The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-03-16 00:00:00

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iGe 3tourlyible (!I)serber.

SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 1872.

THE PEOPLE AND THE PARKS.

At first sight the so-called demonstration in
Hyde Park last Sunday may seem a matter of
merely metropolitan interest, but there are many
questions involved in it which deserve general
consideration. But fleet let us look at this de-
monstration in itself. We have read in vain
two or three reports of the affair without being
able to discover from the frothy denunciations
of the speakers what it is they complain of, and
could we not ascertain from the Parks Regula-
tion Bill what it is that the Government propose
to do, we might innocently conclude from the
proceedings at this demonstration that another
Star Chamber was about to he established, or
trial by jury abolished, or the freedom of the
press and the right of public meeting annihila-
ted. But what this bill proposes is simply this,
among other minor things, that public meetings
in the parks shall in future only be held under
regulations sanctioned by the First Commis-
sioner of Works and by the Ranger. There is,
let us hasten to say, no secret that this provi-
sion is aimed at those monster and disgraceful
demonstrations, and this is the best feature of
the bill; but as to the right of public meeting
and the freedom of speech generally, the Inca'
sure has nothing to do with them. A resolution
passed at this demonstration spoke of " the
constitutional, time-honoured, and altogether
indisputable right of the people to the free use
of the national parks for the purpose of public
meeting and free speech." Now this is simply
twisting and distorting facts. The "national
parks" were never intended "for the purpose of
public meeting and free speech,'' but for purpo-
ses of recreation. The strong language of this
resolution was worthy of this perversion of facts.
The Government, in bringing forward this plea-
sure, were accused of being " prompted by the
meanest and vilest motives," and other invec-
tives were indulged in which we refrain from
quoting. One of the speakers revelled in equally
strong language. He threatened that if the
bill became law there should be a demonstration
which would throw any 'previous demonstration
in the park into the shade— including we pre-
sume that notable demonstration when the mob
oiled down the park railings. Members of the
iovernment, who certainly deserve the thanks
ef the Liberal party, whatever Conservatives
may think of them, were denounced as "rene-
gade Radicals, who had betrayed the working
classes by whose means they bad climbed into
power." Other speakers indulged in equally
strong language, and the climax was reached
when the obnoxious bill was publicly burned
But let us look at what these demonstrations
in Hyde Park usually are. The London news-
papers give but a meagre account of them, '
probably with the desire of not giving too much I
importance to them; but we have good reason
to know that they are much worse than is gene-
rally imagined. They generally take place on a
Sunday, and therefore, under the pretence of
maintaining some shadowy political right—
which often, as in the present ease, is not at-
tacked—violence is done to the moral and reli-
gious feelings of various districts in the metro-
polis. In several localities crowds meet to start
out to the park, the neighbouring public-houses
being crammed till the " contingent " sets out
on its journey, and then—with caps of liberty
stuck on poles, with banners flying, and with
bands playing revolutiostary or dance music some
miles of street are disturbed and their orderly
inhabitants scandalised by these processions,
amongst which are the lowest of the low; while
the return from the park is altogether of a worse
character. The speeches at these demonstra-
tions are very scantily reported, but there is a
great deal else that is not reported stall, and for
a very good reason—it is unfit for print. We
can only say that morality and religion are scan-
dalously outraged in many ways and by many
persons whose fitting position would be in dur-
ance vile. Now if the Parke Regulation Bill can
be made a means of putting a stop to this sort
of thing, or of relegating the spouters to the
dingy " halls " and rooms were strong doses of
Republicanism and infidelity are offered for the
delectation of obscure audiences, the nation at
large would certainly profit by the passing of
this measure. The right to comment on the
acts of iLiovertinieuts and the freedom of speech
on political matters would be in no way injured
by such a measure. There are plenty of places
of ordinary meeting where the working classes
could meet to discuss their real and imaginari
grievances, without turning a park into a disor-
derly fair, and without choosing the Sunday for
the boisterous assemblages. As to the effect ol
these demonstrations on the community gene-
rally, or of any Government that may happen to
exi,t, such gatherings never influence the public
in the direction which the demousirators intend ;
and as to these demonstrations representing
nuldie opinion, no one iii his senses can Is aye
,eil a tiling. '1 hLsc Lois), biatent demonstra-
tions are utteriy uu-cailed-for. With a free
press and a free platform, they are not required.
y serve no good purpose, while they aid the
&sips of spouting dentagogues, and tend to
the runner delusion of their dupes.

parks

GOveriartl.

rally,