The Labor enquirer., 1886-11-27
Lord MAYORS DAY II LOnOon.
The Revslatlen.ry Social Democr.ts
Held Their Meeting In TrafAigar
square In Defiance 81 Authority.

square In Defiance 81 Authority.
Regular Correspondence Of The Enquirer.
Once again the Social Democrats OF
London have scored great victory over
the capitalistic government of England.
In spite of every obstacle we have held
a meeting which had been prohibited
by the authorities, backed up by their
thousands of policemen and soldiers, we
have carried our resolutions in the teeth
of the enemy and without the loss OF q
single life. Audacity, audacity. ever
and always audacity has once more car
ried us on to victory.
1t will be known to the readers OF The
ENQUIRER that about month ago we
decided to call upon the unemploYed to
exhibit their misery at the rear Of the
lord mayors show in order that the
capitalist class might have an opportu-
nifty of seeing no. many thousands
there were out of work and in state OF
semi-starvatlon in this nation:city. The
contrast between their misery and the
luxurious display of the lord mayor and
his friends would, it was thought, be eff
fective and likely to move the authori-
ties to adopt our temporary proposals to
relieve the distress. These proposals
which we have advocated for the past
three years as ameliorative measures
and stepping stones to better state of
society are briefly the enactment of a le.
gal eight hour day and the starting of
relief works.
Night after night since the publica-
ton of our manifesto of invitation to the
unemployed to follow the procession we
have agitated at thu street corners and
in the parks and public places of the
metropolis. At least 500 meetings, at
tended by various numbers of people
ranging from 200 to 5000, have been
held, during the month, and at all these
NEE ings our unemployed resolution"
embodying our temporary proposals
have been carried, in most cases unani-
mously, and in no case has there been
more than three or four dissentients.
Practically. therefore, the mass of the
people of London are with US in this
matter. The same resolution has been
carried at many of the liberal and radi-
cal clubs in the metropolis. We have
also been we'll supported by our COM
rades in Glasgow, Edinburg, Paisley
Greenoch and the other large towns i'll
Scotland, as we'll as by our comrades in
the other large English towns such as
Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham and
Wolwlch, where the resolution has beer
carried with equal success.
1t is scarcely necessary for me to say
that the English capitalist press has
treated us during this agitation in pretty
much the same way as the American
capitalist press treated the American
workers during April and May of this
year. We have &C one time been de-
nounc, d in the most violent way az
cut throats, thieves, murderers, ETC., etc.
and the authorities have been wildly
appealed to to use force against us, anC
az another we have been spoken of as in
significant and contemplate individuals
who in no way represent the genuine
unemployed" or the "bona fde working
man." In word, grovelling fear hal
been varied with attempts keep their
courage up by minimisng the import
ance of the Socialists and it was especi
ally to be noted, on lord mayors day
that the papers which had been mos
vituperative beforehand we're most care
fully barrlcaded on that occasion. The
Telegraph especially, whose Chicago
liar-correspondent gave such picturesque
description of bombs flying here anc
there and every where in the haymar
ket on the fourth Cf Nav, and whose
lying propensities have had full scope
in relation to one agitation, had It's of
flee we'll boarded up.
At one time the capitalists became &c
1 terrified that it was suggested that the
show itself should be abandoned this
year. Finally the city chief of the po,
lice plucked up courage and prohibited
our procession, and mustv act of par
lament was hunted up to justify this ar.
bitrary proceeding. We protested Wig
orousy against this despotic action, bu
finally, when it became apparent tina
the authorities would not hesitate tt
butcher the unarmed men who at
tempted to follow the show, we decided
to abandon the procession in favor of g
meeting which we called in Trafalgar
square, (well known in connection with
the eighth of February affair." fr
o'clock on the afternoon of the lore
mayors day.
Meanwhile our meetings were care
fully watched. Detectives noted all our
utterances, and many police being in at
tendance. At a meeting on the Albert
embank ment on the night before the
demonstration l counted over eighty
foot policemen and six mounted men
in addition to which there were several
plain clothes men" in the crowd. Tnat
night a proclamation prohibiting oul
meeting in Trafalgar square was posted
all over the metropolis.
When the day arrived the thorough,