The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-25 00:00:00

Reform Demonstration at Manchester.

MANCHESTER, Sept. 24.

• The Reformers of Lancashire have been highly
successful this afternoon, despite bad weather, in
getting together a great and imposing crowd of the
working and middle classes to testify the earnestness
which they feel towards the movement for a better
representation in Parliament. The place fixed for
the gathering was Campfield, an open square pur-
chased for the corporation upwards of 20 years ago
from Sir Oswald Moseley, lord of the manor. From
time almost immemorial it has been the site every
Easter of Knottmill Fair, one of those monster
pleasure fairs which attracted people from great dis-
tances, such as were formerly held in London and
some other great towns, but which in most cases
have been abolished as nuisances. It is a fine open
plot of ground, well paved and drained, and near its
centre stands a church dedicated to St. Matthew.
The portion of the square behind the church is
usually occupied as a hay and corn-market, but the
corporation having consented to allow the present
gathering it has been placed to-day at the service of
the Reformers. The entire space open to the public
on this occasion is about 220,000 square feet, in-
cluding Liverpool-road on the west and Towman,
man-street, which bounds it on the east.
The square began to fill early by townspeople
who were anxious to secure good places, but the
great procession did not begin to arrive till near
upon the time of meeting, which had been fixed for
3 o'clock. The principal of these processions were
one which had formed at New Cross, in the Ancoats
district of the city, at half-past 1; another which
had formed at All Saints', for Chorlton and Hulme,
and a third, starting from the Town-hall in Salford.
Other points for assembling were the Salford-sta-
tion of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, the
London-road station of the London and North
Western and the Sheffield and Great Northern com-
panies, and Victoria-station, where the Liverpool and
Yorkshire of the London and North Western and of
the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway companies
converge. To the Salford station came Reformers
mostly from Clitheroe, Colne, Blackburn, Burn-
ley, Accrington, Chorley, Bacup, and Bury ; on the
platforms of Victoria station were discharged the
thousands coming from Liverpool, Chester, War-
rington, Preston, Southport, Blackpool, and Bolton
in one direction, and from the opposite direction
people from Huddersfield, Todmorden, Rochdale,
Heywood, Middleton, Ashton, and Stalybridge ;
while to London-road station came Reformers from
the Potteries, Macclesfield, Whaleybridge, Stock-
port, Glossop, Mottram, and Hyde. Bands of music
had been placed near each of these stations to head '
the various processions forming from time to time
as the trains arrived, but from Rochdale, Oldham,
and some other of the larger add nearer towns great
gatherings of Reformers came on foot in procession,
with their own bands and banners. The Executive
committee of the National Reform Union, co-ope-
rating with the Reform League, both in the open
air 'meeting and in the meeting to be held at the
Free went in, procession to Campfield
from NeWalrs-buildings. Separate processions
fOrmed in various parts of the city of trades and
friendly societies, and came to the meeting. Among
them were the temperance societies, and lastly there
ay. as a procession of carriages from the Manchester
Town-hall, at half-past 2, containing members of
Parliament, merchants, manufacturers, and mem-
bers of corporations who had assembled in the
Mayor's parlour to accompany Mr. Bright to the
open air meeting.
If anything could damp the ardour of Reformers,
certainly the weather this morning was calculated
to have that effect. From 4 o'clock to 1, nine hours,
there was one incessant downpour of rain, gradually
increasing in density. From Ito 2 o'clock the fall
gradually decreased, but at 2, by which time some
thousands of people had gathered in the square, um-
brellas were in use, though there were some symp-
toms
that the weather might clear up, but they
proved delusive. Six platforms had been provided
for the speakers—four in the square in front of the
church,, and two in the smaller area behind.
The first procession entered the square by Gart-
side-street with its band and banners, and took up a
position in front of the platform, under the walls of
the Free Library. A second procession, with the
banners of the National Reform Union, entered
shortly afterwards by the Liverpool-road entrance
from Deansgate, and took up a position before the
platforms behind the church. Other processions
followed in rapid succession by way of Towman-
street, Water-street, and St. John-street. Before 3
o'clock every part of the square appeared to be
densely crowded, and from that time, as people
entered from various directions, great numbers be-
gan to leave in consequence of finding their places
untenable with any degree of comfort.

The speakers arrived by the procession from -the
Town-hall precisely at 3 o'clock, but were unaccom-
panied by Mr. Bright. The proceedings commenced
at once, the following resolutions-being moved and,
seconded simultaneously from each platform
" That this meeting protests against the perpetuation of
class government by the exclusion of the-great majority of
the people from the franchise, refusessto allow itself to be
made an instrument to further the views of contending
parties or the selfish interests of any class, and pledges
itself to adopt all meansof organising and agitating for the
only just basis of representation.—registered residential
Manhood suffrage and the ballot."
" That this meating rejoices in the formation of the
northern department of the Reform,League, and pledges its
support ,to the executiv:e,RPuecil in t,llO organisation; of
branches throughout the tiortn of England, and hereby de-
dares confidence in Mr. Edmond Reales and the executive
Of the Reform League in London."
"That this meeting tenders its warmest and most grate;-
fel thanks to the Right Hon. William, Ewart Gladstone,:
-Mr. John Bright, Mr. John. Stuart Mill, and all friends of
Reform who throughout the late discussions in Parliament'
vindicated the character .and.protected the rights of the
people ; and further expreeses confidence in the honesty
and ability of Mr. John Bright to champion the people'i
cause in Parliament during the coraing_Parliamentary
struggle."

Among, the Speakers were 'Ur* FdrUond Beaks,:`Mr.
Mr. Wilfrid Lawson (Qarlisle), Lieut.-Col Dick-
.son,naner,
Mr. Ernest Jones, the Rev. W: H. B'
Mr. Lucraft, Mr. Odgers, and. Mr. x; Langley.
It would be difficult to form even an appi.,,,intte
estimate of the numbers present. Perhaps at no,
period of the meeting were ,there more than 80,006
to 100,000 in the square at once, but Liverpool-
road, Deansgate, Gartside-street, and other ap-
proaches were constantly filled "with people for up-
wards of two hours going and returning, and it
would be no exaggeration to‘say that the total num-
ber present at various times did not fall much short
of £200,000. . .‘
In the evening a meeting 'was-held in the Free
Trade-hall, whidC wa crowded in every
part long beforo the tiny, appointed. The adinis-
sicni. by tietet, which wire given away to the
first applicants, but -so, great was the demand that a
for
and even two•guineas premium were offered
admission to the platform. Mr. T. B. Potter,'
ALP, presided, supported by Mr. Fildes, M.P.,
Mr. IV hitworib, MP , Mr. L,aWson (late MA): for
Carlisle),
Mr,!ecio. ilson, Sir James Watt, Mr.
Jacob Brig
neighbourhood. Mr.
ii‘zif.pt.h,eou and its citaygreat number, of the leading
Liberals
Bright,
entering the platform,. was re-.
ceived with a trenaendon: outburst of cheers, the
whole of the assemblagevenrosiinng to welcome him.
The' CnAin 31"
the Proceedings 're-
gretted the absence of Mr. IZazl
this
the
rough their respected
be memr, who was preventedbayiern uncontrollable cir-
cumstances that occasion.
curnstances from taking the
oh
,g be evaded.
The question of Reform could
no longer t
Recent events had roused the peon
length and breadth of the land, aPiaic zecaetching
and the demonstration of the, morning showed
the wen of Lancashire were prepared to take theirat
part in the coming struggle. They would no 10n,,-er
be taunted, as he had been in the House of Cone_
mons, with the charge that the people Were indiffe-
rent and apathetic on this question ; they were met
to discharge another most pleasingduty—to present
an address to Mr. Bright, Whose name in the llinise
of Commons was a terror to evildoers, and who, with
the late respected Richard Cobden, had earned a
name which would be for all time endeared to the
people of England. They had confidence in hint
that he would lead them to success, and this meet-
ing would strengthen his hands in Parliament. He
could now no longer be regarded as merely the