Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-09
LABOR RIOTS
IN ENGLAND AND AMERICA.

lBy AngiO-American cable 10 the Dtsratsh.l
LONDON, February S.-The " Starv-
ing Mechanics " Of London to-day held
mass-meeting in Trafalgar Square,
around the Nelson monument, aud it
resulted in q riot. The proceedings
were opened WITH the assemblage Of ten
thousand men. The police were pre-
sent in large numbers. They at once
saw that the socialistic element Of Lon
don greatly predomiuated in the crowd,
which was also managed by well-known
Socialists, and extraordinary vigilance
was ordered to preserve the peace at all
hazards.
At Z o'clock this evening all that part
Of the city in the neighborhood OF the
National Gallery, Carlton Club, and
Reform Club is in possession Of mobs.
Several faction fights have already taken
place among the rioters, and furious
mob is now marching through St.
James street and Picadilly on its way
TO HYDE Park to hold a meeting.
The mob is cursing the authorities,
attacking shops, sacking saloons,
getting drunk. and smashing win
dows. On its way to Hyde
Park the front of the mob made an
effort to enter the War Office, but turn
ed away when the sentinel at the en-
trance confronted the intruders with his
bayonet. Conspicuous among the
buildings attacked by the mob was that
occupied by the Devonshire Club and
that occupied as the residence Of Arnold
Morley. the newly-appointed Patronage
Secretary. The police along the route
TO HYDE Park were brushed out Of the
way By the rioters as so many men OF
straw. and many Of the officers were
terribly whipped for their interference.
Conspicuous among the leaders OF
the multitude was Burns. who ran as
Socialist candidate in Nottingham in the
recent election. He sneered at the
police and acted generally as if he
wished to bring about a conflict be-
tween them and the people. Finally
he assembled the pedestal OF the Nelson
column for the purpose of delivering
harsngue. He was well aware that
this act would not be tolerated, and the
police politely ordered him to get down.
This be refused to DO, appealing to the
crowd to resist interference with the
exercise Of popular rights" The Otii-
GERS. however. were determined, and
they pushed their way through the
excited and resisting mass of hu-
mainly, and by force removed
Burns from the pedestal. by this
time the crowd had vastly augmented,
and the streets adjacent were packed
! with surging mobs. The stir in the
elevated spot where the Burns incident
took place was easily perceptible over
almost the entire area covered by the
concourse. and the sight Of helmets and
uniforms in the struggle was accepted
as visible proof Of the commencement
Of a fight against the law Burns's
appeal was responded to with general
ard fearful howl and an attempted rush
| from all directions 20 the point Of In
terest. Burns had nov been removed
some distance from the position he had
attempted 10 occupy. lie became EN-
boldened BIZ the cries Of the throng, aud
made a desperate effort 70 recover his
lost ground. He was so effectively helped
by the mob that officers on the spot
were brushed out Of the way. and the
orator was soon pressed up against the
monument. lie quickly reascended the
pedestal. accompanied by a number OF
other Socialist leaders. Burns bore a
red flag. and he waved it to the assem-
blage as a signal Of his triumph over
the authorities. lie was greeted with
deafening shouts. repeated again and
again. Burns now leisurely finished
MS address. lie then read q tiercely-
worded resolution.
This denounced 1.-The authors Of the
present distress in England demand
ing that Parliament 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 govern
meut; declared that II was the duty Of
the Government to afford every facility
for the employment Of British cap
ital at home for the benefit
Of the British people, and Il
give British enterprise preference over
foreign and asserted that the time had
arrived for Parliament 10 earnestly
legislate for the relief Of the depression
in English agricultural industry. The
resolutions also demanded the imme
date appointment Of Minister Of Com
merce and Minister Of Agriculture, anc
concluded with a resolve that cOpie:
should be forwarded TO Gladstone, Lord
Salisbury, Parnell, and the Board o.
Public Works.
The reading Of the resolutions wa.
accompanied by fierce comment and
short explanatory speeches by various
orators who stood with Burns. Some
Of these orators went so far as to war;
tire Government that, although tht
"Starying Mechanics Of London were
now attempting to draw attention tC
their needs by quiet and peaceful agita
ton, they we're bound 10 get bread
and would get it by attacking tn,
bakers shops next if the Government
cid not come to their relief.
Burns himself. in one OF these side
speeches, denounced the present HOus'
Of Commons as a body OF landlords an
capitalists for whom hanging was TOT
good. lie also declared that the people
had assembled TO summon Parliament L
Immediately relieve the distress Of Bri
fish workingmen; that the people
wanted the question settled at once
and peaceably if possible. Otherwis'
revolution was inevitable.
All this so aggravated the excitemen
ofthe huge mob that the police returned
with an increased force and mad
another assault. They succeeded Il
forcing their way up to the pedestal
They reached this point Just as tn
resolutions, which had already beef
offered and seconded, were about TO b
: submitted to the mob for approval
The officers at once ordered the pro
eeedings 10 be discontinued on tn
= pedestal and commanded Burns an
, his colleagues to come down. This the,
refused TO do, and the officers dragge'
1 \ ! thar frnu