The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-04-22 00:00:00

!'c Lontbtir Q'tibtl.

SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 1871.

REPUBLICAN DEMONSTRATIONS.

Wh!le the rind of every thoughtful reader of
the tied *ea from France is pained by the nar-
rstive of the atrocities perpetrated in and around
Paris in the mime of the Commune, the reports
of the proceedings in London on Sunday last,
which ii ouhd limier other eircurnstaxices merely
excite the ewile of pity auu contempt, produce
a saddening effect. We read of pillage and
bloodshed at the hands of the Comnitinist in-
surgents, of the murder of nnoffending Generals,
and the massacre of innocent citizens, and we
may exclaim, with Nladaine Roland, "0 Liberty,
what crimes have been committed in thy name !"
And with hearts saddened at the French news,
we are called on to read of a so-called grand de-
monstration of English sympathy with the Com-
munists of Paris. As a demonstration of
alleged English feeling, this Hyde Park gather-
ing was really a mockery and a shani, bat we
think it ought not to be allowed to pass without
comment

That our remarks may at least have a fair
foundation, we will be guided by the report in
the mrly Neils, a journal which is not only
noted for its general spirit of fairness, but which
is well known for its liberal views and for its
sympathies in the main with even radical poli-
ties. Taking this journal as our guide, we find
that this Republican dentoneration was con-
vened by the "International Democratic Ass°.
elation.' Now of this association we know no-
thing but what we can gather front an occasional
bombastic account of the meeting of some
council or committee representing it, and front
the two well known names of pereons connected
with any extreme political movement that may
happen to be the fancy of the passing hour.
The assembling of the "me,. of Loudon,- the
democrats of this and that district, and the
" 10 ile a. were anyti,ing

cession. But. In, :,A„, plover, or im-
proper, in the Park, was really contemptible;
and its pervading elements seem to have been
abuse of all constituted authority, the mockery
of religion, and the expression of rabid hatred
of the upper classes. As to the muck Litanies,
they united blasphemy to stupidity, and must
have exerted a pernicious influence on hundreds
of boys and young men who formed a large part
of the money assembly. The polities maintained
by mob orators who set up on their account were
the politics of confiscation and pillage, while the
opinions maintained by the regular speakers, if
such a phrase may be used, were scarcely less
extraysgant. The " chairman of the chief cen-
tre" this has a suspicious twang of Fenianisw
about it) told his hearers that the Communists
were ‘• fighting for the rights of the whole hu-
man race, and the liberation of labour from the
trammels of capital." Such wild statements are
not worth commenting on, but we need only ask
the reader to study the acts of the Communists
in contradistinction to the pitiful mockery of
their words; while as to the " trammels of capi-
tal," the veriest tyro in political economy knows
that capital and labour are inter-dependent, and
that the " trammels " are not all on one side.
According to this " chairman of the chief cen-
tre" also the press of England has done its ut-
most to bring about the state of bloodshed from
which Paris is now suffering—a wild and male-
volent assertion that does not deserve a second
thought. In fact throughout the speeches and
an address which had been printed these fiery
Republicans seem to have mistaken strength of
language for force of argument. The latter is
full of assertions which carry with them their
own condemnation. We have such phrases as
"cowardly and mercenary instruments of Euro-
pean despots; priest-ridden peasantry with
Prussian bayonets at their throats; venal and
corrupt press; the sublime efforts of the Com-
munists, for self-government; and the fraud.
begotten power of tyrants." A passage is worth
quoting, if only for its bombastic falsity: "And
aithough our unscrupulous and moribund govern.
met may seek, and no doubt are seeking, in
collusion with the rebels at Versailles, to precip-
itate, foreign intervention in order to annihilate
your rights, we, the people of Loudon, believing
you to be fighting for toe liberty of the world
and the regeneration of mankind, hereby express
our profound admiration tor the grandeur of
your enterprise, and tender you the holiest um
co Eupromiquif uaud of trkuusilip and iellowship."
The impudence widen will send this address to
the Paris insurgents as the expression of the
opinion of "the men of London may be won-
dered at perhaps, but it must also be despised;
and it is to be regretted that many people in
France will thus be misled as to the true source
of this porniciouo and frothy declamation. Hap-
pily we in England are not likely to be thus
deluded. But the question may arise whether
such attempt at deception ought to be allowed.
By all means let Republicans, fraternal demo-
crats, or whatever else the Communists of Lou-
don choose to call themselves, have the right to
express their opinions; but let this be done "in
public meeting assembled" under ordinary con-
ditions. Demonstrations in parks, with ail their
accessories of violence and damage to public
property, and especially on the Sabbath, are very
different matters. We maintain that public de-
cency and order on the Sunday ought not thus
to he outraged; and we think it is quite time
that the Home Secretary exerted his legitimate
authority in preserving the peace and order of
society.