The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-12-29
DOWN WITH TIE LORDS.
THE CRUSADE IN ENGLAND Against
HEREDITARY LEGISLAIION

National Convention Of Radicals In BIZ
m,nehnm-The Platform Adopted
Dixie and Bradlaugh-A Grand Ho"
4 at the .sHole In the WALL" &c.
From the Correspondent OF the N. Y. World
LONDON, December 7,
What NAV be called a national convention
of the radical wing of the Liberal party met at
Birmingham yesterday morning to draw up
and proclaim "a platform" upon which the
agitation for the abolition of the House OF
Lords NAV be carried on. The convention
was held in the Masonic Hall. London
and sixteen other large towns were represent
ed by delegates, and forty-three other towns
were represented by letters Df adhesion writ
ten by the local organizat. ons 'f the party.
Among the delegates were S'r Charles Dixie,
Mr.. Bradlaugh, George Potter, George How
ell. George Dixon, NJ. P, and Mr.. Muniz, NJ.
p, and J. s. Wright, the chairman Of the Lib
eral Association, presided. The proceedings
in the convention itself were rather tame, and
they resulted in the adoption Of the following
platform:
First. That the hereditary principle Of legls-
lation Is unwse, since 1t neither insures WIS
dom in The individual nor patriotism IN Inc
body, and is unjust, since IL coRiers upoI "a d
class power which ought to be exercised oy
the representatives of the nat!ou.
Second. That in free country the ultimate
decision upon all questions OF government OF
of the pslicy of the State must rest with repre-
sentatiyes elected by the people, ana that
some plan should be adopted In THIS nation u
give constitutional effect to that decision.
ri That riUht 10 lSQlSlalH OH Ln6
affairs of the nation ought to be conferred IN
consequence of the profession OF any theologl-
cal opinions. or OF connection WITH any ecclesi-
oslloa, establishment, and, therefore, the legis-
lative power Of the bishops OF the EnSllsa
Church should be abolished.
But in the evening there was public meet
ing In the Town Hall, and the proceedings
were then lively enough. The doors were
opened at 80, and the building was at once
filled with q crowd composed mainly OF re-
spectacle artisans. On The platform were The
members of the convention. The Hon. An-
beron Herbert (Repubican) made the first
speech, in which he attacked tue hereditary
principle in legislation in tolerably strong
language, He was followed by Sir Charles
Dixie, and then, Of course, there was row.
Sir Charles (says the London Times) was
received with great cheering and hissiDg;
whistling aud hoollng. The uproar lasted
some minutes, and there were loud cries OF
WTurn them cut" The honorable baronet
yainly endeavored to obtain hearing, the
disturbance increasing as he proceeded. one
dissenti6nt on the platform was ejected bodily
from The hall. The uproar was equally great
until dozen policemen entered under the
great gallery, and were greeted with cries OF
SPut the police out;n mo police at public
meetings." quantity OF cayenne pepper was
thrown about, and speakers and hearers COM
menced sneezng vigorously. When the storm
OF disapprobatiOn had somewhat suosided, Sir
T. .x,.11 y tan orb In
vindication OF the right OF public discussion,
but the confusion here ross still higher, and
vain attempts were made to weed out q few
dsseDtients. Portions Of the audience amused
themselves by attempts at singing, while
others hooted most vociferously. the
OF those who were In favor OF heari z
the honorable baronet. There were about
q dozen iands held up against hearing
him, but Sir Charles beiug unable to obtain
a hearing resumed his seat. Mr.. Glossop Sent
down another contingent OF policemen 10 the
part OF the hall from which the disturbance
aroee. Sir Charles again rose, but was greet
ed with continual uproar. A rush Was next
made on knot of unucky disse ntients In
one of the 81 ie galleries, and one or two un-
defended and unsympathzing auditors" were
expelled amid shout of triumph. Meantime
the honorable baronet tried TO proceed, and
portion OF the audience then commenced
singing 'Rule Britannia" He observed that
the political conduct OF the House Of Lords
was what might have been expected from
men possessing the great temptaton of un-
limited al Irresponsible power. Under these
= most trying circumstances the Lords had be-
haved as we should have behaved. He blamed
not the men. but the system under which the
Houss existed. Mr.. Gladstone had said he
should think thrice before he touched the
hereditary principle. This reminded him
Of saying OF COnfucius, who, wnen told
OF persons wto thought thrice before act
ing, replied, Perhaps twice will do"
fenslble that we need not think twice before
seeking It's reform. Although we might say
the Lords were immured In prejudice, he did
not aLlack them on account OF individual acts,
but on account of the evils oil the system Of
> hereditary legislators. The sacrifices of elect
ors and representatives were UfLen neutraliz-
ed by the acts done by a body of irresponsible
legislators, who were there because certain of
their ancestors attracted the notice of some
king or other. When great measures were re-
jecLed It was by the pigeon-shOoling l.gislat-
ors, who, by their single votes, defeated meas
ures on which the people had set their heart
It Was said that The Lords threw out the bills
sent up at the latter end OF the session, and
supposed themselves Justified on the principle
that "Satan fiRds some mischief still for idle
hands TO do" There We're many measures
OF secondary as we'll as of primary impor
tance which were strdngled In the House
OF LORDS. He gave Instances OF this. (The
audience, meanwhile, sang "GOd Save the
Queen" and others hooLei and hallooed
terrihcaly. Some OF the singers found
q set made upon them, and those near
tha door were forced to make an eXit.) Sir
Charles, when the uproar ceased, said there
had not been for some time any very
serious collision. (Anotter shower of pepper
provoked great laughter, n which Sir Charles
jolned.) at that moment Sir Charles alluded
10 collision In The corner of the hall. He
said there was another collision impending.
II anybody could provoke collision between
The Houses of Parliament Lord Salisbury was
the man. The House Of Commons was gain
ing force by becoming more IN harmony with
the constituencies. The Lords were not gain
Ing this force. TIE constituencies were chiefly
non.couiormists, aud opposed to state
p church, aud radical In regard TO education.
The risk of collision between the two Houses
was increasing day by day. The honorable
baronet then referred to the land. and game
Qutstions, and said the Commons were In
sympathy with the people, while the Lords
were opposed TO their interest. (Renewed
opposition and cries Of Turn him out.")
The chairman said: Please sit down, the
police have turned ont fifty of the rascals; and
ifyou will sit down they will turn out The rest
As the police are in increased numbers, pray
attend to the speaker, and all that will right
itself.
SIR Charles Dixie said the question was,
what numbers or what remedy should be pro-