The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-03 00:00:00

TIIE REFORM AGITATION.

BLACKBURN.

The reformers of East Lancashire celebrated New
Yew's Day by an open-air demonstration at Blackburn.
Unlike all other reform demonstrations which have been
held throughout the country since the resignation of the
late government, that which on Tuesday agitated this
prosperous manufacturing town was favoured with wee.
ther which, on the whole, was neither unseasonable nor
unwelcome. The drizzling, comfortless rain of the list
few days had engendered in the minds of many fears lest
the erect of the East Lancashire demonstration should be
impaired by the opposition of the elements in the same
degree as was the case at Birmingham, Manchester, and
the 31etrevolie ; and doubtless but for this untoward
prospect, the gathering of reformers at Blackburn
might have been still more imposing and effec-
tive than it really was. But within twenty-four
hours a change as welcome as it was unexpected
took place in the weather, and New Year's Day dawned
upon a district whose naturally bleak aapect had been by
the sileut agency of the thickly-descending snow flakes
covered over during the night with a virgin robe of white,
which glittered brightly in the morning sun. The reformers
in the numerous villages and towns with which Fart
Lancashire is thickly studded had unanimously prepared
themselves to do all in their power to render the demon-
stration a complete success ; and large deputations from
that district—from Burnley, Colne, radiate, Accrington,
Great Harwood, Damn, and neighbouring towns—
gathered at on early hour in the morning in the spacious
market-square of Blackburn. Many of these rural con.
tingents lied marched into the town on foot, preceded by
their bands, though the roofs were several inches deep in
MOW, and slight showers of snow fell at intervals during
the morning. The traffic of the Lancashire and Yorkshire
Railway was considerably increased by the numbers of
people from all the East Lancashire towns —some even
from Bolton :and its neighbourhood—who, either as intend-
ing participants or merely as spectators of the demonstra-
tion, had taken out their tickets for Blackburn. By If)
o'clock many of the deputations, trades societies, Sunday
school teachers, and other local organisations of re-
formers, had taken up their position in the market square;
and their ranks continued to be reinforced by large bodies
of procewiouists, with effective banners, in which the
Reform League colours were predominant, and bands play-
ing all sort of spirit-stirring tunes, up to 11 o'clock, when
the procession was timed to start. The thoroughfares
leading to the market square were filled with people,
many of whom wore reform badges, and all of whom con-
ducted themselves in a very orderly manner. So mind.
rashly did the various deputations from the country towns
and villages fall in to their allotted places that the
marshals Messrs. Roger Taylor, J. Fairhurst, G. Abbott,
W. Whiteside, and Broolosby—who wore conspicuous
sashes of tine refonn colour—had very little difficulty in
the performance of a usually somewhat arduous duty. The
shops and other places of business along the route were
closed for the day but from the windows overlooking the
streets throogh which the procession passed, many epee-
tators of both sexes surveyed the proceedings. The win-
dows of the handsome building in the market square,
lately erected for the Reform Club, were crowded during
the funning and starting of the procession. Shortly after
eleven o'clock, the bands struck up, and the procession
to move into Church-street, preceded by a large
and handsome tricolour flag, and four carriages conveying
delegates from a distance. Next came the representatives
of the Preston Reform Club, followed by other local clubs,
distinguished by banners with appropriate inscriptions.
About 700 persons had passed out of Church-street follow-
ing these banners, when the Darwen deputation, numbering
6001, who had walked by the high road, joined the proces-
sion at the iutemection of Darwen-street and Church-street.
The private carriage of Mr. It. S. Ashton, manufacturer,
drawn by two horses, headed this contingent, followed by
n light phaeton, en instrumental band, and a tag bearing
the inscription, "The Darwen branch of the Reform
League." The rest of the procession remained stationary
emit these had taken their places in the ranks. Follow.
ing the reinforcement from Darwen, another body of
retorniern passed along from the market square, carrying
the well-known green silk flag which was borne in 1e32 by
the adherents of Sir John Bowring, the first liberal candi-
date for the suffrages of Blackburn. Following Sir
John Roaring) flag at no great distance came
the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, preceded
by a truck bearing an elegant model in brass of a
locomotive and tender. They numbered about 100. Next
came the Blackburn operative cotton spinners, who, how-
ever, were not at all adequately represented in the proces-
sion, and were in much greater force among the crowds of on-
lookers alorm'a.he route. The friendly society of Operative
Masons 111. le an imposing display, attired with the aprons
and badges of their order. The operatives employed at the
Rose Hill and Alexandra Mills, Blackburn, marched in a
compact body, with National Reform Union and Reform
League flags. and instrumental bands. The Accrington Re-
form Association was next represented ; two open carriages
decorated with Reform Union flags leading the way, fol-
lowed by a numerous body of reformers from that neigh-
bourhood, on foot. The Pailiham reformers followed.
The procession was one of the most effective and remark-
able of its kind which has been witnessed during the pre-
sent reform agitation, taking into consideration the more
extended area of country from which the alenroustrations
in the large provincial cities of England and Scotland were
derived. Nothing like it has aver been seen in Blackburn
since the time when Sir John Bowling was received there
in 1839 by a procession of reformers, on his election for
Kilmarnock, after his unsuccessful contest of the borough
of Blackburn after the first general election after the
passing of the Reform Bill. It took the procession
rather more than half an hour to pass any given
point, though moving at • tolerably brisk business-like
pace. Passing out of Church-street, the processionists
made a circuit of the town, marching by way of King-
street, Breech-road, Preston New-road, Northgate, and
New Market-street, back again to the market square,
which was reached a little after midday by the front rank
of the procession, the remainder falling gradually in up to
one o'clock. In the spacious market square four platforms
had been erected, from which the resolutions were to be
proposed and the people addressed by the speakers ; and
when, at the conclusion of the procession, the many
thousands of persons who took part in the proceedings
were all gathered in front of the platforms, the assemblage
was of imposing dimensions. The programme of speakers
Is annexed:—No. 1 platform: Chairman, Alderman
Fayues, J.P. (and ox-mayor of Blackburn). First reso-
lution, moved by Mr. T. Evans, Manchester ; seconded by
the Rev. D. Williams, of Great Harwood. Second rem-
lution, moved by Councilke Beaty, of Blackburn;
seconded by Councillor Gregson. Third resolution
(thanks to the chairman), moved by Mr. Richardson,
of Preston ; seconded by Mr. Henry Smith, of Burnley.
No. 2 platform : Chairman, Mr. Rd. Shackleton. First
resolution, moved by Mr. Ernest Xing ; seconded by
Councillor Abbot. Second resolution, moved by Mr.
Slater, Bury • seconded by the Rev. G. 11. Griffin, Padi-
ham. Thirfresolution (thanks to the chairman), moved
by Mr. Beckett, Over Derwin ; seconded by Mr. J. B.
Robinson, Burnley. No. 3 pplatform: Chairman, Cuuncil-
ler Webster. First resolution, moved by Rev. G. Ride,
Corky ; seconded by Mr. John Place, Burnley. Second
resolution, moved by Mr. Grimshaw, Bolton ; seconded by
Mr. Hudson, Prestou. Third resolution (thank.; to the chair-
man ,) moved by Mr. George Toulmin, Preston ; seconded
by Mr. IL Hargreaves, Accrington. No. 4 platform:
Chairman, Mr. R. S. Ashton, J.P. Over D amen. First
resolution, moved by Mr. Mark Price • seconded by Mr.
R. Kay, Bury. Second resolution, moved by Mr.
Holgate, Accrington ; seconded by the Rev. J. Free-
sten, Rochdale. Third resolution (vote of thanks to
the chairman), moved by Mr. Ambler, Manchester. The
chairman of each platform was requested to bring the
meeting to a close as near 2 o'clock as possible, owing to
the frigidity of the weather, and as the arrangement
was faithfully carried out, the numerous orators compremed
their remarks into a very few pointed and vigorous sen-
tences, which were recessed with almost continuous cheer-
ing. The resolutions prepared simultaneously from each
Flatform were asfollow, and were all carried unanimously :
That this meeting protests against, mail enters its denial
of the charges of drunkenness, ignorance, venality, and
indifference to reform, made against the working chases
during the last session of parlament ; and this meeting
declares that no reform bill can be accepted which does
not fully provide for the full, fair, and free representa-
tion of the people, nor can any representation be free
which does not include the ballot." " That this
meeting awards its thanks to Earl Russell, the Right
Hon. W. E. Gladstone, John Bright, M.P., John S. Mill
Professor Fawcett, M.P. E. Bailees, M.P., W. K
Forster, M.P., and all other true friends of reform, for
their patriotism in defence of the rights of the people in
the last session of parliament."
_ _

The dispersion of the crowds wu effected with as much
order sr they had assembled, and considering that political
and party feeling is usually intense in Blackburn, it is the
more creditable to the population that, so far as we ob-
served, not the slightest attempt was malls by political
opponents to interfere with the demonstration by even so
much as an anti-reformers' cheer.