The Labor enquirer., 1886-04-03
A RELIABLE REPORT.
The Truth About the Troubles In LON
don Which Are Misrepresented
by Capitalist Papers.
For the Enquirer

II Palace Chambers, 9 Bridge Street,
S.W. LONDON. March 6, 1886.
We shall feel obliged if you will
kindly allow us space for the following,
as the reports of the recent disturbances
IN London which have appeared in the
American capitalist press are all more OF
less untrue:
The meeting in Trafalgar square on
the eighth of last month was not called
by the Social Democratic Federation,
but by the "fair traders" who are sim
ply hacks of the tory party and who,
with their bogus general laborcrs' ANAL
gamated unions" tried to get the unem-
ployed workmen together and to pass
resolutions setting the English working
classes against their brethren of other
nations in order to stake the wind out of
our SAILS" as our Lon Ion Branches had
for some weeks previous, been carrying
on vigorous unemployed agitation in
their respective districts. Those of US
f" ho were able to attend on the Monday
naturally did not feel inclined to let the
meeting pass without endeavoring to
undeceive those assembled.
We, therefore, commenced Our meet
ing before the others arrived on the
scene. Our speakers were Burns, who
acted as chairman, Burrows, Champion
Culwick, Hyndman, Mason, Walker,
Watts and Williams, of the Social Dem
ocratic Federation, and Sparkling, of the
Social League. For fuller details you
can refer to our journal, Justice. The
points we wish to make clear to your
readers are: That the resolutions re-
ported to have been moved by us are
the resolutions of the "fair traders"
Our resolution, which was carried with
acclamation, was:
"That this meeting ofthe unemployed
workingmen of London, driven into des-
titution and misery by the systematic
and legalized robbery of the capitalist
and landlord class, demands that steps
be Immediately taken to give them rea-
sonable employment at living rates of
wages that the hours or work in all
trades be reduced by law to eight or less
day; and calls upon working classes
throughout the country to- organize
themselves for a Social Revolution
which shall overthrow the Infamous sys-
tenn oflabor-plunder maintained for the
benefit of few which crushes them to-
day"
There was no conflict with the police,
as reported, as there we're scarcely any
present until after thu destruction had
taken place. The fight between Burns
and the police at the Nelson monument
is entirely disproved by the evidence
given before Sir James Ingham by In
spector Dunlap, who said "He (Burns)
was on the base of the Nelson monu-
ment when told him speaking was not
allowed on the column He listened
very courteouslY indeed, and said, If
you will give me few minutes there
shall be no row, and l will clear the COL
umn for you In the exercise of my
discretionI 1 consented to the arrange
ment. Mr.. Burns called out to them
(the crowd to get down and they obeyed
him. He seemed to have great control
over the people there, and he certainly
fulfilled his promise to me-"
The re ort that Burns uttered various
threats about dread and lead" and
powder and shot" and that he ordered
the crowd to 90 westward is
also false. The suggestion to 60 to the
West End came from the crowd. They
were orderly until they came to the
Reform and Carlton clubs. The middle
class occupants, who were at the
windows, sneered and ieered at the pro-
cession. The crowd lost its temper and
stone-throwing began. The principal
damage done on the route to Hyde Park
was window-breaking; willie the Social
lists ere speaking and after they had
dispersed, the looting of the shops was
done. For this the Socialists are not re-
sponsible, as no police we're present to
keep the crowd in order.
What, however, gives us great satisfac-
ton is that the whole of the Socialist and
labor press of America appear to have
seen through the falsehoods of the capi-
talist press and to have truthfully COM
mented on what took place.
Four of our comrades, viz, Burns,
Champion, Hyndman and Williams
have been prosecuted by the liberalC)
government for incitting riot. They
have had four hearings at the Bow
Street police court, and have been COM
mitted for trial. They will be tried
next month. We are raising a defense
fund here to help defray the legal ex-
penses which may be very heavy. Legal
advice is absolutely necessary as we do
not want our comrades to be incarcerated
in gaol for months perhaps years, upon
some legal technicalitY, the.existence of
which may be-4nown only to members
of the legal profession. Therefore, if
any of our American fellow workers in
the cause of labor can spare a small
amount towards the defense fund it will
be gladly accepted by US, and iffuller in
formation is wanted, as to our progress,