The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-20 00:00:00

REFORM MEETINa AT MIKIMPORT.

4, Wednesday evening a public meeting was
,:„ is, vonport Town Hall, for the purpose of
i. ..liliess from the Rev. W. H. Bonner, vice-pre-
: the National Reform League, on the subject of
~ ,ry representation, the meeting having been
• . i ev the Mayor in pursuance of a requisition ad-
. ~. ' ii.. and signed chiefly by petitions connected
, „ • .lie Reform League in Devonport. The Rev.
, \ , ii: presided. The meeting was largely at-
.. • :. ~ by working men.
1, . NV. IL BoNNEtt, who was loudly applauded,
.. ;.:. referring to the present position of the
. . • .s. which lie sail was now literally nowhere.
„,. 1. ircely lioia•itile to meet two liberals who
.„ . ~„..11 other, and the Cave of Adullain was
...• • o•ammously tenanted than ever. He was
. ~ tk a Lord Derby and Mr. Disraeli deplored
- • s. ie obliged to appear before the country
I hii z called a Returns Bill. When Mr. Disraeli
—1 ...i. putation of so-called working men, he told
!...t t '.c m, .t•Ule was not a democratic but a con-
.l A..., a.ii leo al this showed that the bill was nothing
.• than a new Jewish dispensation—(laughter).—a
,i.,.. i.•,•liitiatieu between Judaism and Jesuitism. The
1...,_:ue regarded the break-up of parties as a cis..
~ ~,... for which they might be thankful, and he re-
.l A toe defeat of Mr. Gladstone's resolution, for if
1 :.: i. .1 on with the Reform Bill he believed it would
, .. at rival of time to unravel what hail been done.
.. 1.,..p1e said Mr. Disraeli's bill was an improvement
..i- .. I.•nner bills, because it introduced household
. „.., It was, however, a Jewish juggle. It was
• ho.-eliold suffrnge, but k rate-paying suffrage.
~.t,. was given fur paying a poor rate, and there-
... .1. need that it recognised household suffrage ;
„ ••;1.1 Mr. Disraeli concede either that or a lodger
• so. Anil the utmost they could expect from the
, ...alit be a 5/. rating suffrage and a 10/. lodger
. Li.... Wim either of these propositions such as they
: i aicept ? (No.) Certainly not. The council of this
,••.• ha.l decided they would not rest till they had ob-
. vete fur every man of sound mind not otherwise
i .i .laieil. and to have that vote protected by the ballot.
~„ ii,e.) If government pushed a bill through the
^ •. .1 hedge-N.lv affair, then demonstrations would r
••• and they would educate the people until they got
oldie mind to the pitch of excitement to demand
...cid suffrage and the ballet. (Loud applause.) They
:not intend any appeal to physical force. Is allusion
• i,• proposed reform demonstration, he said he was glad
...ir that the nien in the west were in unison with the
in the north and other parts of the country ; and ho
.....1 iantlemen of all cliumes would he found taking part',, (AppLause.) He hoped they would come in their
~oils and make a grand demand for their rights. He
• !ivied hie- Jaimee amid loud applause.
Mr. W Go: moved the first resolution:—" That this
. tine, convinced of the value of the National Reform
.;ii... in its advocacy of residential manhood suffrage
•,.te.l by the ballot, pledges itself to use every, leg'-
.A, effort till the same heconies law, and urges all true
:ainers to'rally around the League in its struggles for full
:Meal rights."
Mr. WILLIAMSON seconded the resolution.
The resolution was carried, there being only one hand
Id up against it.
Ths• rum 'NAN proceeded to observe that he had
.t himself in communication with Lord Eliot and
.ir. Montague Chambers, with a view to ascertain
. A position they were prepared to take with refe-
• •.ce to the reform question. They had now so much
:donee of double-dealing and thimblerigging on the
tof members sent to parliament to represent liberal
,aciples„ that it was necessary to keep a sharp look out
them. He then read the letters he bad addressed to
'AA Eliot and Mr. Chamber'', and also the replies.
':.1.1 Eliot stated that be was deeply pained at the
-colt of the recent division, and he bad no doubt that
the hill passed as it now was the agitation would con-
'rue and become more serious than it had yet been.
beggol to be excused from stating what position he
~spa pared to take till he knew what course would be
I:puid by the liberal leaders, but if they continued to
are confidence in him he would not betray it. His
.iiiion was that no real good could be expected
i,, the present House of Commons. There were
ay objections to a dissolution, but to bin mind they
re far more than counterbalanced by having a para-
.at which could be relied on. Mr. M. Chambers, in his
iiiv, said he hail no hesitation or difficulty in replying to
' letter. If they consulted the division list they would
.1 his opinion as to the unsatisfactory nature of the
-form Bill, and on what had been called by the con-
-ranee party its vital principle if they read a report
' his speech, that he expressed him opinion that if that
raciple were adhered to it was idle to suppose that
.. reform question could be settled this session. He
I not approve of the limitation of 51. as proposed by
Gladstone's resolution. That opinion was also
iitrly expressed when he stated that he was convinced
A no Reform Bill would give satisfaction, or would
acceptable, that was not based at least upon
mhold suffrage. He need not inform them of
e Reform League that he had for many years been an
,ocate for the ballot. He was not astonished that they
ould entertain a suspicion as to the proceedings of the
sent House of Commons, and he was inclined to believe
tif the bill proceeded in committee various amend.
:rots might be made to meet the desired objects. In eon.
Mon, he said he was glad to see that the people of
1-vonport and East Stonehouse were making an effort to
stain their constitutional tights.
•t vote of confidence was passed in Lord Eliot and Mr.
:ambers ; and the thanks of the meeting were presented
: the mayor for the nee of the hall, to Mr. Bonner, and
t the chairman.

REFORM MEETING IN HYDE-PARR.--A meeting
r reformers, convened by the Working Men's Rights
.-ociation, was held yesterday afternoon at the Bays.
',ter side of Hyde-rk. The reformers of Clerkenwell
rived in the park about half-past three. and displayed
fired flag, surmounted by the cap of Liberty. They
"irched partially round the park, but desisted at the
Ming of the police, who said they would take them
xe custody if they persevered. The proceedings did
. t appear to create much excitement. At a little
-fore four o'clock Mr. Henwood, President of the
'ttroy branch of the Reform League, was chosen to pre-
de, the platform used by the chairman and speakers being
large round seat close to the clump of trees noted
the rendezvous for betting men. The chairman asserted
-e right of the people to meet in the parks which they
aal for, especially when they wished to assemble in a
net, peaceable manner to discuss their political wrongs.
e people did not want revolution, but the tory govern-
.ent were driving them to it. The time had come when
Je people ought not to be slaves in what was called a
free country." Mr. Longmesd moved the first reso-
ttion—" That the parka are the people's, and we hereby
-:dm the right to the use of them for the purpose of dis-
using our political wrongs." He said the people did not
all to abase the right of holding such meetings, but to
se it in a legitimate way. He characterised the govern-
• at Reform Bill as "crippled, mean, and deformed."
r. Cleig seconded the resolution, which was carried.
• r. Hugh M'Gregor proposed—" That the government
.ill is not only a sham, but an insult to
e manhood of England, and we hereby de-
Are we will not cease our agitation until we
• ,ve obtained our full and just rights." He called
:on the people to act with the steadiness of
•orowell's Ironsides," and rally round the flag they
ret op. Mr. Burnham seconded the resolution.
r. Golding, in supporting it, was pleased that the
uple had got a ' foothold" on their own ground.
hey were not afraid of the " Bobbies," and would come
t the park again and again. The resolution was carried,
LA a vote of thanks to the chairman and three cheers for
lubool suffrage having been given, the meeting quietly

REFORM DEMONMTRATION AT LEICEMTER.—The
tavor has called a town's meeting to be held at mid-day
i. Easter Monday, to give the inhabitants of Leicester an
lnrtnnity of expressing their opinions at this crisis in
history of the reform movement. We believe the
party of action" will speak out at this meeting, and
:mold a measure of reform which shall really enfran-
' -.in the people without trick, or one, or other obnoxious
*traction. We hear that it is intended to assemble the
.iiinuera of the town in the Market-place previous to the
..nt for holding the meeting, and to proceed thence in
'nemion to the Temperance Hall, accompanied by bands
..1 banners. The working men of Leicester are called
'•in to cc..operate, and to make this an effective demon-
'ration m furtherance of their enfranchisement.—
tat. r Free Press.

A STRANGE STRIKE.—A turn-out worthy the
lention of the Trades' Union Commission has lately
+ken place at the Ruundwood Colliery of Messrs. Terry,
and Co., Ossett, near Wakefield. The dispute is
etuhar as having arisen among the men themselves, and
A (Mt of any disagreement with the masters. It seems
tat it is the custom of the colliers at this pit to get only
retain number of corves of coal a day, and also not to
4ve the pit until after I o'clock. A few days ago one of
men fillet a corve more than the stipulated quantity,
ad another man, having got the required number, went
an hour before the recognised time. A deputation
the men waited upon the masters and demanded the
-Lod dinning of the two recalcitrants, and, upon re-
,eiti4 a refuel, the whole of the colliers employed at the
t vaned out. The matter is to be made the subject of
:..Tisterial investigation. A number of bricklayers in
kefield are now on strike because the masters will not
..'se them 20 minutes in which to go to work in a morning.
is understood that the last affair is not sanctioned by
General Erickmakers' Society.—Tinies.
gII, BOAT ACCIDENT ON THE RIVER AT WARRING-
Yesterday afternoon, a sad accident happened on
lae river Mersey, at Warrington, by which two young men
'''re drowned. It appears that three young men, named
;IP-direly When Taylor, Thomas Littler, and James
NNW], who were in the employ of Messrs. Evans and
lany Newten, went to Warrington and engaged a
antendin to have a sail down the river. All went
4sll with thee until they got to Wilderspool, where the
was eitwitzed by a sudden gust of wind, and all three
+•r.•Precipitated into the water. Braman clung to the
'not and was wed. The other two young men were
."'n'd, and their bodies had not been recovered at a late
out last night.