The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-06-10 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

The body of M. Moulin, the French Consul,
murdered at Salonica, reached Marseilles on Friday.
Two brothers, aged 12 and 14, the sons of a coast-
guard otbccr, named Jones, were drowned whilst bathing on
Tuesday afternoon, at Conway.
The salaries of the Clerks of the Crown in Ireland
for the year 18M amounted to £9,826 Is 61., and the eraoln-
ments to £3,741 10.3. 68., making £13,167 123.
_

A Pipe Colouring Bee for a prize of five pounds is
the latest development of this intellectual amusement.
Court Journal.
It is stat.ed that a special train has crossed the con-
tinent of America, from New York to San Francisco, in
eighty-four hours.
Another Nonconformist body, the Dissenting Depu-
ties, have passed a string of resolutions condemning Lord
Sankion's Education Bill.

The West Highland herring fishery is a failure. A
Stornaway corre.,p)ndent says the total catch tin to date Is
1,550 crans, against 18,000 at the same time last year.

The works undertaken for the prolongation of the
Strada Naztonale at Rome have brought to light an edifice of
the second century, partly destroyed for the construction of
the Rita& of Constantine.

A committee for the erection of a monument to
Luther has been formed at Eisleben. The Elapei or of Ger-
many has subscribed 3,000 marks towards the object.
A Chinese giant of extraordinary height has been
discovered. His name is Chin ki Tam, he is nearly 7ft. 41n.
high, and weighs 2071 b ; he is 37 years old, and a native of
Shabtung Province. He is taller by two and a halt inches
than Chang, and is believed to be the tallest Chinamm ever
on exhibition. He is now on his way to the Centennial at
Philadelphia, in charge of an Italian showman.
A great gathering ef the Ncycle albs of the Mid.
land Counties took place at Leamington Ontenonday. Above
200 bicyclists were present. London, Oxiordsbire, North-
amptonshire, Leicestershire, Gloucestershiie, Surrey, and
Yorkshire were represented. After proceeding through the
town the clubs dined together in the Jephson Gardens.
Seventeen native chiefs, headed by the aunt and
sister of the deposed King of Wassail, have petitioned the
Lieutenant-Governor of the Gold Coast to have that monarch
restored to his throne On the 2sth of February last he was
sentenced by the Judicial Assessors' Court to a line of 100
ounces of gold and three 3 ears' imprisonment, or in default
of payment to a further term of two years' imprisonment, for
purchasing slaves contrary to the ordinance abolishing
slavery on the Gold Coast.

The opening by a new company of the famed Glen
Helen pleasure grounds in the bite of Man, on Monday, was
marked by 'a sad occurrence. A young man belonging to
Liverpool playing imprudently on the brit,k of one of the
wat.r-fals, fell into the deep pool at the base of the rocks.
There WAS a delay of half an ;hour before a rope could be
obtained, and the young man was drowned under the gaze of
a crowd of holid.,y makers.

Speakirg on Monday at the anniversary dinner of
the Foresters at Lewes, Mr. Cohen, Q C., the Liberal candidate
at the last election, referred to the Eastern QuPstion, and said
he rejoiced to know that when the destinies of England were
assailed, no matter to what party they belonged, each one
would heartily sink his political differences to strengthen the
hands of the Government. lie warned Russia to beware, lest
the powerful weapons of justice and right should be brought
to bear on her aggrandising policy.
After a long discussion the Wesleyan Conference have
adopted by an overwhelming majority a resolution declaring
that the time has come when a comprehensive plan should be
devised for some direct and adequate representatioa of the
laity in the transaction of the business of the conference, in
consistency with the recognised principles of the Wesleyan
economy and the provisions of the Poll Deed,
We publish (the Leeds Mercury says) some statistics
relating to the United Kingdom Temperance and General
Provident. Institution which deserve atteiation The institu-
tion is divided into .two sections, one for total abstainers
and the other for non-abstainers ; and the figures given
show a remarkable balance of evidence in favour of the
longevity of the members of the former clan'.
In July last a number of French gentlemen formed
themselves into a society, having for its object the importa-
tipn of, fzehli meat from the prairies on the shores of La
Plata. The system advocated by them is preservation by the
agency of a cold atmosphere alone ; the meat is not to be
I frozen, or enveloped in any sort of covering, or EMI eci ed to
any chemical application whatever. A steamer ot 6;.0 tons
burden bas been purchased, specially fitted for the object in
view, and appropriately named the Frigorijique. She is
announced to sail this week on her first voyage, in search of
a home cargo of 300 tons of fresh meat.
An important addition has just been made to the
open spaces of Birmingham by the opening on Friday, in last
week, of a new park some ]3 acres in extent, on an acclivity
on the south side ot the town. The land in question was
bought by the Corporation from the trustees of Ilollier's
Charity for the [Mill of £3,000, and a further suns of £4,500
has since been spent in enclosing and embellishing it. The
upper part has been laid out in grass plots, flower-beds,
shrubberies, and wake ; the lower end being asph,dted to
form a playground for children. Although the smallest of
the fivo parks of Birmingham, Ilighgate-park is the most
central and valuable in point of situation.

In spite of the bad weather on Whit-Monday, the
various places of public resort in and around London were
visited by large numbers of persons. Upwards of 03,000 went
to the Crystal Palace, and it is estimated that there were
about 50,C00 at the Alexandra Palace. The visitors to the
,ological Gardens numbered 42,825, up*.vards of 8,000 more
than on last Whitsun Monday, when the weather was fine.
'lucre were 10,000 at the British Museum, over 24,000 at the
South Kensington Museum, 2,640 at the Tower, and 5,801 at
the Royal Academy. Ihe number of persons who went to
Epping Forest is estimated at 00,000 ; about 2),000 passed
through the State apartments at Hampton Court, 4,000 or
5,000 visited tile State apartments at Windsor, and 14,500
went to the Brighton Aquarium. The theatres and other
places of public amusement are said to have been Very full
111 the evening.

14,500 persons passed the turnstiles at the Brighton
Aquarium on Monday, the number being very much larger
than on the corresponding holiday of lad year.
An Omaha girl introduced a romantic mode of sui •
cide. She stuffed her lovers letter's down her throat until
she was suffocated.

According to a Parliamentary Paper, there were on
Monday last 163 Bills in the House of Commons, of which
60 were Government mealures.

The Boston Courier says exorbitant prices for food
and drink are in vogue at the restaurants within the cen-
tennial grounds.

The Indian papers say thst a large male tiger was
shot near
,CaLlian on the 6th of May by some of the railway
employee.

Three men, named Williams, Harrison, and Brown,
while returning from the Black Hills, were tomahawked and
scalped by Indians near Cuter City, U.S., on the night of
the 16th ult.

The National Dog Show was opened at the Crystal
Palace on Saturday. There were 480 exhibitors from all
parts of the kingdom, the exact member of entries being
1,133. The aliount of prizes cffred was about £l,lOO.
A Times' telegram from America says that the
miners at North Sydney are on strike. They have threatened
violence, and troops have been asked for to prevent any
breach of the peace.
The divers have recovered from the wreck of the
Strathclyde, a cash-box containing valuables with upwards
of 4L,000.

Moody and Sankey did well in New York. They
cleared 103,000 dolt, besides getting a handsome sum from
the sale of their hymn books.

There was a very large attendance at Hurlingham
last Saturday to witness a match, consisting of live games of
La Cross, between a party of Canadians and a dozen Iroquois
Indians. The advantage was on the side of the Dominion
team.

A Bill in the Commons bearing the names of Mr. -II
Russell Gurney and Mr. John Bright has just been printed
to remove restrictions on the granting of qualifications for - -
registrations under the Medical Acts on the ground of sex.
Mr. Ma7,d3nald, M.P., addressing a large meeting
of miners at Dunfermline on Monday, said, in reference to
his Employers' Liability Bill, that he did not expect that the
measure would be passed just yet. All he wanted was to
affirm its principle.
On Friday in last week, Messrs. Weeks and Co.
despatched from Plymouth Sound the ship Samuel Plimsoll,
1,444 tons register, Captain Borden, for Sydney, with emi-
grauts-60 married couples, 126 single man, 60 single women,
96 boys under 12 years of age, 43 girLs, and 17 infants, making
412 souls, equal to 350 i statute adults.
At Dundee, on Monday afternoon, a lifeboat, sub-
scribed for by the proprietors and readers of the English
Mechanic, was launched. ReArAdmiral Robertson, Mr.
Yeamau' M.P., and other leadinz citizens took part in the
ceremonial, and Mrs. Dalgleish christened the boat "The
English Mechanic."
"Donald," said a Scotch dame, looking up from the
Catechism, to her son, "what's a slander ? " "A slander,
gods mither ?" quoth young Donald, twisting the corner of
his plaid; " a-weel, I hardly ken, unless it be mayhap an
ower true tale which one gods woman tells of anither."

Lady Aberdare opened a bazaar at Exeter Hall 011
Saturday in aid of the London Temperance Hospital, an in-
stitution which du:ing the last two or three years has occu-
pied temporary buildings,

Lord Hylton, who, as Sir William Jolliffe, was for
some years the chief whip of the Conservative party, diect on
Friday morning, in his 76th year. He is suc•-•)eded by his
eldest son, the Hon. iledworth Hylton Jollitte, who was born
In 1829.

Progress is being made with the preliminary works
in connection with theproposed Channel Tunnel, the exca-
vations being continued day.and night. The poiut at which
a beginning has been made is at Bangatte, near Calais.

- -
Sir Joseph Whitworth, D. c. L., has been presented
with the freedom and livery of the Worshipful Company of
Turners, in recognition of his distinguished ability as an
engineer. A letter was received from the Baroness Burdett
Coutts, expres@ing her great regret at being unable to be
present to do honour to 51r Joseph.

The proprietors of the Graphic have sent the whole
of the sketches taken by their special artists, Mr. Herbert
Johnson and Mr. W. C. Horsley, during the Prince of Wale's
tour in India, to be included among their exhibits at the
American Centennial Exhibition. Before being sent to
America these drawings were inspected by the Princess of
Wales, who expressed her approval of them.

"You in the Edinburgh Post Office ! " said a father
to his son. "You thiek yourself competent for head clerk?
A nice party you'd be in the Post Office. What could you do
in the Post Office, except to stand in the doorway with your
mouth open for folk to wet postage stamps on your tongue Yi

- -
A skating rink has been opened at Simla, and iS
pronounced to be a success. A gentleman from England /3
now at Bangalore making preliminary arrangements for the
establishment of a roller skating rink at that station.

A native named Soobroya Pillay has left the French
Government three lakhs of rupees by his will Many of th
inhabitants of Pondicherry are anxious that the Government
should establish a school of Industrial Arts with the moneyb
At some penny read'ngs recently a Cockney wag
attempting to recite a part of Bailie Nicol Jarvie, but with
indifferent succeis. A brawny Scot in the audience, indignant
at the ruthless murder of his native tongue, bawled out,
Wilaur's yer awksent, mun ? " "Why, you've got it,,
answered the Cockney, to the intense delight of the audience.

A plot of land at Heaton Norris, which has been
laid out as a recreation ground, was opened on Monday for
the use of the pe01.13 of Stockport. The estate is 10 acres
in extent, but it has been acquired for £3,200, Lord Egerton
of Tatton having conveyed it to the Corporation of Stockport
at the low price of 10d. per yard.
The Edinburgh Working Men's Conservative
Assc elation having sent an address to the Queen, congratula-
ting her Majesty on her assumption of the title of Empress,
and the safe return of the Prince of Wales from India, a repli
has been received from the Home Secretary's department,
intimating that "Mr. Secretary Cross has had the honour to
lay the address before the Queen on the subject of the recent
alteration in the Royal title."
The annual meeting of the Order of Druids wag
opened at Oldham on Monday. There were seventy dele-
gates present. The Grand Master, Mr. James Sheldon, re-
tarred to the Friendly Societies Act, which he said was a
great improvement on the old Act, although the provision
as to registration would entail considerable trouble and
expense.

The National Independent Order of Odd Fellows
holds its annual moveable committee at Bradford this year.
The sittings commenced on Monday, Mr, Edward Burns, of
Manchester, the grand master, presiding. The Order
numbers 47,600 members, thirty -three lodges having beeh
opened during the year. Mr. Burns in his opening address;
condemned the Friendly Societies Act of last session.
At a conference of the Irish Sunday Closing partY
in Dublin resolutions were passed, complaining of the Go'
vernment for their refusal to introduce a Bill on this subject
this session in accordance with the express wish of the
House, and censuring the city merabers for opposing Pro'
ftssor Smyth's resolution. A sum of £2,0)0 has been rablel
to carry on the agitation.
The ninth commemoration of the Sunday School
Jubilee, held every five years, was celebrated in Halifax on
Tuesday, when there was a large gathering of Noncon•
formists from the schools in the locality; 3,725 teachero
attended, and 25,60) scholars A selection of vocal and
Instrumental music was given, including Handel's Hallelujah,
Chorus, rho Heavens are telling," and Mozart's "Gloria,'
from the 12th Mass.
The Maidstone Journal says the hop•bine is Teri
backward, compared with this time last year. It has, how'
ever, during Vie past few days made good progress, altholle;
here and there fly has been seen. The blue is uneven
places it is halt way up the poles, at others just commencing
to climb. The few showers we have had lately have been
the means of an extra spurt. At present the weather is lui
that can be desired, not only for the hops, but for growing
things in general.
- -

-
Two lads, named Innes and Abernethy, were bathinsr
in Wick Bay, on Saturday, when the former was aeized with
cramp. Abernethy swam to his rescue, and was seized
round the neck by the drowning lad. In this state they re
-
mainsail till dashed upon a rock A gentleman saved Innel
by tying a handkerchief in stripes and throwin4 it out to
Abernethy was swept off by a receding wave, and
perished in sight of the lad whoie life he had so 3erolcslll
attempted to save.
American civilisation cannot dispense with the
"cat " and the pillory. Ten criminals, white and coloured,
were flogged at the gaol at Newcastle, Del., on the 20th ult.,
the number of lashes received by each ranging from ten to
thirty. Before the whipping of three of them, two whit
and one coloured, were publicly exposed in the pillory for
an hour.
The Times Barrow•in-Furness Correspondent writes,
under date the sth inst. :—" This morning the trade of the
Barrow-in-Furness district is still in a dull and inactive state,
and the future prospects are gloomy and uncertain. Iron hi.,
but in limited demand, consumers are only placing a Wail
number of orders. Steel in better request. Iron ore a trifle
cheaper. Coal easier. Prices :—No. 1 Basaemer, 725. 6d.;
No. 3 forge, 67e. ; iron ore best samples, 14s. ; screened coal,
12s.
. Notwithstanding the unsettled state of the weathet
on Whit Monday Windsor was visited by an immense WW2'
bet of excursionist& The state apartments of the Castle
were thrwrn open from eleven till four o'clock, and sortie
4,000 or h,OOO persons passed through the rooms. For hours
the battlements of the Round Tower or Castle Keep woo,
thronged with spectators, and all the well-known places 01
attraction in the neighbourhood were crowded throughout
the day. In the atteruoon a file in celebration of the
return of the Prince of Wales was held upon the Windsor
race course, Clewer, and attracted many of the visitors.

Despatches from Queensland gold-fields bring sc'
counts of great excltemea regarding Mulligan's gold die
coveries, situated 135 miles S.W. of Cooktown, throng!'
Byerstown, on the Hodgkin/Jon River. The alluvial 11
patchy, and pure, coarte gold has been dbtained Irons it.
The reefs are numerous, and gold is plainly visible in the
quartz. The extent of the field is 30 miles by 10.

The Himalaya, troop•ship, arrived at Spithead from
Br,mhay on Tuesday morning. She left Bombay on the 6th
of May with no fewer than 1,066 souls on board, 646 belong'
ing to the Army and 420 Marines and seamen. Besides the
animals required for consumption during the voyage home,
the Himalaya had an unprecedented collection of pets, con*
slating of monkeys, mongooses, sloths, parrots, cockatoeS,
canaries, parroquetr, rko. She also had on board a handsome
char a-banc for the Prince of Wales, which was too large for
conveyance in the Orontes.
A meeting of the Society for the Protection of
Animals liable to Vivisection has been held at the West-
minster Palace Hotel; Lord Shaftesbury in the chair. Iwo'
lutions in support of the Bill now before Parliament V;
prevent cruel exneriments on animals were carried; an
amongst the speakers were Cardinal Manning, Mr. Coivper
Temple, MP, Dlr. Mundella, M P., the Bishop of Gloucestet
and Bristol, and Mr. Evelyn Ashley, M.P.
A most interesting letter has been received at Kirk-
caldy from Allan Simpson, one of the missionaries who pro-
ceeded to Africa in connection with the settling of the Free
Church Mission on Lake Nyassa. It is dated Feb. 21, and,
after noticing that the mission party had as yet met with no,
opposition, the writer proceeds to describe the dwellings 01
the natives along the banks of the river. They are eon'
thmally harassed on account of the slave trade carried on hi
the Portuguese and Arabs. A mission house has been built
in which the whole party stared. It serves for purposes of
dispensary, storehouse, dining-room, and sleeping c.irupser'
mcut.

In the report of the Select Committee of the Howe
of Commons on Toll Bridges over the Thames, it is recoil-
mended that the remaining bridges on which there is
charge shall be made free, the necefsary legal powers bat g
vested in the Metropolitan Board of Works, with authorig
to borrow for the purp,.,se a sum not exceeding Z1,500,00%10
be secured on their Consolidated Rate.

Lieutenant Conder, in addressing the Scientific Con-
ference at South Kensington, furnished an account of th°
exploring work recently accomplished in Palestine. Within
tire years 4,600 out of 6,000 square miles of country bad beeso
surveyed, and nearly 4,600 heights measured. The position
of three-quarters of the Biblical towns had been set at rest,
and the title site of the cave of Ad ullam, and also of the ford
of Baptism of the Jordan, had been ascertained.
Mr. Frederick Martin, the editor of The Statcsinan'S
Year Book, writes :—" The word Soffit is a corruption of a
Persian participle suchteh, signifying burned up, or destroyed
by fire. In theory, the Softaa are supposed to be devoure"
by a thirst for wisdom and knowledge, to such an extent a 0
ta be dead to all earthly influences. Hence the name. Fr°l32
of old, tha Sof tas have pla)ed an important part in every
insurrection that has broken out in the Turkiah capital, DU*
always in an auti•European and anti-Christian sense.'
Agricultural prospects have, says the Magnet of
Monday (the 6th) undergone a marked improvement during
the week. The weather has been essentially growing
weather." Warm showers, alteraating with-bright sunshin?.
have given an immense impetus to vegetation. and area%
raised the hopes of farmers. Let the weather continue ._
favourable, and affairs will then speedily recover to their_
proper condition. On the heavy clay lands wheat does ine'
look so well as might have been wished, owing to the abr
dance of moisture ; but on light soils the plant mostly lo
healthy. The green crops and the pastures have greati7
benefited by the liberal rains, but hot weather Is 1109 i
reclUlatO to more a good yield of bay,

PERMISSIVE BILL DEMONSTRATION

IN LONDON.

The demonstration in Hyde Park on Monday in
favour of the Permissive Bill was one of the largest
and most orderly assemblages of the many which have
gathered of late years. It had the additional quality
of being nearly as a whole demonstrative, in place of
one-half the gathering, as has often been the case, look-
ing on without sympathy at the other. "The demon-
strators" (remarks The Times) "had the attraction of
coining face to face with celebrities of the day
in Cardinal Arlshbishop Manning, Sir Wilfrid
Lawson, M.P.—the latter the invited guest of
the deponstratore, and receiving from the im-
Mende multitude a most cordial greeting—Mr.
Thomas Burt, M.P. Lord F. G. G. Osborne, Mr.
tiamuel Pope, Q.C., Father Lockhart, the Rev. G. M.
Marphy, Mr. Andrew Dunn, and others, who made
Ina in the whole, a representation of religious, social,
aed political opinions in sympathy only together on
this one subject of temperance. "The drawback of the
day was that it was wet. The rain was not, however,
eufficieat to deter the processions from assembling
early and in great numbers, for the gathering was
variously estimated at from 50,000 to 120,000, and the
Multitude heard ihs usual speeches from many plat-
forms, thus lessening the crush at one centre.
The people came from all parts of London, and com-
prised trades' unionists, labour leagues, workmen's
clubs, benefit, temperance, and religious societies,
among the latter being the Roman Catholic League of
the Cross. The banners were numerous; and some of
them very costly. The Union Jack was prominent in
the English portion of the procession, while the green
banners distinguished the Irish, who in orderly con- 1
duct were not otherwise distinguishable from their
fellow subjects. The processions met on the Thames 1
Embankment, and headed by bands, the various
bodies moved by way of Northumberland-avenue,
Cockspuastreet, Pall-mall, St. James's-street, and
Piccadilly to the Park, the spot therein selected for
the platforms being that which is surrounded by the
"Reformers' Trees."
Mr. Thomas Burt, M.P., who had been elected to
the position of chairman, in opening the proceedings,
said that he was satisfied that the object of their meet-
ing, apart from any speeches, had been already
achieved, because they were all agreed upon what they
had met to promote, and were of opinion that the traffic
in drink was the great curse of the country, and that
the best object at which they could aim was to restrict,
Cripple, and, as far as they possibly could, destroy it
altogether. He had always noticed in the House of
Commons a willingness and a desire to put down the
evil of chink, but those who expressed that sympathy
With the movers in this agitation certainly had a curious
be
of showing it. (Hear, hear.) Whatever might
19° the political apathy prevailing at that moment,
It certainly was a matter for congratulation that the
great mass of the people of this country had at any
rate come to the conclusion that the drink traffic was
an evil, a danger, and a curse to the community, and
that they were determined to use every legitimate
effort to put an end to it. (Cheers.) The object of
their gathering was to assist and encourage Sir
Wilfrid Lawson in his great and noble mission. Ob-
iaction had been taken to it because, as it was said,
6ir Wilfrid had chosen too narrow a suffrage in con-
fining the votes to ratepayers, butthe reason that a wider
atiffrage was not adopted was that it did not exist.
Another objection was that it would rob a poor man of
his beer—(laughter)—but he had found that those who
Were so unwilling to rob the poor man of his beer were
disPneed-to take away from him things that did him
far more good than his beer. (Hear, hear.)
A
,atr. Brighty moved, Mr. Parker seconded, and Mr.
`ll-43ary supported the first resolution, calling upon
Members of Parliament to support Sir Wilfrid Law-
;keg Bill when it came before Parliament. The reso-
lution was then put and carried unanimously, amid
loud cheerine.
Cardinal Manning, who was received with every
token of respect, said this meeting was not called by
Sir Wilfrid Lawson, it was not called by members of
Puha' ment who desired support in voting for the
second reading of the Permissive Bill; but iE was
called by the working men of London, and that great
gathering from first to last was their work, and in ex-
tent it had never been surpassed. He was bound to
ally never had Whit-Monday been so well kept, for
t
orgatus of public opinion would show the country
that the people of London had met in their 100,000
_On their holiday, on purpose to protest against
the curse, the shame, and the danger of drunkenness;
and in making this protest they bad kept Whit-
latonday as Whit-Monday had never been kept before.
(Cheers.) •He rejoiced at this work of the working
peen of London, and he rejoiced, too, because, though
he saw a large number of old faces, he saw a greater
number of young ones. The old faces were going to
their account, and he hoped it would be a good one;
hut the young men were the fathers of families who
Would form the next generation, and if these young
Men were enlisted in the came of sobriety, he was
confident that their homes would be the homes of
temperance when the old faces had departed; for where
one man abstained he made three men temperate by his
example. (Cheers.) Referring to the statement made
by previous speakers as to prohibited districts, his
Eminence said that it was within the power of pro-
prietors to prohibit drinking places on their estates,
and what the rich man had by right of property the
poor man faked to have by right of law. A public-
house in a street brought to a working man's home
the example and influence which came from drink to
taint his home, and the working man should have
the power of saying if he wished to have this influence.
(Cheers.) It was not a question which a capital of
£50,030,000 should determine—not a question to be
decided by the people in theetrade ; but it was
to be determined by the people 'who had to pay
the penalties whether they would or would not have
it. As to the number of publichouses spoken of in a
Place, he had heard of a poor man who had to struggle
•
against the temptation to drink, saying, after one sf
his falls "I went by ten on my way home but the
.eleventli was too much for me." (A laugh!) If the
working man had the power of voting on this question,
he could say how many he would have dogging his
Steps on his way home, and the public would soon see
now many the wcrking man wanted. If, too, votes
were given to wives who had suffered from drunken
husbands, and to children who had suffered from
drunken parents, there would be such a manifestation
°et Public opinion as Parliament had never known.
•Ite urged them to go on in their determination to deal
With this question upon the great English principle—
that of the popular vote, and he said that upon their
steadfastly pressing depended the peace and happiness
of the domestic life of this country, which was being
wreeked by this evil, and, he added, he trusted that
they would not cease their efforts until this plague at
their threshhold had been stayed.
Mr. S. Pope, Q.C., then read a petition to Parliament
'Which he moved the Chairman should present as from
the meeting. This was as follows
"That your petitioners are of opinion that the liquor
traffic in this country is its greatest social curse, and that
no attempt at regulation will secure the people against the
to which it everywhere and inevitably gives rise.
,hat in your petitioners' opinion, every locality should
ve a legal power of stopping this traffic, when ready to
'lac; so bY a large majority of votes. That the Permissive
ohih-ik'rY Liquor Bill introduced into your honourable
f_l"se by Sir Wilfrid Lawson and other honourable
members would provide such a power in a manner most just
and reasonable, and in perfect ulcordance with the great
constitutional principle of local self-government. Your
petitioners, therefore, pray your honourable House to read
re Permissive Bill a E econd time on Wednesday, the 14th of
and to pass it through its subsequent stages, in order
at a grievous public wrong may no longer exist without an
available and efficient public remedy."
This was carried amid cheers.
Mr. A. Dunn then presented an address to Sir
Wilfrid Lawson, in the name of all the societies assem-
bled in the Park, thanking him for his labours in the
Cause of temperance.
Sir Wilfrid. Lawson. M.P. who was received with a
round of cheers, said that he liked that meeting ti great
deal better than the Derby Day. (A. laugh.) He did
not care for being in the midst of a lot of ruffians rob-
bing one another; but he did rejoice at being in the
Presence of a number of honest working men, who were
met to do good to the whole of the classes of society.
(Cheers.) It was said in the House of Commons that
he Was not "practical," and he should merit the de-
acription if he attempted to make himself heard by all
there. If he was not practical, he confessed he was of
a rather sceptical turn of mind (A laugh.) lie did
tot believe all that was told him, especially when it
Was told him with great confidence; and when he heard
of the intention to hold this great demonstration, he
had great doubts if it would be a success; but he had
the greateet pleasure in congratulating them on the
great an
and substantial success which had attended the
efforts of those who organised that great gathering
(Cheers.) He was reading in a daily piper of that day
a notice of that meeting, and one sentence in the article
was —"The instant that the bulk of the working
classes avow their wish to have the Permissive Bill
tried the trial will become inevitable." (Cheers.)
It could easily be seen what that meant—the wind
as
turning and opinions were changing, (Hear.)
tj'aeLhati no voice or power or need to speak there in
thank
of the Bill- but he desired most earnestly
to
hat them and Mr. Burt for coming there
to "T. It was true that Mr. Burt would scorn
e ticketed as a working man's member, but
Luce Mr. Roebuck—(" Oh I")—Mr. Roebuck had his
g..°...ad Points in his day (a laugh) and he once said,
.aaratn. member for England." (Cheers.) And so Mr.
Vin the same sense could say, "I am member for
-reu i
gland," and so he said of himself, for they did not
aoto Parliament to legislate for any class, hut to get
Pee best measures passed which would be for the best
Interests of the whole community. (Cheers.) But,
Mr. Burt was undoubtedly return
returned by a constituency as
the majority of whose voters were working men he
as representing the working men, showed that 'they
Were in favour of the Permissive Bill. (Hear.) . Now,
one word as to this Bill. It had been heard how the
rich man could decide that there should be no public.
houses on his estate, and the long and short of the
thing was that the Bill was designed to give the
Poor man the same chance • as the rich man,
ICheers.) The House of Commons laughed at that
:dank They steadily refused to grant the poor man
a,""e Power which the rich man had. The House of
"dotal/lons might laugh at this demonstration. They
wauld ease "How many voters were there?" and
llow many will vote against the publicans?" The
•aleoute of Commons believed in votes, and acted upon
Votes, and acted upon nothing else that he could find
nt. The feeling in favour of the Bill had come to the
ouse from all places, he believed, except the English
rail/Wee, whence nothing very good was got yet. (A,
augh-) Therefore, it was necessary to organise and
et upon the register, and 'then when the next Par-
Onnlent met the publican would fird himself where
e‘ would not like; (Cheers.) Si? Wilfrid said he
inould not throw his voice awrier upon that meeting, for
had to meet the House of Commons, who would
cluire much more persuading than the friends before
el (a laugh) ; bfit he took occasion to assure them
was not hurt by the bnee which was levelled
lo ulna This he took as a sort of barometer, for, when
ese had a new niclaname, lie knew that the publicans
were beginning to feel the effects of bad' weather
Wathot,
(A. laugh.) He could now point to this reat
g to show that a vast number of his fellow
se2,Tl trY rn en knew that he was not working for him-
,ea,r, but knew that he was in a humble fend, it might
(r. Stupid way—to the best of his ability (cheers)—
(Oh what he could for the welfare of the people
cetdi,
eets.) When the next day they read of the pro-
file thev would have the satisfaction of feeling
me 7 had done much to help forward a mesaure

which was intended solely and entirely for the promo-
tion of the order, the happiness, and the national
morality upon which depended the greatness of Eng-
land. (Loud cheers.)
A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, and
the meeting closed in the most orderly manner. The
Procession had not left the Park before the rain, driz-
zling before turned into a heavy dawnpour.

TiMCS has the following leader upon the above
demonstration :

It is a remarkable fact that on such an occasion as Whit-
Monday many thousands of holiday-makers in London should
have testified to the depth and intensity of their convictions
by making a procession through the streets to Hyde Park.
The rain was falling from time to time in thick and drizzling
showers, but the processionists marched steadily in the
midst of the chilly rain to the rendezvous appointed. They
succeeded in making, according to modern notions, an im-
posing demonstration; and though it may be impossible to
go as far as the extreme fanatics desire, yet their demands,
when expressed with the earnestness they exhioited cannot
be left safely out of account in the framing of a national
policy. •
No Government can aft -,rd to ignore the manifest desire of
a large section of the people that the Liquor Traffic should
be restricted within as narrow limits as may be compatible
with individual liberty and social convenience. But the
d'illiulty arises when those limits have to be fixed by la w.
The most ardent partisan of Temperance principles cannot
deny that a Goverrinient which has, in the last resort, to de-
pend upon the support of the majority cannot enforce
abstinence on a community where nine peopleout of ten con-
sume much or little alcohol. All that legislation
can do, even after recognizing the weight of many
arguments against the Liquor Traffic, is to make the
liquor dear to buy and (insult to procure. But
the enthusiasts who organised the demonstration of Monday
demanded much more than this, and, if they were truly in
earnest, as we have every reason to suppose they were, tney
had much more in their own power. Men who walked "in
their thousands" through mist and mud to bear witness to
their faith in the cause of Temperance ought to be them-
selves prepared for the trials which they wish to impose upon
others. We have no reason to believe that the men who
marched on Monday in procession to Hyde Park would not be
capable of a much nobler and more personal effort in the same
good cause; but if they are capable of this, they should lose no
time in making it manifest to the world. It is certain that
many persons who would not be moved by a Democratic cry
for coercive legislation would be seriously moved by an
organised effort among the masses of the people for the sup-
pression of drinking. If every man who walked with the
bands and banners to Hyde Park was determined in his own
mind to beat down the mischief against which he protested
In eolemn form, there would be a protestation of
a much more effectual kind than a march through the
streets, even on a wet day, and a volley of unheard speeches
In the Park. Nor is such a practical demonstration of
earnest feeling inconceivable. In an Irish town, long lamed
for its di inking habits, a voluntary Llquor Law ha!, we under-
stand, been established; and the members of lle league,
bound only to the point of honour, are said to observe the
law with a strictness which is unusual in the csse of Parlia-
mentary enactments. There is no reason why the demon-
strationists of Monday should not bind themselves by a
vorantary pledge of this kind, and, if they did, the march to
Hyde Park would have a really effective meauirg It would
not only import a demand pressed upon the Legislature which
might be, and almost certainly would be, rejected as
unreasonable, but also a personal renunciatory act,
in the case of• every individual party to the demon-
stration, which must carry its moral weight, whether
a change in the law should follow or net. We are not
in love with processions or with tho people who make
processions. The former sue generally futile and absurd;
the latter arc, in a great majority of cases, mischievous and
Idle. But we confess we should be reconciled to a great
many processions and to most processionists if, instead of a
mere march through the West-end streets and a mass of
wordy nonsense in the Park, the organizers of the demon-
stration were to impose a voluntary liquor law, binding only
in honour, but in honour binding rigidly. If an Irisis com-
munity in whom we, are not inclined to look for the pre-
dominance of self-restraint is able to set such an example,
why should not the enthusiastic Temperance men who
get up demonstrations and subscribe for bands and banners
give a practical testimony to the reality of their faith ? We
do not in the least believe that the " abstinence " of the
active politicians who organised Monday's demonstration
was fictitious; but we feel assured that the value of such
processions would be vastly enhanced if the indifferent
world were convinced, or had fair reasons for conviction,
that those who took art in the protestation were prac-
tically obeying the principles they wished to impose by legis-
lation upon others.
- -

It is a-wholesome sign that any large gathering of English-
men should take trouble to protest openly against the
national vice of drunkenness We wish we could think that
any effectual pressure upon the public sentiment of the
country was being produced by such demonstrations. But
we are apprehensive that bands and banners and wild de-
clamation on Hyde Park platforms may bring a good cause
into discredit. If the Temperance Party were to abandon
the unsuitable machinery of political agitation and were to
try the method of teaching by example, we should be more
hopeful of substantial Jesuits. Meantime, the evil:Jenne
afforded by the Hyde Park demonstration of the activity and
vitality of the temperance movement is a fact that ought not
to be forgotten by intelligent politicians. They may assure
themselves that sooner or later—and probably at no distant
day—the question of the Liquor TrAffie will have an
increased influence on the relations and the policy of
English Parties, and that they are not wise in placing
themselves in an attitude of indifference towards ideas so
fraught with possibilities of political potency. Certainly
we have no desire to exaggerate the significance of
the procession, which, as it passed on Monday by the centres
of political activity, haidly moved a languid sentiment of
curiosity among a few careless observers ; but we are con-
vinced that it is unsafe to ignore the passionate feelings and
the energetic convictions which Ile behind and, perhaps,
animate these parades. LA us appraise at their real value
the forces both of fanaticism and of indifference ; but let us
not underrate the political power of ttie former because its
expression tskas a form which is absurd.