The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-02-10 00:00:00

speakers'.

The meeting was called for eight o'clock, but before
that time the great " square " was well filled, the plat-
form, as usual, being between the Landseer " Lions "
which face north-east and north-west on the granite
foot of Nelson's Monument, and directly facing the
National Gallery. The granite base of the monument
was early in the possession of a sturdy band of "order
keepers," and they allowed no one to be raised
to the " platform " without credentials, their
object being to keep down the roughs who usually
ply their vocation on such occasions. This was re-
garded as an infringement of right, and would doubt-
less have led to an uproar at the beginning, but for
the arrival of bands, banners, and Mr. George Odger,
and the opening of the lime light. The illumination
came from the gallery immediately in front of the
National Gallery, and shining over the heads of the
countless mob it showed brilliantly on that part of the
monument where one of Nelson's victories is depicted
in metal. This historic picture was in great part
hidden by a banner bearing "Liberty, Equality,
Fraternity," and grouped about it were flags of the
usual kiwi, with the red cape of liberty surmounting
them. Most demonstrative among the demonstrators
were Isnne Frenchmen, whose chant at any outburst
was" Vice la Ripublique
'the form f electing a chairman was gone through,
and Mr. George Odger, on taking the position, was
received with loud cheers. Ile said it was not the
wish of those with whom he acted to have held that
demonstration, but their opponents had forced it upon
them. England, as his hearers were aware, had long
been boasted of as being a country governed under a
thoroughly representative system. Now, there were
consilerable numbers of the people of the country who
had long been desirous of making the representative
system as pure and as real as possible (cheers), and in
order to do this associations had sprung up in different
parts of the country, having for their object direct and
unmistakably representative Government. (Cheers.)
Theseassociations had held meeting., and they had the
right to invite persons to come and address them (cheers),
awl the Democrats had as mach right to do this as the
Conservative..., or the Whigs, or the Radicals. He
held it would be a piece of very had conduct on the
part of the Democrats; if they were to prevent the
Conservatives from hearing Lord Derby, Mr.
Disraeli, or Lord Stanley; but then the others did
not have the same sense of justice which ani-
mated the Democrats. (Cheers.) The Democrats
had a right to invite one of the most Peaceful,
one of the most earnest, one of the most
honourable men in the House of COMIXIOIIB to their
meeting, and he, because he analyzed the civil list, was
held to have insulted the Queen, and a great sensation
had been created because he bad shown how the money
of the nation was squandered (" Name ")—he referred
to Sir Charles Dilke. (Cheers.) Scarcely had that
speech at Newcastle been made, before the Whig pro-
prietor of a newspaper, Mr. Edward Baines, of Leeds,
such were his old Whig proclivities, became the first
hound in the Inuit against a man as far his superior as it
was possible fur one man to lie above another. (Cheeps.)
The speaker then described Mr. Edward Baines sea man
who many years ago proposed three groans for the
Queen, and as taking part in publicly insulting
William IV, and the Queen ; and he pointed to him as
a foolish old hunter, whom the people would not
follow. But Sir Charles Dilke was notto be thus put
down, and he went to Leeds. There some five hundred
Tories would have broken up the meeting, but some
five thousand Democrats told them not to attempt it,
and this was a specimen how the right of freedom of
speech was infringed. Then there was the Bolton case.
At this point in the speech an uproar which had
been growing louder came to such a pitch that little
could be heard for a time, and when the storm had
passed Mr. Odger was heard declaring that the
opponents of Democracy declined to meet them there
on that open platform. He said in concluding that
they had met to advocate the abolition of the heredi-
rary system, and this abolition they sought to briv
about by moralpeasuasion, and if they were not allov%
to do this then—(A voice, "We must fight for it")—
then, added the speaker, their opponents would have
to take the responsibility of their own bad conduct.
Mr. Wynn then came forward to propose the &et
resolution. This was as follows:
"flag this meeting, behoving that the untrammelled

exercise of the 'right of free speech discuss any political
oe social subject—la an absolute essential t the co, dition of
liberty in any country, hereby expresses its fixed determi-
nation tense every legitimate means in it. power to prevent
the recurrence of those scenes which, to the disgrace of this
country, have been e ,acted at Bolton, Bea log, Derby, and
nisei% here "
The proposer mode a short speech, but in the uproar
only a few sentennes &odd be hear I, and these referred
to a challenge of the hereditary principle.
Mr. Le Lubec seconded the resolution, and said that
in theory there was a right of free speech existing in
his country, but it was necemary that this right and all
rights of the people should be guarded, or they would
be loot. He went on to say that the Democrats only
wanted "Lair play," a right thew gave others (this WAR
denied in forcible language), and he then said that,
unless England held to her right of free speech, Ow
would fall to the position of Spain, or follow the lot of
"poor France."
The resolution was then put, and declared to be,
carried.
Mr. dhipton then proposed the following
"That this meeting Is of opinion that the conduct of oer-
lain magistrates of Bolton deserves the gravest censure in
not affording due protection Ins Constitutional meeting of
peaceful citizens from the attack of a mob of armed ruffians,
although informed that riot and murder were taking place,
and earnestly requested to send a force necessary to stop It.
and this meeting hereby calls upon the Some Secretary to
remove such magistrates from the Bench which they dis-
grace.' _

The seconder was Mr. Longenead, of whose address
not a word could be heard. This resolution we also
" put " and carried.
• • -• • • • •• • • •

•
Mr. Wade proposed the third resolution, which ran
to the effect that the meeting was of opinion that no
real steps could be taken in the path of political pro-
gress until all hereditary privileges in the State were
totally abolished, and, therefore, that the wannest
thanks of the meeting were "duo and were tendered to
Sir Charlie. Duke for having given voice to the popular
opinion on this subject, and for his manly courage in
overcoming the prejudices of his class by speaking out
plainly upon the abuses of Royalty."
The resolution was received with hisses and cheers,
and the mob was so noisy that the speaker directed his
address to denouncing a portion of his hearers as being
enemies of the working class, that being shown in their
disorderly conduct.
Mr. Weston seconded the motion, and was pro-
ceeding to make a speech on the text that a Govern-
ment of landlords was a Government of thieves, when
finding the noise too great for his voice he ended by
propounding what he termed an enigma
The Rev. Mr. Appleby, announced as a Dissenting
, minister, then came forward, and received a little more
' attention than had been given to some who had pre-
ceded him. He said the people were there that
night, because they valued the representative in-
stitutions of the country, and were determined these
institutions should be a reality and not • sham.
lie also took it that the people were there because
they were sick of our Monarchial institutions (hooting
and cheering) ; and he looked upon this as a great Re-
publican demonstration. The people were not there
to destroy the Monarchy by physical force, but they
were there to say it should no longer be maintained
by physical force. Amid great confusion, the speaker
went on to denounce Monarchical institutions.

The resolution was then put, and declared to be car-
ried.
. . . .

"F
The meeting ended amid the confusion usual on such
occasions.