Workmen's advocate., 1886-12-19
TROUBL0US TIMES.
GREAT DISTRESS AMONG THE
 ENGLISH MASSES.
Socialist Demonstration in Favor of the misunderstanding the Prime Minister -- Social.
 Democratic Progress.
 Rack Renting.
Special to the WonKMgN's ADVOCATE.

Special to the WoRKMgN's ADVOCATE.
 LONDON, Dec. 3.--The Socialist movement is making rapid strides in this country. The wonderful success which attended our dem0n- straton in Trafalgar Square, on No- vember 2lst, has given us a great impetus. Such a demonstration has never before been held in Trafal gar Square. More than 100, ,OOO persons were present. The square was lit- erally packed with human beings, while crowds thronged the neighbor- ing thoroughfares. The enthusiasm was very great, and the orderly man. ner in which our contingent marched into and away from the square, greatly impressed the spectators as it showed the power and discipline of the organization. At the com mencement of the meeting depu- tation was told off to go to Lord Salisbury's house in Arlington street. Of course the Tory Prime Minister was notat home, and the deputatlon, after leaving a memorial containing the proposals of the Soclal-Demo- cratic Federation for the alleviation of the present distress, withdrew, protesting against Lord Salisbury's absence in matter of such grave importance. .................
 On returning to the Square, where the meeting was being carried on, the members of the deputation went to their respective platforms to re- port what had taken place at Ar lington street. The announcement that Lord Salisbury had chosen to dine at Hatfield instead of receiving in person the deputation of unem- ployed workers, was received with shouts of indignation from the thou sands assembled, and 8 resolution in that sense was passed. The police, both foot and mounted, were pres ent in full force, but as they did not interfere no disturbance occurred to mar the proceedings. The military and cannon, which had in the first instance been ordered to be held in readiness, were not brought out. As a matter of fact, the laugh which was raised at this action when our letter to Sir Charles Warren, ridi- culing these preparations and offer ing to provide a Soclal-Democratlc guard for the cannons in case they might burst, appeared in the pubic press, compelled the authorities to disavow their first intentions.
 Lord Salisbury's reply to the me- morial, which came few days after, was worthy of the class of which he is the representative. He stated that it was his opinion that the pro- viding of useful labor by which the starving unemployed might tempo rarily gain a livelihood, the reduc- tion of the hours of labor to eight a day in all government establish ments, the cultivation of waste lands, the erection of artisans dwell lings on vacant spaces, &c., would only increase the prevailing distress. We are now drawing up manifesto refuting this absurd statement on the part of the Prime Minister. The members of the London branches of the $ D. F. (there are now twenty in working order) are also making q house to house visitation III the poorer districts for the purpose of collecting statistics of those in and out of work. Armed with the reliable information which we shall obtain by these means we shall resume our agitation on behalf of the unemployed.
 In the provinces we are likewise making progress. On ef our best lec- turers, T. Mann, the author ot the pamphlet on the Eight Hour Working Day." has been sent by us to Birmingham and district. He has succeeded in establishing a