The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-27 00:00:00

EAST LONDON REFORM DBMON-
STRATION.

Last night a very crowded meeting was held in
the Standard Theatre, Bishopsgate-street, for the
purpose of promoting the cause of parliamentary
reform. A large concourse of persons had assem-
bled outside the •theatre long before the hour of
meeting, and on the doors being thrown open, pit,
boxes, galleries, and stage were instantaneously
filled.

Mr. NEWTON, who wa called to the chair, said
:hat they were then met not so much to discuss
:heir right to reform as to manifest their feelings,
For it seemed it was agitation and not reasoning
hat was now required from the people. (Hear,
hear.) The whig and conservative governments
had admitted the necessity of reform—the whigs
most likely to enable them to retain place—the
conservatives because the crown recommended that
a reform measure should he considered by parlia-
ment. Lord J. Russell, in introducing his reform
bill of 1860, said that a time of qtnet, when the
people were calm and tranquil, was the best for
considering the question of reform, and declared'
that he did not wish to see it carried by such agi-
tation as existed during the discussion of the
Reform Bill at Nottingham and Bristol and other
places. But Lord J. Russell said in 1861 that
agitation was necessary—that indignation meetings
were requisite to pass the measure. It seemed to
him that there was great contradiction between
these two statements. (Hear, hear.) What did
Lord J. Russell want ? Did he wish to see
the seditious, incendiary, and almost insur-
rectionary proceedings of 1831 revive again ?
(" It looks like it," and cheers.) Was it the
conduct of true statesmen thus to appeal to the
passions of the people ? (Hear, hear.) Well, per-
haps the people had been slumbering too long.
But when they awoke, would they entrust the care
and conduct of their interests to such men as Lord
Palmerston and Lord j. Russell ? (No, no.) He
believed there was no greater enemy of Parliamen-
tary Reform in the kingdom than Lord Palmerston.
(Hear, hear.) And perhaps not without reason ;
for if the House of Commons was truly the repre-
sentation of the people, no one who had been sus-
pected of forging documents would have been
allowed to escape the investigation of a public com-
mittee. (Hear.) The people had of late borne
many and odious insults at the hands of the scions
of the aristocracy, but let the people show that they
" knew their rights, and knowing, dare maintain
them." (Cheers.)
Mr. SLACK moved the following resolution ;--
" That we regard with indignation the conduct of
Government and the House of Commons in their
extravagant expenditure of public money and their
contemptuous refusal of reform ; that the efforts of
Mr. Locke King, air. Edward Baines, and other
independent members, to obtain an immediate ex-
tension of the county and borough franchise, are
worthy of approval and support ; and that we moat
cordially recommend the formation of societies like
the London Political Union, aiming at nothing less
than the complete enfranchisement of the people,
by means of universal registered suffrage, the ballot,
short Parliaments, aad equitable distribution of
members, and the exemption of candidates from
personal expenses,"
Lord TEINHAM, who was received with loud
cheers, said that when one man looked in the face
of another man, whether high or low, he looked
upon an equal. (Cheers.) They were all equal,
for they were all taxed. When in former times
some of their fellow-men were held in slatvery, the
poor slave was represented with the chain around
him, and with this motto written under, " Am I not
a man and a brother ?" (Cheers.) Well, were not
the unen franchised of this country men and bro-
thers ? (Hear, hear.) Were they to be kept in
political bondage, and for how long ? Let them
not expect a reform bill from the House of Lords or
from the present House of Commons. He believed
the present Government took the most dignified
course they could—that was not saying much—in
leaving reform alone. (Hear, hear.) But let the
people out of doors be of ose mind, and reform
could not be resisted. (Hear, hear.) Had they a
leader in the House of Commons ? (No, no, and ft
cry of " Bright.") The resolution asserted the right
of the people to universal registered suffrage, vote
by ballot, and short parliaments. The people were
entitled to that. He respected Mr. Locke King
and Mr. Baines for pursuing their own idea of
reform, but whilst he would support their bills he
could not approve of them, for he never could un-
derstand how the possession of a shilling more or
less could make a man worthy or unworthy of the
franohioc. Olean} With regard to the ballot it
was necessary that the voter should be pro-
tected from the intimidation of the landlord or
the customer. A man was sot the less brave because
he used a shield. (Cheers.) Their aira must be
manhood suffrage and vote by ballot. The means
must be the creation of a great national reform
union, by which the opinions of London, Manches-
ter, Birmingham, and other great centres of activity
could be brought to a focus. How was this to be
done ? By sending delegates. Where ? To Lon-
don. When ? Whenever Parliament was sitting.
Then and then only would they obtain the reform
they wanted. (Cheers.)
Mr. W. WILKs next addressed the meeting. He
thanked them for coming there in such nunabers.
Such a vast assemblage was the best answer the
people could make to theqmpertinent appeal which
had been made to them. There were at least 4,000
persons within that theatre, and 4,000 more would
have been in it if they could find room. (Cheers.)
Not only in that place but in many towns through-
out the country reform meetings had been held..
(Hear, hear.) The people therefore were not dead
to the sense of their political degradation. Let
them only work wisely but work on, and the time
was not remote when they would obtain all they
asked for—all in fact that was included in a word
which was still dear to millions of his fellow
countrymen—chartism. (Cheers.) True, that flag
had been sometimes sullied, but it had its martyrs
and its confessors, and he believed it would still be
inscribed with the symbol of triumph. (Cheers.)
As a matter of policy, however, he would let in as
many persons as possible through the window, in
order that they might open the wide door to the
multitude waiting for admission. (Hear, hear.)
Let them join this political union—let them
sign the petitions which would be pre-
pared for their signatures—and let them be
ready for the 10th April. (Cheers.) They knew the
significance of that. They must avenge that horrid
day, not by tumult and violence, but by the exhibi-
tion of numbers. (Hear, hear.) Let them be present
on that day, if possible, at the House of Com Mons.
But if they could not be present, let them at least
sign the petitions ; and, if not to-day, they must
soon get all they asked for. Let them make a solemn
league and covenant on this great question, and let
them resolve never to dissolve that league till it was
made unnecessary by success. (Cheers.)
The resolution was then put and adopted.
Mr. M`GILCHRIST moved the adoption of a
petition to Parliament in favour of reform, which
was seconded by Mr. Lucraft, and supported by Mr..
Finlen. The motion was adopted, and the meeting
separated.