The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-05 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAVEVE.NING, DECEMBER 5, 1866

during the previous part of the eve; ning in presiding eve
an assembly which was called for a purpose quite as in-
teresting to those taking part in it, and perhaps more in-
teresting to them than the occasion which had brought
them together in that hall. (Cries of No, no.") Ho was
quite sure of this, that the question was a practical one,
and quite as interesting to the working classes of this
metropolis as was the question which they had been con-
sidering in that meeting. (Repeated cries; of "No, no,"
and disapprobation.) He made this observation because
he had been told that some remarks had been made at
the consistent absence of all the metropolitan mem-
bers from that meeting. Now, he was bound to
say that there was a good reason why they should be absent
—(cries of "Oh")—because it was an old adage which said
that "What is the business of everybody is the business of
nobody." (Hear, and a laugh.) When he looked at the
handbill announcing this meeting, and did not see the same
of any metropolitan member, but a general announcement
that the metropolitan members would be present, he thought
it not improbable that each member would suppose that he
was not wanted, and that therefore otheifs would bo present.
(Laughter.) Ho dared to say that he w ould have been one
of those absent if he had not seen Mr. Potter, who unde-
ceived him upon this question, and he a'iso undeceived him
upon another in connexion with which many persons had
fallen into error—This was not a meeting in favour of
Parliamentary Reform in general. (Cries of "No, no.")
There were some remarkable circumstances connected with
the demonstration which he might venture to notice. Ho
could not help regretting that when. the assembly was
gathered in one of her Majesty's parks, in front of her
palace, she should not have been so well advised as to have
enjoyed the gratifying spectacle of looking on her assem-
bled people. I think it one of the duties of Royalty (con-
tinued the hon. gentleman) to have an active sympathy
with the people, who are alive, and that they demand quite
as much consideration as the affectionate remembrance of
the dead. (Disapprobation and cheering.) There is one
trait in this procession which I think speaks well for the
people who walked in it. When they could not pay their
homage to their Sovereign as they passed along, they
elected a Queen for themselves, and found her in one who
is, in truth, in this metropolis the queen of benevolence and
virtue. By a natural impulse they rendered her that hom-
age which they invariably rendered to the Queen who
reigns over them. I cannot conceive anything that shows
better how deeply the people are affected by the highest
feelings, and enter into the relations of the other classes.
(Impatience.) As the procession passed by those repulsive
and somewhat defiant defences of Hyde Park they exhi-
bited none of those emotions which might have been ex-
pected or recognised, in mere deferenoe, the expression of the
law of the land and the maintenance of legal rights. (No,
no.) He who undertook to say "No" knew in all proba-
bility less of the subject than he (Mr. Ayrton) knew. There
could be no doubt of the legal right of her Majesty's Go-
vernment to take care of the public property, and no set of
men had a right to take the public property into their
possession and deal with it as they pleased. (Great con-
fusion, and a Voice, "We don't want to hear that.") If
the people, or any part of them, wished at any time to meet
in one of the parks, and the Government exercised an im-
proper discretion in refusing their request, the proper
mode of bringing them to account was in the House of
Commons. (Great uproar.)
Colonel DICKSON said that his friend Mr. Beales held a
different opinion from the hon. and learned gentleman. Ho
had no confidence in the House of Commons, and he would
not think it worth his while to bring the Government to
account before them.
Mr. AYRTON said now that they had passed through that
storm by the pacification of the gallant colonel—(cri es of
" Time," "Shut up," " Order, order")—he hoped he might
be permitted to say that the cominittoo deserved all praise
for the way in which they brought the procession to a
conclusion yesterday. He believed that they might assume
that there were 200,000 skilled workmen in the metropolis,
and he could imagine their deep feeling of interest in
favour of the procession that yesterday took place, and
the sympathy they must have felt for those who underwent
the trouble of taking part in those proceedings. Out of the
200,000 there were 175,000 absent, thus giving a striking
proof of the love of industry of the great body of the work-
people, and of the love they have for their own families
and their own homes. (Loud expressions of disapproba-
tion, and cries of " Time.") The hon. member after some
further observations concluded.
The honourable gentleman, amid a perfect storm of
hooting and hissing, in vain attempted to continue his ad-
dress, but the meeting would not hear him, and he was
ultimately obliged to withdraw. This ho did with an evi-
dent unwillingness.
Colonel DICKSON said that had their friend Mr. Beales
been present he should not have interposed to notice any
of the remarks which fell from Mr. Ayrton. Ono lawyer
could answer another, and he considered that Mr. Beales
was quite as good a lawyer as the hon. gentleman who re-
presented Tower Hamlets. When he (Col. Dickson) stated
in the presence of Mr. Mill, and other gentlemen, his belief
that nut more than a dozen members in the House of Com-
mons were sincere and really anxious on the question of
Reform, Mr. Mill observed that he did not believe there were
a dozen, and amongst the dozen members he (Col. Dick-
son) never for one moment thought of including Mr. Ayr-
ton. (Hear, hear.) Tho weather might be foggy outside,
and probably Mr. Ayrton, intending to enter the cave of
Adullam, had lost his way and walked into St. James's
Hall. (Cheers.)
Mr. BRYAN proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Potter for
the able and impartial manner in which he presided over
the meeting, and in doing so ho availed himself of the op-
portunity to comment on the remarkable absence from their
proceedings of all the metropolitan members, with one ex-
ception—Mr. Ayrton—about NYhom ho should only say that
it would have been very much more satisfactory if ho had
not put in an appearance. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Mr.
Ayrton occasionally took some trouble to explain his poli-
tical opinions, and he had favoured them that evening with
a statement of his views on certain phases of political life ;
but he nevercould remove the impression from the minds of
the working men that he was to all intents and purposes a
member of the Cave.—(Cries of "Hoar, hear," and cheers.)
Mr. CONNOLLY seconded the resolution, expressing to Mr.
Potter the great pleasure it afforded himself and the
working men of London to have that opportunity of paying
him the tribute of their respect and thankfulness. So long
as the rights of the people were withheld and they wore ex-
cluded from the privileges of citizenship, so long wore they
determined to march and agitate. Through centuries of
misrule, injustice, and oppression the people of Ireland
were driven almost to despair, and at last they had taken
into their own hands the redress of those grievances so
loudly protested against. If the rights of Englishmen were
long withheld they would be led to resistance far more dis-
astrous than that which Was passed upon the people of
Ireland. As regarded the right of meeting in Hyde Park,
ho hoped that question would be 4 4, „
put to test before long.
In his opinion the park was the property of the people, and
no moral or legal right existed to deprive them of its free
and unrestricted enjoyment. (Cheers.)
The resolution was about being put to the meeting by Mr.
occupied the chair while
e Potter was being moved
tPhoeT rt
oMf fh.a,
nwiihsotote3mipr.oGraeroilryg
and seconded, when

Mr. BRIGHT presented himself amid considerable applause
and said--I rise for ono moment with the view of making
an observation before the veto of thanks to Mr. Potter is
put from the chair. 1 need not say how heartily and en-
tirely I concur in the resolution, and I wish, as I am sure
will be the case, that it mayrecsive tho unanimous support
of the meeting. But my immediate object in now address-
ing you is for the purpose, in one sentence, of making re-
ference to the speech of Mr. Ayrton, which I hope I did
not fully apprehend, but which, if I did apprehend, lam
totally unable to concur in. (Cheers.) Mr. Ayrton made
some allusion to the first meeting proposed to bo held in the
park, not far from the neighbourhood of the palace, and an
observation escaped him with regard to the Queen which
in my opinion no meeting of people in this country— cer-
tainly no meeting of Reformers—should have listened to
with approbation. Let it be remembered that on each oc-
casion when Ministers proposed to improve the representa-
tion of the people, the Queen gave a cordial, unhesitating,
and hearty approval to the proposition. (Cheers.) If there
be now at her side a Minister opposed to a liberal extension
of tho suffrage, it is because, in obedience to the well-
known rules of constitutional practice, the decision of the
House of Commons on the Government Reform Bill ren-
dered it necessary for her to take the course she did take.

(Hear.) But Mr. Ayrton referred further to the sup-
posed absorption of the sympathy of the Queen with her
lost husband to the exclusion of her sympathy with the
people. lam not the person to stand up for those who are
possessors of crowns, but I could not sit in this assembly
and hear that observation without a sensation of wonder
and of pain. (Hear, hear.) I think that by many persons
great injustice has been done to the Queen in reference to
her desolate and widowed position, and I venture to say
that the woman, be she Queen of these great realms or the
wife of one of your labouring men, who can keep alive in
her heart great sorrow for the object of her love and her
affection, is not likely—is not the least likely—nay, more,
is not at all likely, to bo wanting in great and generous
sympathy for the people. (At the conclusion of this brief
address, which was delivered in Mr. Bright's impressive
style, the meeting rose as one man, gave vent to their
loyalty in er,thusias bursts of applause, and sang the
National Anthem.)
The vote of thanks to Mr. Potter was then put from
the chair aud carried unanimously.
Mr. POTTER briefly acknowledged the compliment, and
called for three cheers for Mr. Bright, which were heartily
given.

Ono of the working men on the platform came forward
and announced that on tho Monday before the meeting of
Parliament there would be another Reform demonstration
of the London working classes, and that it would be held
in Hyde Park, an announcement which seemed to give
considerable satisfaction.
Mr. AYRTON again presented himself amid considerable
uproar. The meeting declined to hear him. He was under-
stood to say that Mr. Bright entirely misunderstood the
remarks ho had made with reference to the Queen.
The meeting separated about eleven o'clock, cheering
for Mr. Bright and Mr. Potter.