New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-15
THELONDON STREETS.
WITH NOTES on TIE CLAIM OF TIE
MINORITY TO EXCLUDE THE MAJORITY


Mr. Pckersgill and Mr.. Cremer agree with Sir
wilfrd Lawson They organizing pro-
cession for Saturday 10 protest against COM
pensation 10 publicans The streets oil hohuo"
in their view ought to be the property OF TINS
procession for the time being. There will he, per-
hans twenty thousand protesting persons In
line and the remaining four millions nine hunofed
and eighty thousand inhabitants of London ought
70 Get ont Of their way Such is, in effect their
contention II may not seem arguabe, but 1t is
argued at great length and with heat There was
a debate on it yesterday in the House Of Com
mons. and 12l members OF the Mother of Parha-
ments voted for this view; which only 1alled
10 prevail because 23l voted the other way.
A majority of 40 in a House of 3o2 is goou
majority, but it is the less depioraoe 10
find so large a minority ready to MAINTAIN purely
fanatical theory of public order
The Police of London are under the cohToi
OF the Home Office. The real Chief OF foiice Is
the Home Secretary, and the Home Secretary Is
Mr. Henry Matthews The administrative mead
Of the force is the Chief Commissioner Mr. Monro
Between these two authorities there has been
conflict Mr. Matthews before now has had con-
6icts with an earlier Chief Commissioner Sir
Charles Warren He has even had confllct
with himself; siding sometimes WIN tnose VINO
wanted to break, and sometimes With those VINO
wanted 70 preserve. the peace tie Is an aoie
LAWYER: somewhat deficient in that percnptorlness
of mind essential to executive efficiency. lie is
a politician. also Of that little group OF
seventeen persons who compose the CABINET, ana
who sometimes take decisions on grave pubic
questions with some reference to party politics
a bye-election, or an eddy in that public opinion
of which the press is presumed to he. and occa-
sionally is an accurate exponent He is pulled
hithcr and thither lie first suppressed, then
tolerated, then again suppressed, the Trafalgar
Square mobs lie has allowed professions and
stopped professions: allowed them at one moment
10 collect where they liked. and march whittier
they liked: then forbidden them TO assemble en-
cept at specified place. and closed all streets
TO them except those which he indicated oy
police order. No man who has seen much street,
riotirg can have any dorbt which of these two
policies is the right one, bat it may almost be
said that IL would he better to adhere firmly TO
The wrong than sometimes n one and sometimes
20 the other. The essential thing is that the
rough of London should know he has master
who knows his mind
The end Of the last conflict between Mr. Mat
thews and Mr.. Monro the triumph Of Mr..
Monro. The Chief Commissioner is not member
of the Cabinet. and has, happily. nothing 10 do
with byeelections. or with politics of any kind
His only business is 70 govern his depa rtment and
keep order in London; a duty quite large enough
20 take all the time Of an able man. When the
anti-compensation people applied 10 him fort
night ago about their procession. the conflict with
Mr. Matthews hogan. II NAV be necessary 10 point
out that the Local-Option party, of which Sir
Wlf1G Lawson and Mr. Caine leaders, is
considerable party. and controls many votes. IL
controls so many that Mr.. Gladstone has lately
made fresh hid for them, and his first lieutenant
in the House OF Commons, Sir William Harcourt,
las taken pains TO have il known that on this
question as on Home Rule, he has become a con-
vert. or in the political slang now current, has
found salvation. The Ministry, having cast i'll
their lot with the Pubcans, the Opposition could
not well do otherwise than assume the character
Of champion OF the anti-Publican party. The Min
istry however, would like TO carry water on both
shoulders: to do justice TO the Publican and not
entirely ALLEVIATE the Pharisee. IL is an effort
doomed to failure from the start, but an effort Of
the kind which always has fascination for
weak men, or for men who do not like taking
greater risks than they must.
So Mr.. Matthews. some Of his colleagues said
"why should we not conciliate the fanatic by
letting him march where he willP7 ! believe Mr..
Monro's answer in private. N the effect that
if he could not he allowed TO keep order. he was
ready % resign. The effect Of another resignation
from the Chief Commissionership would have been
50 damaging that the project Of conciliating the
fanatics dropped. and Mr.. Monro had his own
way. The mistake he has made is in arguing fhc
natter at too great length. His letter 10 the
anti-compensation committee is column long
and it is addressed 10 persons with whom argument
is of no avail; 20 persons whose conduct in life
is governed by impulse by passion by prejudice
by many motives, but never by reason. The dry
hight Of reason is hateful TO them. Mr.. Monro
states the law correctly, and recites not less cor
rectly the recent history of obstruction in the
street His letter is meant, doubt, for the gen
eral public, but he has the air OF pareying with
men who are trying TO break the law, and that IS
not an attitude by which the law is strengthened
OF the enforcement Of IL made more easy. And
when YOU have deal with Mr.. Charrngton,
argument is n waste of breath.
Mr. Monros letter, of course. failed TO convince
the fanatics, and they burst ont upon him in
the House of Commons Mr.. Cunningham era
ham took the lead. and he was supported by such
men as Mr.. Bolton. Mr.. PicSersgil Mr.. Cremer
and Mr. Rowande Some Of these names may he
unknown 20 YOU but at least YOU will recognize
Mr.. Cremer, the hero of the stcam-drill incident
at certain Chamber of Commerce dinner in
New-York. Neither then nor since has the steam
drill done its work. The Home Secretary had TO
sustain unaided the brunt of all these attacks {;
first made in the form Of questions, then by a
motion for adjournment for the purpose of dis
cussing definite urgent matter of public i'm
portance" That is the phrase by which, under
the new rules loophole has been provided for
obstruction or for the airing of the caprices of
any legislator who can lind thirty-niLe fellow
fanatics 10 support him.
MI Matthews came well ont of the fray. There
was no hint in anything he said that he differed
from Mr. Monro that he had been overruled
BY his colleagues in the Cabinet. His lawyer,
training served him well. Having brief, bs
spoke to it, and he spoke non" the for hav.
ing 10 defend the right. Tie fact came out that
professions growing curiousIy frequent; If no,
government by procession. opposition by pro
cession is now the rule. and the question has
been pressing whether che streets are 10 be gver
an IN these nj