, 1872-12-13
The Conflict as to Meetings in the Park.
The Aatiny Of The Police.
Raid Upon Betting Men-..Class Dis
criminations--.The Tichbcrne
Claimant.

Of those peculiar errors which bring 1idicule and
contempt upon Government. First is
TIE CONFLICT As TO MEETINGS IN TIE PACKS.
Scarcely anybody here who is not IN "itiner-
ant sp.uter of State sedition," wishes to see the
London Parks continuously used as places for
mob-ueetinge. Only those who have seen the
splendid stretches Of grass the stately trees the
beautiful fower-beds, the lovely groves, and
the noble lakes which constitute the London
parks can understand the affection which cul-
tsvated Londoner entertains for them. He goes
to their walks for change, for purer air, for q
cheering spectacle. 1t such times he forgets
Ills politics. To Indies and to children, the parks
e-e as food and drink No gain could compen-
sate their loss. It is not nice to be driven from
them by mobs Of "roughs," who trample upon
everything which can suffer from their violence;
who climb the trees and break off the branches
who stone tie waterfowl and fill the air with
their noise Yet it would be unwiEe, in the
dearth of open spaces in the metropolis, to alto
gether prohibit assemblages for political pur-
pose in place Like Hyde Park. There are
times when such . manifestation OF public
opinion may be necessary. The fault Of
the Government has been, that it has
attempted to side with both parties,-wit those
who want to use the parks for public meetings,
and with those who do do not.
HOW IT BEGAN, AND HOW IT IS WAGED.
It began in the humane desire of q Homo Sec
reta1y to avoid the spilhng Of blood. It was be-
fore the last Reform bill, and the working classes
were determined to have their meetings in Hyde
Park, or be driven from it by the soldiery. Mr.
Walpole hestnted, and the game WAS won. Since
then, the masses have fallen away, and, in reali-
t., are not sufficiently agreed upon anything to
care about meeting on Sundays in Hyde Park to
discuss it. But knot of the professional ring
leaders try to stir them up J; and the two tile
rlngleaders and the E1ecutire-have watched
each other 6edu1ously.
Last Parliamentary session, tho Government
brought in a bill to regulate the parks, and the
Radical party clearly understood that the Gov
ernment pledged themselves not to inforce any
osa rules es ting nSSsngs oS until ha
table OF the House Of Commons. Now,
the rules under which the official in charge Of
the parks Is prosecuting the speakers at late
meeting there, we're never laid upon the table OF
the House, but were issued after Parliament had
broken up. The case is clearly one Of bad faith
and chicanery. The Police Magistrate has fined
one Of the orators for making speech; but the
decision is appealed against, and it is generally
expected that the decision will be quashed.
What 8 triumph for mob~rule it will be! The
authority OF tho Government will be dlscredited.
But suppose the appeal is not sustained Will
the mob-leaders give way? doubt it. Fresh
meetings will be held, and every means will be
taken to bring about q collision. The Irish in
>he metropolis are in glee at the prospect.
TIE Nu11SY OF TEE POLICE.
IL
force, will the police set !? Here are our blue
coated protectors in absolute rlutinT! Il stop
and chat with poice-constable now, I find I
am talking to q rebel: He i AZ open var with
credited with any sympathy for the ordinary
violators OF the Law, he is not to be depended
upon when he is summoned BY the Executive to
81 put down" the populace. It is all question
of money. A little while ago, the men agitated
for DIRE pay, md, after several meetings had
been fsld, and after they had been threatened in
vain b. their s1periors, they gained their point.
but, after the question in dispute was over, have
the meanness to dismiss from the service, on .
frivolous prete1t, the constable who had been
Secretary Of the men IN their movement for
more wages. The mans fellows. on hearing
duty. The "beats" On the division
were left unguarded, and pickpoekets,
burglars, garroters and others Of similar callings
had the streets to themselves. At last, the men
have been made to see that the promoters OF
the late wages-agitation are marked men in the
force. What blunder it is But what Lon
doners are most concerned about is the evidence
which the circumstances offered Of the growing
spirit OF la1ity and insubordination in the
police force. At the Police Court, yesterday,
where one Of the constables was being prose-
cuted for refusing to go to bis duty, his fellow,
constables, being there in large numbers, hooted
and hissed, and indulged in other demonstrations
Of dis1espect. There is q talk OF appointing q
Commission to inquire into the state OF tile
force. Meanwhile, tue public are uneasy. :"
we cannot depend upon our police" say the
h9useholdere, !" what security is left us for any"
&g2"
AD CPoS BETTING MES-oSE LAW FOE TIE
RICH, ETC.
Two<aays ago, as 1 was passing down Fleet
st1eet 9sav number Of persons blocking up
the eds48nce to side steet. inquired the
reason, and found that the police had stopped
the street at each end, and we're arrest1ng Knot
If hettirp who wont TO A4EGmQl6 81
members OF q :" club in 3 tavern situated IN the
street. The commotion was great. The mer
taken we're put into cabs and d1lyea aztaa to the
and form members Of class rs distinct as any
who followed particular trade. The comments
Of the bystanders woro not euch as one Likes tt
tsThere was law for the rich, and another fo
tie poor"
TIE rage for betting is vice which has i'm
nensely Helped to fill the Torkhousea and th'
general than it Is now. Not many years ago
shops we're open for the purpose Of taking bets
They we're beset with people. Every errsnd
enF EHsf st betipoee e ~ aR The ts@paog wasa G6
too great for tho honesty OF many, and then tn
till was robbed. At length, employers Of labo
and the guardians Of the law protested, and call
ed upon the Legislature to close the dangerou
places in which these foolish people were deeced
This WAS done, and the result WIS e1trene1
beneficial to society generally. It was for meet
ing Illegally in house maintained for the pu1
pose of betting, that the arrests just referred t.
we're made.
But as to the inequality Of the Law, it isin this
that, while the police, pounco upon tho frequent
ers Of ~~uall betting shops, they never interfer
with the great betting-ofice at the West Enc
which is supported by three-fourths Of til
British aristocracy. At Tattersall's, Ear1s
Marquises, members of both Houses 0
Parliament, and private gentlemen, meet ever
day and make bets. The state Of the bets L
IaHersalls is quoted regularly in the column
Of the daily Journals. At Tattersaus, many an
many many noble estate has been betted away. Th
Prince Of Wales wins and loses money by bet
at IatterEalls. Then why is it unmolested
Everybody in England knows that it is becaus
Of the exclusive character Of it's patrons; be
cause. i'll short, the rich and the Door are nc
equal III the eye Of the British law.
THE CLAIMANT TIRE c1.AnAsT!
Hanging over US is the heavy body Of th
Claimant. Iha prosnect ia thn ra.irnl of 4b