The Labor enquirer., 1886-04-24
Another Account, Given From
the Pen Of Comrade Mahon,
Of England.
He Holds That Socialists Should
DiseOuntenance ALI Rioting
and Acts of Violence.
The Present System Of Individual
Grasping Must be Replaced by
Governmental Cooperation.

For the Enquirer. -.
On the afternoon of February mass
meeting of the unemployed workers was
held at Trefalgar square, London. The
meeting was got up by some renegade
workingmen whom most people believe
to be in the pay Of one Of the political
parties and whom no one believes to be
honestly working for any, cause. The
Ileeting would probably have been
email one and quiet but it became
known that the Socialists intended to
oppose the milk and water doctrines of
the fair traders. The result was to bring
in immense crowd of people. OF course
Ihe promoters Of the meeting got no at
sention from the assembly. except that a
lew enterprising spirits diverted them
selves by smashing their platforms.
The attraction was the members Of the
Social Democratic Federation of whom
the chief speaker was Burn =, whose tre-
mendous voice was the only one able to
make itself audible in the large square.
A few hours of tall Revolut onary talk
ensued, which the Gro owd seemed to en-
joy. The speeches were enlivened
throughout by variety of pointed and
rather warike interjections from among
the crowd. A good many of the people
seemed to think that hanging the CAPT.
talists and politicians would be good
way of improving the country; from
which it may be inferred that the Brit
ish workingman's education Is progress
ing favorably. Anyhow, the fiery
speeches were received with enthusiasm.
After the members of the Social Demo
cratic Federation got tired of shouting
the virtues of social revolt the meeting
began to disperse. No one expected
anything extraordinary to happen-be-
yond the spectacle of the Workingman
taking an interest in his own we'll being.
But exciting incidents were in store.
A part of the meeting went in process
sloa to Hyde Park. On the way they
had to pass some middle-class clubs.
The occupants-some insolent and idle
dawdlers-of one of these clubs, ap-
pea7ed at the windows and began jeer-
ing and mocking at the hungry crowd in
the streets beneath. This silly action
excited the people, as might have been
expected, and some stones were thrown.
AS far as l can gather from the conflict
ing accounts the first missiles sent at the
heads of these gentlemen" were few
milk pals. Be that is it NAV, the hrst
of the throwing was soon followed by
showers of stones and whatever else the
crowd could lay their hands on. The
rowdY element seized the fine chance
given it and general pillaging and riot.
ing ensued.
The crowd proceeded on its way to
Hyde Park carrying devastation with it.
Shop windows we're broken and the dis
played goods carried off. The crowd
had no discrimination, but seemed
flied with the idea Of creating general
havoc and in this thev undoubtedly
succeeded. OF course the object of the
main body of the rioters was pillage, but
there was higher feeling than this as ls
proved by the report that good deal OF
iewelry that might have been pocketed
was dashed on the ground and broken
in pieces. Bottles of wine were treated
In a similar manner in many cases,
though not in most. There does notap-
PEER to have been much personal violence
offered anyone by the crowd. AS the
procession got near the park some car'
rlages we're injured and the occupants
robbed. One lady, who ordered her
coachman to drive over the dogs" was
maItreated.
When HYDE Park was reached meet
Ing was held and the Social Democrats
strongly denounced the rioters. 1t has
also since been proven on the evidence
OF one so unbiased as a conservative M.
F. that the Socialists did all in their
power to check the fury Of the crowd
snd saved several people from violence
end robbery.
After this the crowd dispersed by va
rious routes. But on the two following
days London was strange spectacle
Rumors of an invasion by armies OF the
unemployed were industriouslV circu-
lated by the press andthe police. Shop
KEEPERS not only suspended business but
barricaded their windows and doors !;
these barricades being for the greater
part of an amusinely fimsy and useless
kind. London city-the centre OF MOD
ern commerce and civilization was In
a panic and looked as If in state OF
siege as we'll. 1t was three or four days
before London was herself again, and
for good time afterwards there was
fear and trembling in the hearts OF tne
bourgeois. A merchant in the city bade
one of his employees good night, adding
in mournful tone that thev might
never meet again. How would that
sorrow-stricken merchant have felt had
he known that his dutiful servant was a
Socialist, and that after giving his mas
ter some hYpocrltical sympathy he hass-
ened off to Trafalgar square to ascertain
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