The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-03-21 00:00:00

THE FENIAN AMNESTY DEMONSTRA-

TION IN HYDE PARK.

For the last three weeks delegates from the various
Irish Temperance and Home Rule Societies in London
have been actively engaged in organizing a demonstra-
tion in favour of the immediate and unconditional
release of the forty persons still undergoing their terms
of imprisonment at qhathatn and Portland for cons.
Okay in the Fenian timvement. The demonstration
was held on Sunday afternoon in Hyde Park, and,
so far as display and numbers are concerned, the com.
inittee.of delegates express themselves quite satisfied
with the result.
. . _ . .

Processions had been organized in the various dis-
tricUs, and Trafalgar.square, at 230, was the appointed
place and hour for the general rendezvous. S son after
th et time the contingents from the districts began to
arrive in rapid socceesion, and as they marched into
the square were marshalled into processional order by
Mr. P. O'Leary, who had been appointed to that
special duty. There was a numerous display of banners
and bannerets, and six brass bands, all connected with
the varidus societies. Precisely at three o'clock the
procession left the square headed by a hand and a
splendid green silk banner, in the centre of which was
a representation of the Irish harp. This was followed
by a number of silk bannerets, many of which
were carried by women, having upon them appro-
peiate mottoes, such as God save Ireland." Ac.
Then, at some distance, Came the red silk banner of
the Grafton dual Home Rule Society, with the words
" Home Rule for Erin our Country." This was fol-
lowed at intervals by the banters of the Mar)lebonc,
South London, and Tower Hamlets Home Rule
So.deties. The greatest display of banners, however,
WAS made by several of the branches of the Labour
Protection League, the members of which are chiefly
Irishmen, consisting of corn and deal porters. and dock,
wharf, ping and general labourers. These men
formed a large portion of tne procession. These were,
as at the last demonstration for the same object, a con-
siderable number of women in the ranks, and each
member of the procession wore a green rosette or green
ribards. On the procession leaving Trafalgar square,
which it did in a very oiderly manner, the six bands
all paying favourite Irish airs, it consisted of between
6,000 and 7,000 persons, the route taken being along
Pall-mall, St. James's-street, and Piccadilly to Hyde
Perk-corner, and on its arrival at the last-mentioned
place the number in the ranks and accompau)ing the
procession on the footway had swollen to about 10,000.
Upon the procession entering the Park, it was found
that fully as many persons were awaiting its arrival,
there being large crowds extesaling from the gate to the
" Reformer's Tree,' to which spot the procession pur-
sued its way. Upon arriving there the banners and
bands were drawn up in line, and the committee and the
appointed chairman and Hoe .kers at once mounted an
extemporized platform placed against the tree, the
materials for which had been previously taken ti the
P.srlr. After a d'-lay of a few minutes, the chair was
taken by Mr. Doherty, a stonemason, at wnich time there
could not have bsen less than from 25,000 to 30,000 per-
sons in the immediate locality, including thesym pathizsrs
with the objects of the meeting, who was nearly all
distinguished by green ribands, rosettes, or neckties,
the women wearing green ribande in their bonnets.
Large crowds of idlers werespectatons, among them being
a considerable sprinkling of members of Parliament.
Mr. John Locke, M.P. for Sduthwark, was recognized
by portion of the Cr iwd, and much cheered.
••• " ' '

-
The Chairman opened the proceedings in a short and
temperate speech, in which he strongly complained
of the fast and loose manner in which Mr. Glad.
stone had dealt with the Amnesty question, and his
t,tal disregard of the large and num.-roue meetings
which had been held in favour of the Fenian prisoners,
not only throughout Ireland, hut also in this c.mutry.
lie hoped better things from the present Government,
aid he trusted that the advent of the Princess of
I:ursio to this cuuntry as the bride of one of the It iyai
Princei wonl,l be regard as a favourable opportunity
for the amnesty of the prisoners, whose sufferings for
the years they had been its prison had fully expiated
any offelLn they hod committed.
There were only two resolutions submitted to
the meeting, the first of which declared that
the prisoners now detained in g+ol were equally
polivead prisoners with those whom Mr. Glad.
stone had released mune years Ante, and the second
calied upon Mr. Disraeli to 1190 Lis iLfluence with Her
Majesty to induce her to grant an amnesty to the forty
persons still langni,hing in soul. These resolutions were
moved, seconded, and advocated by Masers. Hanley,
Clapham, O'Leary, Hogan' Coffey, Scannell, and
others, is speer..hes much more temperate in their matter
and delivery than tboee delivered at similar demonstra-
tions. The two resolutions were carried by acclamie
lion, it being at the Barre time understood that the
committee eliculd arrange for sending a deputation to
Mr. Dierath, if necessary.
The meeting was brought to a close about 5.15 with
a vote of thanks to the chairman, and the large crowd
dispersed in an orderly and peaceable manner.

This year the declared value of hope Imported was
480,403 , lasi year, £123,206.