New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-10
MRS. ANNIE BESANT HERE.
SHE HAS COME TO DELIVER LECTURES

SHE HAS COME TO DELIVER LECTURES.
HER VIEWS ON SOCIALISM IN ENGLAND. HOME
RULE AND ROYALTY.
Mrs. Annie Besant arrived here yesterday on the
steamship City of New York. This is her first visit TO
America and she is going to address from the lecture
platform public familiar to great extent with her
writings and sayings and dongs during her remarkable
career. Her subjects London It's Wealth and Its
Poverty" Dangers Menacing Society," Labor Move
ments in the Old World and Theosophy.' The first
lecture this list viii be delivered in scottish Rite
Hail. New-Yorh next Monday evening.
Mrs. Besant suffered severely from seasiczness
the stormy voyage Of the City OF Ncw-Yorl and she
had not altogether recovered from the effects when
Tribune reporter her at No. 176 Lenox-ave the
Of her friend, e. August Nereshemer. where She
will stay while IN this city. Mrs. Besant looks like
plump, rosy-cheeked little Engshwoman. But she Is
Irish, for she herself has said IT." and she said 1t
twice In her conversation with the reporter. This
proclamation of her nationality is necessary to
who should judge her by her speech, In which the
ever gentle, sweet and low accents Of Cordela
turned to the clear liquid but soft tones which give
that charm peculiar to the voices Of educated English
women.
The reporter asked il she had abandoned her views
on Socialism.
"My views" she replied, "as far the economic
position is concerned, are absolutely unchanged
What really feel In the matter that unless
change the folk themselves change in the environ
ment Is not sufficient. You see in England the move
ment is growing very rapidly and where there was one
to teach It four five years ago there are many TO
teach IL now. / think, perhaps, l have rather
tendency to take up thing so long as 1t is I'M
popular, and fight for it. 1 don't understand your
American Socialism. II seems TO be pure anarchy
almost from what have heard of It, and anarchy is
thing detest. In England Socialism has grown partly
out of Mill's economies and Sedgwics until you feel
that as long there Is hired class and an employing
class you will have extreme poverty and wealth.
Whom the people want change they will make 1t by
Parliament. think that they are beginning TO under
stand that they have strength 10 do 1t by the VOTE
NV effort has been to get rid Of tho shouting element
and turn the movement into endeavor to instruct,
and when our artisan people get hold they Will hold
IL in the stolid English way, you know. They VIII
change England into Socialist State without knowing
IT, The bill which made County Council districts,
which arc really communes, gives us exactly what we
want a mechanism.
How are the higher classes taxing the social
movements"
"What can they do? The House Of Lords will
90 Just as soon as they do something that makes the
people little cross. But they always give way
"Don't you think the Established Church will GO
irst?"
awe don't cara so much for it used to. You
in American have been great help TO u.s. fou have no
established church. no aristocracy, crown. But we
look over here and that you have your labor
troubles Just the same as we have. 1t shows that
political changes are not what is wanted What VIC
shall have to do in England is TO destroy our great
landlord SYSTEM"
"what will become of the landlords?"
eff 1t goes with rush they will get nothing III
they accommodate themselves TO the changed con-
ditions they will probably be treated very generously
| think we shall have great change in the land laws
probably in the next fifteen or twenty years.
Are you still actively interested in improving the
condition of the poor?"
IL have not given up the least in the world the
work among the poor But an setting myseH 10
get people ready for changes. Changes are coming
quickly enough"
Was there marked indication of the change Of
public sentiment toward Mr.. Bradlaugh when he died
Did the newspapers speak well Of him?'
"The tone of all the newspapers was friendly
There was scarcely an unkind word in the press.
They killed him first, then they praised him. lie was
a terrible loss He was the one man in England VINO
would have brought about the changes sufficiently
quickly, and yet sufficiently gradually. lie never
minded speaking to his own friends the things they
didn't like, and so few men Will do that! measure
he was proposinghe moved it at each session OF Far
lament and going TO move 1t at the neXt-"as lor
taking all uncultivated land away from the great
landlords who had not cultivated it. and giving
them compensation, only what 1t had produced IN
the last years. and putting it in the hands Of the
State never to be sold again, but only let. so
that if in seven years it had produced nothing they
would get exactly seven times nothing Yet Mr..
Bradlaugh was against Socialism. He was man
who did not change his opinions. lie formed them
lust at the time Mills school predomnated. and he
really carried out in Parliament what he had been
advocating for quarter of century lie was
very antagonstic to Socialism as Socialism fet he
was one of those who made for it,
Mrs Besant used to be champion Of Irish Home
cla hat
now and replied 81 worked very hard for Home Rule
twelve wears ago. / have not cared very much about
il since the Parnell movement became triumphant
perhaps should say since the Liberal party took IL
up"
All" said Mrs. Besant smiling a suppose am
natnral-born fanatic II was because 1t then became
a question OF politics and compromises. don't like
politics. can't govern in PARLIAMENT wih0ut com
promises sGpRose a B RnIeT K as 81 soon as Mr CAD
stone did and II anything is more aggravatlng than
another 1t is when whole party turns around because
u" The reporter asked Mrs Desant Whist she thought
Of fbe British royal petsonages, and whether the Prince
Of Wales would be allowed happy and glorious, Ions
aT The Queen has done great service said Mrs.
unnecessary she is When she USED 70 drive out IN
her and think how grand IL IS 10 nave queen now,
she does not give the people chance TO look at her.
would break very very quickly The Grown has lived
on sentiment and trade II has 1851 the sentment be-
cause the Queen is not seen by the public. 1t has
lost trade because she has no court to speak or Eng
Land however has a feeling Of respect for her as
very harmless old lady, Oh late years the Prince has
been uch more Rops aTnr tS eanerstones and ane
after-dinner speeches, etc: should THINK ne would
come TO the crown ell right-uness there are some
more baccarat scandals"