The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-31 00:00:00

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LONDON, TUESDAY, JULY 31, 1866.

The great Reform demonstration of last evening
went off quietly enough, so far at least as the ex-
ternal tranquillity of the metropolis was concerned.
The meeting at the Agricultural Hall was a very
large one, numbering many thousands, and being
reinforced by processions from various gathering
points. The people, moreover, were of a more
respectable class than those who betook themselves
to Hyde Park last Monday in defiance of the law.
A good many were very likely attracted by the curio-
sity excited by the events of the week, but the mis-
chief-loving spirits who are invariably in attendance
on an open-air demonstration, especially when any
thing like riot or disturbance is anticipated, were no
longer conspicuous. The crowds who thronged
the ..4..zricultural Hall were for the most part a
regular English mob, good-humoured and well
conducted, doing no discredit to themselves by
their behaviour, and requiring no external
force to prevent them from damaging the property
or persons of others. The great drawback to last
night's proceedings was one which was inevitable
from the nature of things. The crowd might
mean very well, and might be really anxious
to hear what such a speaker as Mr. MILL had
to say, and those who addressed them might
avoid inflammatory harangues and really endea-
vour to discuss the questions before them, but it
was simply impossible for any one speaker to make
himself heard by even a large proportion of the
assembled multitude. One man cannot command
the attention of even a thousand persons ; how,
then, can he do so when his audience consists of
many thousands ? Only those in the immediate
vicinity of the platform could hope to hear any-
thing, and as those behind, in pursuance of
communistic doctrines, did not see why those in
front should possess an advantage which they did
not have, there were lurches and swayings of the
crowd which effectually disarranged the perorations
of the orators. Added to this desire to obtain the
best places those who could not hear what
was going on naturally got tired of inaction, and
those who did not push, talked together, adding to
the buzz of sound which filled the huge hall. No
doubt there were some who pushed and shouted
" for the fun of the thing," but the result was that
while there was no riot or breach of the peace the
confusion was so great that neither energy nor per-
severance availed the speakers. Some, indeed, who
possessed stentorian lungs, persisted in the effort,
but to little purpose. The evening came to a peace-
ful termination, and after passing the proposed re-
solutions the assembly dispersed in due order, with
all the ceremony of bands and processions with
which it had assembled. So far, then, the
proceedings were highly satisfactory, but it
may be very fairly asked what has been
actually gained by them? It can scarcely
be said to have proved that the lower classes of the
community are capable of holding a large political
meeting without disturbance, since that we knew
before. There was no fear of riotous proceedings
so long as no open defiance of public authority was
promised to the "roughs." Neither can it be said
to have shown the eagerness of the people for
Reform, for every one knows that the more intelli-
get of our artisans are anxious to obtaln political
privileges. But it may fairly be doubted whether
the cause of Reform has profited by the transactions
of the past eight days. In the first place, the
enthusiasm N% hich leads Mr. BEALES to volunteer to
lay down his life for the cause, and Colonel DICKSON
to declare that he is ready to share his martyrdom,
is a little out of date at the fag end of a session,
when there is no particular measure under dis-
cussion. The bill of the late Government would
certainly have done something towards emanci-
pating the people, though its best friends ad-
mitted it to be partial and incomplete ;
but it would scarcely have been worth any one's
while to die on its behalf ! The new Ministry, if
they retain their places long enough, will have to
deal with the Reform question ; and must deal with
it, if they hope to succeed, frankly, liberally, and
comprehensively. But it would be idle to suppose
that any Government could introduce a Reform
Bill this year ; and if so many months must elapse
before any practical measure can be even proposed,
where is the use of wasting strength in getting up
excitement now ? The question may, indeed, be pro-
fitably discussed through the recess by the Reformers
at large; it may be kept before the public by every
constitutional means, among which meetings of
working men may fairly be reckoned. But these
monster assemblies, in which a man can scarcely
hear his own voice, leave matters very much where
they find them. Who can follow a logical argil_
naent, appreciate an apt illustration, or be impressed
by an eloquent appeal in the midst of the pushing
and the hubbub inseparable froin such assemblies ?
If we want a practical thing, let us set ourselves by
practical means to get it. Mere empty declamation
will not carry the day against opposing influences
any more than mere numbers will bear conviction
by those who doubt and hesitate. We congratulate
Mr. BEALES and the other members of the League
in having realised their undoubted wish in getting
through the monster demonstration quietly and
satisfactorily, but we think their own judgment
must confirm the verdict of the common sense of
the public that we have had enough of such exhibi-
tions at present, and that the cause of Reform is
more likely to be fought successfully in smaller de-
tachments and with less parade of pomp and cir-
cumstances.

But little progress has been made by the autho-
rities in the arrangements of the peace-prelimi-
naries. The Prussians seem desirous of making
people wait as long as they can without coming to
a settlement, and the favourite plan is to refuse
to see those who come to make propositions ;
thus the King of HANOVER has sent an aide-de-
camp to the Prussian head-quarters, but the KING
would not see him. If this sort of conduct is con-
sidered dignified and becoming it is a great mis-
take, for nothing can be more unsuitable. In
the present state of affairs those who have
arrogated to themselves the right of gonna-