The Labor enquirer., 1886-02-13
oUTCAsT LONDON.

1 w 4Os.AS =
The Unemployed and Starving ef the
worlds Metropolis B.eoming
Desperate.
LONDON, Feb. 8.-The starving me-
chanics of London to-day held mass
meeting in Trafalgar Square, around the
Nelson monument, and it resulted in
riot. The proceedings we're opened
with the assemblage of 10000 men. The
police we're present in large numbers.
Conspicuous among the leaders OF the
multitude was Burns. who ran as the 30
cialist candidate in Nottingham in the
recent election. He assembled the ped
estal of the Nelson column for the pur-
pose of delivering speech and the po-5
llice politely ordered him to get down.
This he refused to do. appealing to the
crowd to resist any interference with
the exercise of popular rights. The Off
GERS, however, were determined, and
they pushed their way through the ex-
cited and resisting mass and by force
removed Burns from the pedestal, BY
this time tie crowd had vastly aug
mented, and the streets adjacent were
packed with surging mobs.
| Burns had now been removed some
distance from the position which he had
attempted to occupy He. was helped
by the mob and the officers on the
spot were brushed out of the way and
i the orator was soon pressed up against
1 the monument. He quickly reascended
the pedestal, accompanied by number
of other Socialist leaders. Burns bore a
red flag and he waved it to the assem-
blage as signal of his triumph. He
was greeted with deafening shouts,
which were repeated again and again.
| He then read some resolutions which
denounced the authors of the present
distress in England, demanded that par
lament should start public works to
give employment and bread to the tens
of thousands of deserving men who were
out of work through no fault of their
own, but because of bad government,
and declared that it was the duty of the
government to afford every facility for
the employment of British workmen,
and asserted that the time had arrived
for parliament to earnestly legislate for
the relief of the depression in the En-
lglish agricultural industry. ..-.,-
1 After the adoption of the resolutions
the mob made raid upon the surround
ing business houses, and helped them
selves to what they needed. s.
\ The leaders of the Socialists, especi-
ally Burns, Hyndman. Williams and
Champion will probably be prosecuted.
The most violent acts were committed
lon North and South Andley streets and
Oxford street. Probably 200 shops and
club houses were seriously damaged.
About fiftv shops were pillaged, includ-
ing jewellers, butchers, bakers and wine
shops.
The police were powerless at first, but
ultimately they succeeded in restoring
order by breaking up the ranks of the
rioters into small squads. The military
were kept under arms all the evening,
| rol,nanoAp rafro1lpI tho
streets.
LONDON, Feb. S-Emissaries of the
I London Socialists organization are en-
fgaged in distributing circulars in Dublin,
urging the Irish people not to accept
any home-rule legislation involving a
system of rent-paving,
LONDON, Feb. 9.-Sparling, Socialist
leader, in an interview in relation to
the part taken by the Socialists In the
demonstrations Yesterday, said that
while he did not approve of rioting, still
he could but rejoice at an event which
tended to show that soci ETY. was inse,
cure. In regard to the stone throwing
at the Carlton club, Sparkling said the
members of that body had brought the
attack upon themselves by appearing at
the windows and laughing and jeering at
the mob. In explanation of the rough
treatment to which a lady had been
subjected by the rioters. he said her
carriage had been stopped because the
lady was heard to order her coachman
to "drive over these dogs" (the mob).
Sparkling said the mob selected and at
tackled those shops which exhibited the
royal arms.
Hyndman, the president of the Dem
ocratic Federation disclaims any re-
sponsibility for the actions of the mob
Yesterday. He predicts that trouble of
very serious proportions will ensue if
the distress which is existing among the
working people is not soon relieved.
Men will not starve forever, he says
and if the authorities refuse to help
them, then they must not be surprised
| is force is resorted to to procure bread.
Burns, Champion, Hyndman and Will
liams, the four Socialists, called this
afternoon upon Mr.. Joseph Chamber
lain, president of the local government
board, at his Office. Mr.. Chamberlain
declined to receive the Socialists per-
sonally, but conveyed to them his will
ingness to give attention to anything