The Labor enquirer., 1888-04-28
LONDON | LETTER
Account Of the Celebration Of
y the Commune in the
Metropolis.
KRAPOTKINR is WELCOMED
The Women Of England Begints Grasp
the Sscislistic Idea Race and Ma
tisnal Prejudises Dead.

tienal Prejudises Dead.
For the Enquirer.
1t was decided this year, by the
English socialist societies, to have
a celebration of the Commune ol
which the organization should be
entirely in their hands, This was
done. because hitherto the charge
has been thrown by the hirelings
of the capitalist press against
most of celebrations of this kind
that they have been largely under
the management and the direction
of our foreign comrades. The
socialist movement in England is
now so strong, both in native-born
speakers and hearers, that it would
be possible to hold two or three
celebrations of an equal size to
that of last Monday. 1t was there
fore determined to unite in this
celebration the English socialist
societies, who would invite speak
ers from the different foreign
bodies to give that international
flavor so necessary to these DEM
onstrations.
Owing to strong prejudices of
respectable classes it was found
very difficult for some time to OBJ
tain a suitable hall. So strong is
feeling of the modern property
owners against all advanced
thought that even the moderate
radical can often find no resting
place for the sole of his foot in
any hall of decent size within the
metropolis. At last the Store
street hall, close to- Tottenham
court road, was obtained after
much trouble and difficulty, and
the meeting was announced for
Monday, March Io. On that
evening the hall was packed by
an interested and enthusiastic au-
dience. The hall is a long
building with sloping platform at
one end and a small gallery at the
other. On the platform were ar
ranged the choir of the Socialist
League, the speakers and a few
spectators. The place was gaily
decorated with red flags and the
banners of the Socialist League
and of the Social Democratic Fed
Grafton. H. M. Hyndman was the
chairman and the speakers names
were as follows: John Burns,
Frank Kitz, Mrs. Wilson, William
Morris, Mrs. Aveling, H. H. Spar
ling and Mrs. Hicks. Kantsky
and Krapotkine represented our
foreign comrades. There were
many features of interest about
this meeting which although
thoroughly English in its con-
stituents, yet was thoroughly in
ternational both in its object and
feeling. Every speaker made a
reference to the international IA.
ture of the struggle between the
workman and his employer and
the applause was at its loudes'
when the heroism of the men O.
Paris II years ago was held up a.
an example to be admired ane
initiated.
In nothing was this good feeling
shown more strongly than in th'
reception given to one who hae
suffered for the cause in othe
lands than ours. Itwas remarked
by interested eye-witnesses tha
inc one was better received by tn
large audience than Prince Kra
potkine. An English audience
applauding so heartily a Russian
socialist was indeed triumph
over national prejudices, hithert'
deemed ineradicable. 1t was as j
a French audience should rise +
its feet to cheer a German, who's
merit was that he had suffered TO
his opinions in another cline
l will freely confess | have seldom
seen such enthusiasm as that dis
played in the hall in Store street
when Krapotkine stepped upo
the platform. Were these tn
cold and formal Englishmena a
intelligent foreigner might we