, 1866-08-07
The Official Prohibition of the Meet.
inEs in Hyde Park.

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From the London Times, duly all
The Home Secretary has exercised wise
discretion In prohibiting the use Of Hyde
Park for demonstration In favor Of reform.
After the meetings In Trnfalgar Square, the
leaders Of this movement thought 1T to sum.
the provinces to meet on the evening of the
Esd instant in Hyde Pdrk-a place devoted to
the recreation and amusement Of the people.
# the promoters Of these demon
STATIONS hare any regard for the success of
the cause they, preach, they will do well to
a.otd c4totin7 alaTm in any part Of the COM
munity. The largest and most Influential
section Of the public will only be alienated
by the spectacle Of thousands of idlers col
lceted by tags and music In order that their
Of the physical strength Of the rei5rtn-
ers. The objections to these gatherings are
independent Of the intentions Of the promo
ters or Of the multitude ITSELF We lave no
fear that the leaders Of the movement, or
those WHO attend with real political pur-
But it is idle to suppose TINT Mr.. Deales, or
his colleagues, or the members Of the local
committees, or the bona J7dt rcformers can
control the multitude they bring together.
Their ayowed object is to summon every
1onaonee, high or low, whom music, process
slons and banners can attract. The greater
the number Of tue people whom they can at
traet to the Park, the greater will be the
success Of their demonstration" The con-
clusion is unavoidable, II the Park were
contemplate, It would simply be gathering
place for disordcrly crowd, the greater part
Of whom would know nothing and care moth
Ing about reform, but would make the place
intolerable' for persons seeking recreation.
Nor ean there be any guarantee that scenes
quit the leaders who organized the late meet
ings Of the dfsordcrly acts Of the crowd, yet
such acts were committed. When still
larger multitude Is brought together, who
can sny TINT there may not be q sufficient pro-
portion Of evil tlocEs and va.abonds to cause
a serious breach Of the pcacep
For these reasons we think Mr.. Walpolc Is
justified IN prohibiting tue meeting In Hyde
Park on McItlGy next, and VIC are glad to
see that in this he Is supported hy Sir irGeorgc
Grey, whq, @ N fact Ease he original directions
ground Of this prohibition Is that the Park is
Crown property. devoted 10 d special pur-
posc-thc recreation OF tho public, aud Is not
TO- be considered ~ waste ground to bo
tnken possession OF for any other purpose.
has been acted upon iu the case oftlel1 preach
crs and lecturers. 4 few ycars since the
Park was dotted every Sunday with groups
Of people listening to every Kind Of dogun,
from Methodsm 10 Atheism, and to political
md humanitarian orators Of various shades.
The practice became q nuisance, and the po-
lice received orders not to permit any preach.
Ing nj nlt. The present order Is directed
nEainst w]Nt would eo0n become still
greater evil. II the meeting: of Monday next
were permitted, II wonld be taken US Il per-
mission for meetings generally, aud We
should suon huvc the Park invaded by every
knot Of fugftators WHO drslrcd to bring them
selves into notice.
The rcf'rnlers, therefore, must not COM
plain II they have to abandon their centrn-
plated demonstration. NJ otlc desires to re-
Etrict the right Of meeting; but It must he
exercised iii fitting places. anl thu royal
Iurks nrc not such places. II tlcy choose tt,
60 to the suburbs. they can lind orcn spares
sufficient for the multitude which they will
be able to bring together. Uut VIC would
sincerely advise tllcin to think we'll bef,re
they persist in these demonstrations, Which
hnvc done the cause of rcf1rtm no guotl tbs yet,
and arc likely 10 set urtleriy proplc very
much ngninRt thcnt. As ti>r The display nf
public opinion which they contemplate llu
they seriously believe that my Que will be
influenced hy q public opinion which is elicit.
cd by drumming and professions, nsld all the
stupid machlnery WHICH has happily been
suppressed ut elections? The only meetings
which will have an real effect and advance tho
cause Of rcfurM arc tliosc which arc held for
the purpose Of seriously listening to or jutl-
nE f1 rolittcal discussion. TU COLLECT vi,
idle multitude inn public pacr, ind to lnnrcll
III scml.mllitnrT order through tho streets,
with canprf0l1owing Of Abblc, nrc ncts nl
chnrlatanism that viii 4ayo uo sucersy lii
thfs country.