
security. Next moment a perfect volley of sticks, tufts, and
miscellaneous fragments, thrown with great force and well
directed aim, fell upon them thick as hail, and they made a
rapid and undignified descent Loud and general was the
laughter that rang through the throng of spectators at this
most ludicrous termination of the proceedings in the park."