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

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 5, 1866.

during the previous part of the evening in presiding ove
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
be had been told that some remarks had been made at
the consistent absence of all the metropolitan mem-
bers from that meeting. Now, ho 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 name
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 others would bo present.
(Laughter.) He dared to say that he would have been one
of those absent if he had not seen Mr. Potter, who unde-
ceived him upon this question, and he also 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. He
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 deference, the expression of the
law of the land and the maintenance of legal rights. (No,
no.) Ho 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 sot 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 hold a
different opinion from the hon. and learned gentleman. He
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 committee 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 not 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 ho did not believe there were
a dozen, and amongst the cozen members he (Col. Dick
son) never for one moment thought of including Mr. Ayr
ton. (Hear, hear.) The weather might bo 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 ho 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 whom he should only say that
it would have been very much more satisfactory if he 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 ho never could remove the impression from the minds of
the working men that ho was to all intents and purposes a
member of die Cave.—(Cries of "Hoar, hear," and cheers.)
Mr. CONNOLLY seconded the resolution, expressing to Mr.
Potter the groat pleasure it afforded himself and the
working men of London to briro that opportunity of paying
him the tribute of their respect and thankfulness. So long
as the rights of the people were withhold and they were ex-
cluded from the privileges of citizenship, so long were 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,
he hoped that question would be put to the 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.
POTTER, M.P., who temporarily occupied the chair while
the vote of thanks to Mr. George Potter was being moved
and seconded, when

Mr. BRIGHT presented himself amid considerable applause
and said—l rise for one moment with the view of making
an observation before the vote of thanks to Mr. Potter is
put from the chair. I need not say how heartily and en-
tirely I concur in the resolution, and I wish, as I am sure
will bo the case, that it may receive the unanimous support

of the meeting. But my immediate object in now address.

in one sentence, of making re-
ference nyco is f
eu
to
the
et he purpose,
speech
ofAfr. Ayrton, which I hope I did
not fully apprehend, but which, if I did apprehend, I am
totally unable to concur in. (Cheers.) Mr. Ayrton made

some allusion to the first meeting proposed to be 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— cor-

tainly no meeting of Reformers—should have listened to
with approbation. Let it be remembered that on each oo-

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 the suffrage, it is becr.use, 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 tho cou rso 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 hor sympathy with the

people. lam not the person to stand up for those who ars
possessors of crowns, but I could not sit in this assembly
and hear that observation without a sensation of wonder

and of pain. (Ilea; 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 ono of your labouring mon, who can keep alive in

her heart great sorrow for the object of her love and her

affection, is not likely—is not tho least likely—nay, more,
is not at all likely, to ho 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 e Ahusias bursts of applause, and sang the

National Anthem.)
Tho vote of thanks to Mr. Pottor was then put from
the chair and carried unanimously.
Mr. POTTER briefly acknowledged the compliment, and
called for three cheers for Mr. Bright, which were heartily
given.

One 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. ATILTON 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 he had made with reference to the Queen.
The meeting separated about eleven o'clock, cheering
for Mr. Bright and Mr. Potter.