New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-08-12
NETWORK, MONDAY, AUGUST -, 1867.

Lord Amberly observed that when there excite
ment the bill would be imperative, while in time OF
great excitement it would be worthless because there
would be no difficulty in raising the SO fine, and II the
magistrate committed the offender to prison the offender
wOud be regarded as a hero, and the worst OF ciuse,
would be helped by such proceedings. No government
emit for they could not have carried their bill without
them and It was most ungratefu IN them having re
ceived that assistance, TO turn round on the Reform
Mr Cowper Thought that public meetings we're valu-
able, but that they ought not to be held in the royal
parks Some of the provisions OF the BILL however ought
| to be modified
Mr. Sergeant Gaselee opposed the DILL as being OF
| Mt Hardy defended the bill which he said was not
at all intended To Interfere with the right OF pubic meet
Mr. Gladstone was by no means prepared to refuse to
egsate the subject Of the parks but he did not think
this matter had been sufficiently considered nor did he
think there sufficient time at this period OF the ses-
sion to consider it, and he should therefore vote for the
| amendment. There were many mattefs-such as the
physical difficulty Of holding open air meetings In Lon
don in any place but the parks the desire OF making
demonstrations, and the Inconvenience Of holding them
In the strecswmch ought to be fully considered before
matter should he referred to select committee, with
| ject
The Chancellor Of the Exchequer thought it not wise
for any government TO set itself against public meetings
There could be doubt that the people Of the metropolis
subj to great Inconvenience in holding open Dir
| meetings He thought. however that the meetings
should be hold in buildings, they in Manchester,
though he did not say there might not he occasions when
open air; but when there there were places to hold
them in besides the royal parks The question was qa
they think that the parks OF London were TO be Kept lor
| the purpose for which they were granted
Mr. Bright said the right honorable gentleman had re-
eTed TO meeting which had taken place In Manchester
many years agoOn the 10th OF August 1872 which ended
IN calamtOus results. Tho right honorable gentleman
might have derived very that occasion
regard the question before the House That meet
ing at the beginning and would have been at Its close
peaceabe any in this country had not been
for he believed, the unlawful interference of the magis
raes and the yeomanry, who brought out 10 dis
perse them The meeting assembled for the purpose
OF petitionng Parliament TO repeal the Corn Laws and
pass q bill for the reform of the House OF Commons
Those objects were wise and salutary for they had
since been accomplished by Parliament. There was
scarcely single person in the southern division OF
Lancashire who did not believe that the meeting was
held for lawful purpose, and would have continued
peaccable had there been imported into what accord
ing principle Of Constitution they had no rghtto
do The right hon gentleman said that since then meet
ngs had been held at Manchester under cover and par
tcuarly in the Free Tradehal But the right hon. gen.
teman know that great number Of meetings had
upon his mind and that Of his followers, and was not
until the people Of Manchester assembled In numbers That
would have filled the Free lladeha ~ times over uat
impression created upon the minds ot portion
OF the public aud upon Parliament and tho GoveInmen
which had brought about the happy termination Of their
great lahOrs tins session. The night hon. gentleman SAID
duct OF affairs IN fTte country Nothng cod pe NOR
satesmanke than that expressions nothing could possibly
be true for many years past there was hardly an
occasion on which the people at these meetings
made any serious disorder or created any neces.
sity for new legislation During the, last
year meetings Of extraordinary size had been
held in Glasgow, Ednburgh, Manchester, Leeds Biz
pected 10 take place OF any question at any time III any
part Of this country al none OF these meetings taTePt
Of any kind and he could say OF The Hyde Park meeting
what ne had Of the Manchester meeting IN 1872 that
he 4 behaved
adhered to the strict letter and spirit 81 The law tat
meeting would have been Just tranquil any Of the
Others Hear hearl lie need not call attention 10 the
result ~ these meetings There certain sioldty ia
iust ms there were clocks aud watches which did not
quite keep time, aud which required that the minute
hand should now aud then be put FORWARD q,
else they would by and by turn the hght OF
day into night These meetings had been Ir99dnc-
tive Of the greatest benefit to The people ana tne
Parliament Of This country. IL was suggested that meet
mgs IN London might still be heldon Primrose-h Bnth
you wanted 10 suppress me- lns III LONDON pc
cause OF possible tumu or collision IL was quite clear
that this was Just likely TO take place AT Primrose MI
at Hyde Park In fact the larger the place the less
likely II was that any small number OF hldlslossa pct
sons could bring about any tumut or disorder and there
fore Hyde Park which was many times larger tah rtn
rose-hl, would afford more securities for order than
rasea At All events this was obyoushat for the pur
nose Of such demonstration would the minds OF
S bS rr cT rrodmccd by meeting IN Hyde PARK must
necessarily be greater than that OF ameetngat Primrose
MIL because the demonstration would be witnessed by
Larger number Of influential people Of the metropolis,
and OF those who have power To carry the plpc Will mo
]
shy aroused by these meetings must To great extent
disappeared. The newspapers which were fond OF
/ al the west end of London; but heneeiorth PEG
plc in great houses there would see great assem-
bages in Hyde Park with far less apprehension than
they had before unwiscy felt II should be remembered,
zoo 9t snrb vas. meetings were very rare The subject
which called them forth admittedly great one but
ne hoped IL might be long before these asaenbagcs were
necessary AGAIN He hoped that. with better representa-
lion of tie people Parliament would act more directly IN
accordance with the popular Will was II wise, thtL or
statcsane seeing that there had been III results IN
the past, TO close the gates Of Hyde Park against the PEG.
J pie at the very moment when you had generously and
! ieved that the bin would fail IN time Of excitement;
Your 4O,. me- your so, and your police magstLaS-
this went down in period Of great eXcltenet before
great population; and, by passing buch pm al shch
moment this Parliament would leave behind II grievance
which would rather lead the people oi LONDON 10 Eoto
HYDE Park in future year ia order to show their re-
sentiment II was not possible 10 prevent 100000 people
from going To Hyde PARK III was not necessary 70 ssue
advertisements; there were many gates ana entrances
make dcn0hslallOh ana INC Dll Wotu ~ an Poa
bity prove Ineffective. II might be effective 10 prevent
some of the small meetings aud sunday preaching though
these matters might be left 10 the police He did not
object the parks being kept Win great care Or the en-
ioymon OF the people; but no enjoyment could be more
proper and no assebiaSes eod W. loq pecy Id
free people TO take part ill., than sch as had beeh hed III
be held M sope of the parks. Unless there strong,
urgent ana unans werabo necessity, ~ Was not thelr
regard to the holding Of public mectngs There was
! no country in Europe In which public meetings
were held commonly In greater numbers III greater
| tranquility, and with more advantage 10 the
| community, than in England All past experience
|
countrymen this matter. Hear They had not as
sembcd for trning reasons; they had mt discussed III an
unbecoming manner the question which called them To-
gether; and the general result on ihe action OF Para
incu had been almost without any exception, mighty
beneficial and they could all look back upon with
satisfaction and even with pride liearI ne womb
trnst the people in the future in the past; he would
make no laws this subject he would not lock ana bolt
The gates Of the park and say to tie oh VINO were Rot
of e genteei classes that they should not come INTO Tho
mark because they apt to disturb the nerves OF the
more penteeL f. on oh !"l The result OF the Reform
bin ne hoped would be 10 cement all classes by one com
mon good feeling Therefore, whatever necessity there
if We bcet i'm past time these meetings IL would
L. less i'm fine future and whatever necessity