The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-07-22
THE FRANCHISE BILL.
An Immense Trades Demonstra-
ton in London.
RESOLUTION OF CENsURE OF THE
HOUSE OF LORDS PASSED.

LONDON, July 21.-The procession of trades
unions and others who will take part in the
demonstration in favor of the franchise bill.
took place at Hyde Park this afternoon. II
formed on the Thames embankment prepare
tory to the march to the park. There was an
immense attendance notwithstanding the
rainy weather. Later in the afternoon the
clouds broke away and the sun shoDe. All
approaches from the Strand to the embank-
ment we're thrunged. Thousands of people
from all parts of the country covered the en-
bank ment between Charing Gross and W est
minister. Scarlet banners indicated to the va
rlous trades unions the places whore they
should assemble. The great crowds manifest
ed the utmost good humor and the best of or
der prevailed. No attempt was made to inter
fere with the procession. Radical political
pamphlets found brisk sale among the
throng. The Prince and Princess of Wales
witnessed the procession from Whitehall.
AT noon the organized trades unions assem-
bled at Sloan Square, Paddington Green, Eus-
It's Square, IsiingtOn Green, Clerkswell Green,
Finsbury Circus, Obelsk, Black Friars, and
Grosvenor Gardens, and proceeded to the en-
bankment. The political delegates wore col
ors. The streets along the line of march to
the embankment and the bridges across the
Thames were packed. and traffic was greatly
lmpeded. Much chaH was INDUCED in by the
spectators along the line of march, especially
when those taking part in the procession
were more than usually adorned. Several
thousand agricultural laborers from Kent and
Sussex were marshsled at Black Friars bridge
The procession moved in the following order:
Mounted farmers, agricultural laborers, pro-
vinciat Populations, London trades council,
representatives from printing, bodybuilding,
paper, iron, metal, clothing, leather. shipping,
building, cabinet making, fancy goods and
general trades, political clubs, liberal associa-
lions, temperance bodies and friendly societies.
Each section as it arrived at the park
marched to the platform assigned to it, aud
the band played until the chairman arrived.
AS the procession was starting from the en-
bankment several loud explosions were heard
near the government offices The crowds were
greatly frightened and thousands made rush
towards Whitehall, believing the explosions
due to dynamite. The scare was ended when
it was found that the explosions we're nothing
more than salute which the Horse Guards
were firing in honor of the birth of the
Duchess of AlbaDy's son.
The route of procession lay along Parlia-
ment street, Whitehall, Charing Cross Pail
Mall, St. James and Picadilly streets. Before
the procession started tho embankment be-
came surging mass of humanity. Viewed
from Hungerford bridge it presented an I'M
broken array of human heads relieved only by
the blue banners and trees along the smbank-
ment. The trade societies carried emblems of
their respective crafts, and notable among
these was the banner borne by the tailors
which represented Adam and Eve after the
ldli' 1u6 AGRICULTURAL l2DOreFS were loudly
cheered. A resolution prepared for sub
mission to the meeting protests against the
rejection of the franchise bill by the irrespon-
slble and unrepreseDtative House of Lords, ex-
presses approval oi GfaeStones action and de-
clares that continued existence of the I'M
checked power of impeding the popular will
which the Lords exercise is not conducive
to the welfare of the people aud peace aud
prosperity of the country.
tombstone was carried in the procession,
inscribed: "To the memory of the House of
Lords, 1884" Dense masses of spectators
along the route interfered with the progress of
the procession. II took full hour and half
TO clear the embankment, aud the end of the
procession had not left Parliament street when
the head had entered the park. Mr. Cham
oerlain, president of the board of trade, and
other ministers witnessed the procession, an
they were loudly cheered. Some of the bands
in the procession played the "Dead March in
Saul"
When the procession had arrived at the
park, speeches were made, aud the resolution
previously prepared was submitted and adopt
ed. There was heavy rain toward the close
OF the meeting.
The Duke OF Cambridge, commander.in-
Chief of the British army, the Marquis of
Harrington, Secretary of War, and Sir VIM.
Vernon Harcourt, Home Secretary, reviewed
the procession as 1t passed the war office, and
they were cheered by members of the process
sion. People of prominence and note were
stationed at various places olong the route, and
watched tie procession. Lord Randolph
Churchill and other well known Tories, were
at this windows of the Cotton Club rooms, and
were vigorously Kissed by the passing throng.
The Marquis of Sslisbury's residence, in AR.
hngton street, was guarded by police. A slight
commotion was created there before the arriv-
al OF the procession by man crying, "Down
with the peers" Order was quickly restored,
however, and no disturb inca occurred while
the procession was passing.