New-York tribune., 1873-05-03
BRITISH TOPICS.
lnrrS rpnN rHF FNGLIsH CAPlTAI.

tPRoN TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNE
LONDON, April 17.-The stupid party-the
party which, whether Tory Whig, believes things can
he Kept they arehas Just made character
istc effort in it's behalf. IL has-or TO be just let
us say some OF the stupder members OF IL have-nst-
tuted a prosecution against a number Of persons for
holding a public meeting in FarinCdOn market place.
The meeting called by. in connection with, the
Agricultural Laborers Union. The real ofense con-
sssS not in holding the meeting but in holding labor
ere meeting, and lahOrers taking the liberty have
opinions different from the opinions OF their employers
aud expressing them in public. In fact, the Union IS
itself the oense and this prosecution OF several
attempts 20 obStruct its work. and deter agricultural
iahorefs from joining H. and TO convince them that they
might better go the old way take what wages their
masters chose give them and abandon all Efforts to
improve their condition.
The meeting, il agreed o all hands, was an or
Geriy one. Some very respectable people attended H.
am iar from venturng to suggest that mere iaoorer
can be respectable. There people in the higner
walks OF life. There was no. disturbance. or breach OF
the peace, though section Of the law-andOrder ana
you were party strove 10 make by throwing anew
soften eggs into the crowd The prosecution was Oaseu
on a charge OF obstructing highway The speakers
spoke from a wagon, and the wagon cuts distinguished
figure in the complaint. II allowed 10 remain Tor
long and unreasonable space Of time, to w.t. two hours
and persons not only occupied it and spoke from IT, hut
caused other persons TO assemble round it. In fact
there were some 1900 persons so assembled ana some
other persons we're undoubtedly prevented from passing
The offenders were. among Others Mr.. Cox. Derby
shire magistrate: Mr.. Mackenzie. London Oarrister
Nj Bryant. Oxfordshre schOOlmaser and four aDor
ers Nh Joseph Arch among them. II MT. Arch had not
been present, the prosecution might not have been
undertaken Mr. Arch is man most odlous 70 the
country sQuires Is he who most conspicuous
last year m leading the agitation among his fellow Ia
borers II he had been ignorant and stupid as them
selves-I mean the squires-they would not nave
troubled themselves greatly about him, but being an IN
tegent and sagacious they had the Wit TO think
him dangerous and TO try TO crush him. As one good
means of crushing him. Others equally good having tnus
far failed, this prosecution was resorted TO- Beng
brought before the local magistrates, there was some
chance Of It's succeeding though based strained CON
structon of passed for dnerent purpose ana
supported by police evidence also little strained as
usual. There doubt about the facts. The meet
ing held the defendants were present and all had
places in that obnoxious wagon A good part Oh the
marketpace occupied and the landlord OF the
Crown Hotel he detained as much as a min
ute or minute and half before be could get into his
tavern; which az he was probably thirsty, clear
Inconvenience The county DoeDerry testified that he
was spot that he told Mr.. Cox, one Of the de-
fendans the wagon must be removed, that MI Cox re-
phed DocDerry would have TO move it himself and that
Dog0ery then threatened proceedings 1t does not aI
pear that the wagon got moved til the meeting was
over Alr Cox said they were there TO test the
legality OF holding public meeting the markeplace,
poor labOrcr having previously been prosecuted and
convicted for doing the thing for being present at
such meeting, that is II appeared however. that
carts and carriages passed through the market-pace
while the meeting was being held.
There array OF counsel FOR the defense Mr.
Ftz James stephen, q c., and Mr.. Edward jenkins
(Ginx's Baby), instructed by the wellknOwn London
solicitors Messrs. shOen and Roscoe. men much en-
Iloyed in defense of popular causes There
examinations by Mr. jenkins and a good speech by Mr.
stcphen-in fact, an the proper forms were gone
through. and the Weekly Petty Sessions magistrates
might have fancied themselves the Court Queens
Bench They behaved at least wen the Lord
CmefJusuce and his colleagues could have OF would
have After half an hours consutauon-occupied
probably in converting some Of the stund party
Then present with his wiser comfades-their chairman
Lord harrington. ". p SAID The Bench have very
carefully considered this case ana they have come 20
the unanimous conclusion that should dismissed"
Whertuy0u, there cheers inside and cheers outside
Singular probably seemed 10 the prosecuting party
large number OF mere labOrers poor women who
could not get into court had been waiting outside
auE0ls.y 0r the result And the just magistrates
msrlv app.auded-a squire or two OF the prosecuting
party being possibly hissed also at the time. But
Of This latter there historical evidence 10 is only
conjecture; very likely wrong conjecture. for there
after a. singular kind OF fOrglvngncss and tender
spirit among these aDOrers
NOT an important casei on, yes; important
than 70 vii. probably seem 20 the American mind. IL
d,
OF Free Speech FOR labOrers and other common people
employed u hoelng and digging 1t was not precisely
the Hyde Park Regulations again, but It raised
similar question. And even in America 10 might have
seemed Important if Free Speech (sav about Slavery
before -5 had been I'm peril in that free country
ever ,sied either ny mODs by Judicial prose
rutou, preached against in pupits or even in the
press BGJ OF these things ever did happen in
America 10 may still DE necessary 10 explain that iu
England tie right OF Free Speech exists just
other gIts extthe egil right 70 redress for
Tor ustauce-exiss yOu strong enough 70 assert
r OF ch enough 10 pay for it, II did not exist in Lon
ION .ur people poor 90 pay for public nah Till
he limits of HYDE Park enlarged
iav slightly by removing tAe ratings. Il dd not exist
lor SIR. AuDerOn Herbert the House OF Commons
when Do sought 10 ecOud Charles Dike's motion for
al inquiry the profieate expenditure OF the evil
st It did not exist Mr. sKpwOrth when he spoke
us mind about the arbitrary jurisdiction Of the courts
ne s lu prison to-day doubtng the right Of judge
Judge iu las cause anu 20 convict an accused
person without trial by uuyJ IL did Mr.
McAIecr of The BclaSi LJaBHcr for critcsing judge
who sentenced Roman Catholic c0nyicts and declined
DELAYED 20 sentence Protestant convcts. II does
exist tJr newspaper which commits what Is called
breach OF the privilege of the House OF Commons 1t
does exist for sir Charles Dixie or any other
Republican, I'D any town "a England where ms friends
are not numerous enough and bold enough 10 protect
him a the rk of their lives aginst organized violence.
need not continue the catalogue. Il long enough al
ready 20 prove all prove. viz. that every
apce OF successful resistance 20 the perpetuaIly-re-
suTlng attempt 20 stde the free expression OF free
Thought matter what subject is not merely I'M
porant. but precious the failures are precious
also but FOR my part prefer 70 failure when
q can be- had. Alr Arch's case-forit u is really his
sase-1he value fOf success is very great. He ia a
marked man. He has touched the most powerful inter-
sst ~ nEngiand-immeasuraOy the most pOwerful-the
al pha Of IN D,