The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-10-22 00:00:00

A FORTUNATE IT,P,

The House of Commons (writes a London cure.
spondent) is to be deprived of the services of Mr.
Henniker-Heaton, M.P. for Canterbury. The pro-
moter of the universal penny postage stamp scheme
is to choose between giving up his seat and sacrificing
a considerable fortune. The facts are somewhat as
follows: The member for Canterbury a; the beginning
of the present year inherited on the death of a rela-
tive a very substantial fortune. If lam not mis-
taken, the revennos are equal to £lO,OOO a year. Mr.
Heaton, as every one knows, spent the greater part of
his life in Australia. The legacy in question was left
by a dweller in Sydney, and one of the conditions
was that the legatee should continue to reside ill
Australia.

THE "'UNEMPLOYED" OF LONDON,
VIOLENT HARANGUES.—A VISIT TO TILE
MANSION HOUSE.
The raw and unpleasant weather appears to have
had no effect in deterring the " unemployed " of
L3ndon from demonstrating, for from a comparatively
early hour the other day groups of people, some of
them undoubtedly in distress and unable to obtain
employment, gathered in Trafalgar-square and took
up their position under the north wall. There was a
conspicuous increase in the numbers compared with
those of the previous day, when a visit wa3 paid to
Bow-street Police-court, and it was obvious that
among the assembly were many loafers and ne'er-do-
wells, who probably always have been and always will
be unemployed.
Presently the speakers came forward and began the
usual flow of violent language. One ,of these an-
nounced that they intended that day to march to the
City and call upon the Lord Mayor, whose name he
coupled with an approbrious epithet. Another speaker
read aloud from the Standard newspaper some com-
ments on previous clay's proceedings. He denounced the
journal in unmeasured terms, and such an effect did
his words have on the crowd that there was a cry,
"Let's go and smash their windows." The speaker dis-
claimed an intention of doing so rash an action and re-
plied, " No, nothing of that sort." The remark, however,
was not lost upon the police, who, noting the temper of
the crowd, despatched messengers to prepare the
authorities for a possible emergency. It was not
long before a procession was formed and a line of men
bearing black and red flags marched along the St,ald
towards the City. Persons watching the procession
had little difficulty in seeing that the large majority
of those forming it were roughs of the roughest kind,
such as always collect when there is a prospect of dis-
turbance or excitement in the streets. Shopkeepers
congratulated themselves that the police organisation
was so good, and, indeed, the arrangements of the au-
thorities to prevent mischief loft nothing to be desired.
The crowd was completely surrounded by constables.
At Temple-bar the force was augmented by 40 of the
City Police.

The Mansion House was reached, but at the
expense of great delay in the traffic. At every street
debouohing upon the route taken by the procession
an awkward block occurred, and after the procession
had passed it was with difficulty that the congestion
was relieved. At the Mansion House a body of
50 men of the City Police were paraded, under the
charge of Chief Inspector lilcox, to assist in the
work of keeping order. The crowd formed up at
the west side of the Mansion House. A deputation of
five was then selected, who went to the private door
of the building, where they were met by Major Henry
Smith. One of them requested that gentleman to
go upstairs and ask the Lord Mayor to receive them.
Major Smith complied with this request, but the
Lord Mayor refused to see the deputation, saying,
"Tell them I have read of their doings elsewhere, and
I do not think my seeing them can answer any good
purpose." Upon this message being delivered to them
they urged Major Smith to ask his lordship to re-
consider his decision. Major Smith accordingly again
saw the Lord Mayor, who, however, was inflexible.
"Tell them," he said, "I will receive no deputation
that comes to me with black flags and caps of liberty."
At Major Smith's request the spokesman for the de-
putation stated, with a few additions of his own, the
Lord Mayor's decision, observing that "one man only
(the Lord Mayor) will be responsible for anything
that may happen." There was a great deal of hoot-
ing, but Major Smith and Superintendent Foster
would not permit any further haranguing.
The crowd then started off, it was said, for Stepney.
They went along Cornhill and Leadenhall-street, at
the end of which thoroughfare, however, they turned
round by Aldgate Pump into Fenchurch-street, broke
off into Gracechuroh-street, and, going round King
William's statue, paraded King William-street. On
arriving at the Mansion House there was a good deal
of hooting and groaning. The journey was continued
thence along the Poultry, at a very slow pace; and
Cheapside, St. Paul's-churchyard, and Ludgate hill
were again passed through. On the hill there was a
half halt to learn the route; and finally the crowd
turned up St. Bride-street. Opposite the Standard
office there was another half halt, and hooting
and groaning were freely indulged in. Passing
along into St. Andrew - street the uproar in-
creased, and there was a good deal of talk
about claiming the rights of public meeting and public
procession. Here the police had to interfere, and the
crowd were taken in the rear by the Metropolitan
Police, ably assisted by their City coadjutors. A scuffle
took place, which lasted for two or three minutes, but
with very little resistance the two banners were cap-
tured and broken up, the remains beinp taken to the
police-office at the Old Jewry.
At the time the mob were being dispersal and tin
banners broken up, the ringleaders were in the front,
and apparently were not aware of what had happened,
but it is stated that when they became alive to the fact
of the police interference they rapidly decamped.
By moving through and through their ranks and
keeping them constantly in motion the police at length
disperted the mob, who made their way westward in
small parties. But by the time the scattered sections
of the procession neared the Holborn end of New
Oxford-street they numbered probably six or seven
bun ired men, and these prepared to march in one
body to Trafalgar-square. The police, however, with
admirable strategy, quickly broke up the procession
into insignificant groups, the members of which
straggled on to the rendezvous by several routes. By
half-past three most of them had again collected in
Trafalgar-square, where they were at once addressed
by several men.
The speeches were of an inflammatory character,
and were loudly cheered. One man who was
recognised as a regular Socialist orator, declared that
they would not allow the Government to have another
" Mitchelstown massacre" in the streets of London.
The people would sf.and up for their rights, despite
the brutal violence of the Metropolitan and City
Police. Let the workers of this great city henceforth
remember that the police were the deadliest foes of
their class. This sort of thing continued until shortly
before four o'clock, when the leading orator suddenly
left the square, followed by a largo crowd. They had
not proceeded far when the police, following the tac-
tics which had proved so successful earlier in the
afternoon, mingled with the crowd, and by judicious
and even good-tempered hustling broke it up so
effectively that in a few minutes the people had
scattered in all directions, and nothing more was seen
of the procession. Every praise must be accorded to
. the City and Metropolitan Police, who acted through-
out the day with admirable tact and discretion.