The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-08
ENGLAND.

The irish Political An,ncsty Demonstrations
A Muster and HIareh TO Hyde Parlx--Faiinro
Numerically und as n Physicni Forco Dis
play-Alr. t,iaditQne's Positi0n--How tho
DEMONSTRATIONS" Injuro the Cause OF
Reforu.
LONDON Oct. 25, 1860.
In common with the rest OF London went yester-
day to see the long talked OF demonstration In favor
of che Fenian prisoners, which took place In Hyde
PARK. ] was present at the meeting and arranging
OF the procession In Trafalgar square; saw r
marched of to its destination; accompanied 1t
along PAN Mail, up Waterloo place into Regent
street. thence from the Oxford circus the length or
oxford street to the marble arch into Hyde Park; 1
heard the speeches, or at least many OF them that
were delivered; noted the numbers Of 'sympa~
th.zersn who green scars or bands or rosettes
| witnessed tue great multitude that had come ont
on that dark foggy Sunday afternoon TO see what
there was to be seen; saw the procession or the
various Irish lodges, societies or districts marsnaed
again together to take their departure; saw them
move on TO the morrill, SOUTH east and west; and my
verdict upon the whole affair Ia that greater fl
uTe, political meeting or demonstration, never
took place in England, at any rate not In my expo
rlence. which oyteads over rather more than quar-
ter OF century
The point OF rendezvous for those who were to
TAKE pITI III tN6 pTOCeSSuU WIS ITuIulEuF SQuuFS,
Here, about one O'Clock the "demonstrators' began
to assemble. Every slodge" or district was headed
by banner, on each OF which there was an inscrp-
ton suitable or otherwise. On one OF these banners
were the words Justice to Irelandn on another
.'Rclease Of the Captives," on third I" Rebellion
Against Despots Is a Duty to God" and so forth.
one-nay, two-of the standards seemed to have
come to early grief. They were green. with inscrp
tons In large gold letters. On these mad Fpresume
originally been, on the one nag. "Vos Popun V0g
Dei;' but either the wind had illtreated the hand-
work OF the patriots, or else q want Of funds had
prevented tue makers from completing the order.
AZ IL was the words, from want OF certain letters,
stood thus:-"O1 Pop or" The other injured ban
ner was also green, and the inscription was also in
large golden letters. noticed 1t in the commence
ment or the day and saw that 1t bore the very ap-
propra.e words, '.Freedom for the Captives;" but
either the wind or the damp dir or a proper want
Of strength in the finish of the nag had injured
this standard also, and many persons were very
much puzzled to read upon 1t, long ero the meeting
was over the mysterious announcement, 3D. the
Captiyes.n
AS the line marched through the streets to Kyde
Park 1t was headed by what had been called ''the
ladies' procession" This consisted Of about 400
young woven. all, l should say. Of the laboring
class, or OF the poorer kind OF shop girls. They
were all very respectfully clad. All wore some arti-
Gle of dress that green, and many OF them were
clad IN green from head to foot. Besides these 400
young persons there were about 100 "lades' OF the
class that sell chestnus or apples at the corners OF
the streets, and all rather above than under sixty
years OF age. confess this somewhat injured the
general appearance OF the procession, and had not
little chllng effect upon those who nave an APP
preclatlve eye Tor O pretty woman
When the LADIES' had iled past four deep the 'gen-
en
marching four deep. Now here occurs difficulty
winch had better face ut once ana &c. over as
quickly as can. No man living respects the work
ing classes more than do. anu am Tree to ackn0w-
ledge that have met In all quarters sons OF toll who
IA every feelinl OF the heart and mind would do
honor TO any class in life. The procession yesterday
was composed exclusively OF laboring men. with n
s.iTht sp!inkns OF petty shopSeeDers and lew
There are IN London and suburbs OF London
rather more than 100000 trlsh men and women OF
the aboring classes or these there actually walked
In the procession yesterday about 500 'ladesu and
put them down ut the very outside figures, and
alter comparing notes with four OF five friends who
were present-liot more. not man more, than 5000
gentlemen" Judge, then, whether the 'demonstra
ton" was not even so lar as the Irish themselves
are concerned, failure.
But It was more have not the slightest hesitation
In saying that the effect OF the proceedings in Hyde
PARK yesterday VIII be to keep the doors OF their
PRISON shut for at least an additional year upon the
Fenans That Mr.. Gladstone will eventually par
don them there can be. and there Is, no reasonable
doubt Bur that ne, or any other Munster OF any
country, could 40 so at present Is utterly impossible
10 begin with, as the Weekly Despatch (which Is the
most radical paper In EnglandI said TIE day before
yesterday, the platform winch the fenlans and their
stand upon at present is this:-"Free
our hands, unehain our limbs, open prison doors
aud then will attack you again-let us loose and
We will light you once more" There Is no jour-
nal IN ss country oe s a nas suc tns an I'M
ingmen as the Despatch, and 1t Is very
sionlAcant that the organ should deprecate in the
strongest terms that pardon should pc granted to
the Fenians at present, whatever may be done pre-
sently In America you certainly have pardoned tho
Southern Contederates and their onences But they
came TO you as supplianIs, asking Tor mercy not as
threatening to 40 more aud to do worse
Hand then they were set free.
There Is another view to be taken OF this question.
We all Know the great difficulties Dir. Gladstone had
to contend with in passing the Irish Church bill. We
know also that he win have FAR greater difficulties to
Contend with In getting really good land bill
Through Parliament. But If he was to pardon the
Fenian prisoners at present lay stress upon these
viii be pardoned IN good timel would not every
enemy. and not few friends, that the present
Ministry has say that tle pardon had Deon got out OF
them by learf And would not TINS IN a great nlca-
sure, hinder and prevent any land bill bong
are much the same. Would you have liked any al
10 pardon the Southern exConfederates
through tear OF what those Confederates threatened
Most certainly yon would not. 10 pardon these
Penian prisoners at present would really be hinder
any further measure OF justice to the IRISH nation,
and this Mr. Gladstone has Ieither tue right nor the
wish to do.
once more say, put yourselves in our place.
suppose that year OF TWO ago the ex-Confederate
SouCherners had held demonstration In New York
to obtain the pardon OF those who had rebeied
against the United states government What would
you have SAID II the procession had b0en headed by
British lagg Yet this was what the Fenian sympa-
tuzers did yesterday. In my admiration for that
great republic OF winch the banner IL the glorious
stars aud Stripes,u am second 10 no man III the
world-not even to any American. But think-and
every sensible man In sue States Will cgree with
me-that the Union Jack would not have been more
out OF place more insulting 10 the American ma
ton II carried at the mead OF an ex-C0nfederate pro-
cession Ia Broadway, New York. tlau the stars aud
StriDea ypstnrldv. when carried at the uga1
tue Amnesty procession In either case 1t amounted
or would have amounted TO much the same thing;
10 was or would have been az much as to say, 1--WE
demand what we want, ana IL YOU the government
of this country, do NOS give us what we require we
will 20 elsewhere and force sou TO do sou
This letter has already so much exceeded my ord
nary limits that have no space left 10 mention one
or two little facts connected with this 'demonstrn
tion" During the greater part OF The afternoon that