New-York tribune., 1886-02-23
THE LONDON RIOTS.
dOW THEY BEGAN. WHAT WAS DONE. WHO
is RESPONSIBLE

A Aurmher of men, computed at 5000, were Occu-
med Yesterday afternoon III London III giving a
practical illustration of Mr.. Chamberlains theory
nf ronsom. Starting from Trafalgar Square, they
marched westward through Pail Mall, St Jamess
81 and Pjccadilly to Hyde Park. AS they went
they smashed windows bIoke open and plundered
shops and restored to themselves portion of their
rights in the shape of watches worn by such capt.
taists as happened to come in their way. Once in
HYDE Park they attacked carriages, broke them in
pieces beat the livered menals base enough 10
do service for wages, msulted ladies VINO
were driving, and stripped men. lhey
then held a short meeting aud made speeches. lheh
they quilted the Park by Stanhope Gate, marcneu
through Deap-st. to South Audley-st.' SacKeu It,
passed through Grosvenor Square oreah'iR
the windows on their line OF advance sackcu
North AuGley-st, and reached oHlora-s,'
laden with plunder. The shops IN oNloru-S'.
had been closed, and as they are pro'ec'eo
bv iron shutters were not easy to nie without
better preparations than Mr. Chamberlalns discl-
MES had been able to make on the spur OF the mo-
men+ So. after wrecking where they could, they
slowly dispersed
The ouartcr through which this procession took it's
way is the wcathiest and most fashionable OF Lon
don. Pail Mall has been called street of palaces;
most of which are clubs. st. Jamcssst slightly less
snlendd but even more arstocratic, is the site of
the best clubs IN London. Piccadllly consists
partly of expensive shops partly of clubs partly OF
private houses inhabited by the cream OF society,"
South Audley-st. is of mixed composition IKE
Plccadily. Grosvenor Square is the ccntreo Oh May
fair The time occupied by the movement and in-
cldental operations of this multitude was from TWO
10 three hours During the whole of that time they
were in absolute possession and unchecked control
of the West End of London. If they did not carry
any further than they did Mr.. Chambcrlains doc
trine of restitution, 1t was because they dld not
choose to-because perhaps, of the moderation Whch
is Characteristic (sOmetimes) of men animated bY n
high purpose; because one or two speakers re-
eretfullv remarked of imperfect organization; or
posslhly because for want of those habits of re-
Election which are among the privileges ofa leisured
class these victims of the existing social order did
not fully realize their strength and the advantages
of their position.
As | have mentioned Mr.. Chamberlams name
/ ought perhaps to explain that he was not on this
occasion present IN person. He made no speech
either in Trafalgar Square or i'll Hyde Park and
took no part in any of the proceedings Whether
any OF the speeches TO his taste, cannot say.
That the acts which followed were not may be
taken for granted. The restitution which he
favors is to be accomplished by process of law; con-
fscation by act of Parliament aud not by the more
rough and ready methods adopted yesterday. lie
must, however. begin to be aware that the man who
lets loose new idea on the community cannot al
WAYS direct in person the application OF IT, or eXer
else any control whatever over the methods which
the more ardent of his followers may see fit to put
in practice That is not limitation upon his re-
sponsibility for preaching the doctrine the prob
able consequences of which he was bound to con-
slider before he gave it to the public. The crash OF
the windows IN ST. Jamess-st. the echo of Mr..
Chamberlains speech in Birmingham Society, he
said was something more than liberation III re-
turn for the restriction II imposes on mems liberty
of action 1t may be so, but it is hard that the
ransom of property in general should he levied on
few jewellers of Piccadllly. Not Mr. Chamberlain.
however but as | said. Socialists of
more advanced type were the orator, Of
yesterday Of these. Mr.. John Burns and Mr..
Hyndman were the chief. They appeared on the
scene in opposition 10 demCnsra ION of the unem-
ployed workiugmen of London, who had called a
meeting in Trafalgar Square to lay their griey-
ances before the public. The Socialists whom
Messrs Burns and Hypdman represent, desire, no
doubt that the distress of the unemployed shall be
relieved But il must be relieved according 10 the
gospel of Socialism or not at all. The wOrkingmen
must not ask for charity; they must not ask for
fair trade; they must not ask or accept anything
under the present organization of society. They
must fill their mouths by agitation for new social
order OF lei them stay empty. YOu may OF may
not remember ia have heard something about the
Social Democratic Federation. THIS is body of |
which Mr.. John Burns and Mr.. Hyndman are lead |
ing members. Mr. William Morrs Is, or was,
member but there has been split III the Socialist
camp, and whether Mr. Hyndman or Mr. Morris be |
the seceders. and which IL the true church, and |
who belongs to il, are questions | cannot answer.
Bat the Social Democratic Federation undertook |
to break up he meeting of the Unemployed and to
substitute for it a meeting of their own. Both |
NEE ings were held The workngmen said their
say and went quietly home. The Socialists, unable
TO capture Trafalgar Square, effected change OF
base to the steps and porch of the National Gallery
looking down on the Square, aud from this cOigu Of
vantage spoke to the city and The world
They spoke with great violence Mr.. Burns eX-
pressed his opinion that hanging was too good for
landlords and capitalists Mr.. Hyndman melted
his hearers to look at the clubs in Pail Mall where
rich men were sitting IN comfort careless whether
the poor starved or not He cried shame those be-
fore him for not resisting oppression. They should |
stand together as workingmen against the plunder-
ing classes and demand, not charity, but the land
and machinery of England which was theirs be- |
cause their labor made it valuable This, you |
perceive is stated more crudely and per- |
laps more broadly than Mr.. Chamber |
lans dcctrine of ransom, but the idea at the bot
tom of each is the same. Mr.. Burns became crnder
Btlll When he feinarkcu lhdU the neAO tlho lhcy |
met it would be to sack the shops His hearers as
you already know accepted the general policy and
thought to-day better time than tomorrow TO
execute il. as 10 doubt il was. He declared him
self rcvolutiOnIst BY way of indicating the sort
OF revolution he had in mind, he displayed a red
flag, the folds of which were broad enough to cover
NJ Hyndman also. "Unless we get bread they
must get lead" was another sentence which showed
what was working III Mr. BurnPs mind. And so
with the red flag flying and Mr.. Burns borne on
their shoulders and Mr.. Hyndman more modestly
embosomed in the throng. this army OF social
Teformers took up its march westward; with the