New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-04

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| into open violence:
were continued for several days while the piii Mas
discussed at Bridport, there were rlols on ao0uus
of the high price OF bread at Bideoru .neat =,
similar disturbances to prevent the eHPoi a ,.
grain Bury. by the unenpIoyeu 10 ueS'ioy
machinery at Ely. not suppressed without 9ioo oI
shed: at Newcastle on Tyne by golfers ana oth-
ers: at Glasgow where blood was shed; al fres-
ton, by unemployed weavers; at NOTTINGHAM by
Luddites who destroyed thirty frames, az ner-
thyr Tydvil on a reduction of wages; al blrnins-
ham by the unemployed; and at Dundee. where
owing to tho high price Of meal upward OF one
hundred shops were plundered Az TINS tine 'ile
writings of william Goblet suddenly became OF
great authority; they were read on nearly every
cottage hearth in the manufacturing districts oil
South Lancashire in those of Leicester, DERBY
and Nottingham: also In many of the Scottish
manufacturing towns. Their influence was speedi-
" visible He directed his readers to the true
cause of their Reinforcement; ana 10
It's proper corrective liamentary reform Riots
soon became scarce and from that time they nave
never obtained their ancient vogue win the aoor-
ers Of this country.
! Let us not descend to be unjust Let us not
withhold the homage which. with all the faults OF
William Goblet, Is still due 10 his great name
Instead of riots and destruction OF property.
Uampden clubs were now established In many or
our large towns and the villages and districts
around them. Cobbetts books were prin'ed IN a
cheap form; the laborers read them, and thence
forward became deliberate and systematic In their
proceedings Nor were there wanting men OF their
own class to encourage and direct the new con-
yerts The Sunday-schools of the preceding thirty
years had produced many workingmen OF SUI
fcent talent to become readers, writer's anu
speakers IN the village meetings Tor pariia-
| mentary reform. Some also were found TO possess
! a rude poetic talent. which rendered their ell
fuftons popular and bestowed an additional charm
| on their assemblages: and by such various means
anxious listeners at first and then Jealous prose-
lytes were drawn from the cottages OF quiet hooks
and dingles. to the weekly readings anc discus
/ sions Of the Hampden clubs.
One OF these clubs was established in 1876 az me
small town Of Middleton, near Manchester ana l.
having been instrumental in It's formation a toIer-
able reader also and a rath, n expert writer. was
chosen secretary. The club prospered, the num-
Der Of men increased, the funds raised by contri-
buttons of a penny week became more tnan sur
| hcient for all outgO.ngs, and. taking bold step
we soon rented a chapel which had been given up
by a society Of Kilhamte Method!sts. This place
we threw open for the religious worship OF all
eects and parties. and there we held our meetings.
on the evenings of Monday and Saturday IN each
week The proceedings OF our society It's pace OF
meeting-sngular being the first place OF Wor-
shin occupied by reformers GOr so In those days
we were termed. together with the services OF re-
liglon connected with us-drew considerable
share OF public attention TO oul transactions, ana
obtained for the leaders some notoriety.
Bamford was one Of a delegation which went
to London to offer a petition to the Government
On that occasion he had his first view of the House
of Commons 1t was during the famous debate on
the report Of the Green Bag Committee, In
which the suspension Of the Habeas Corpus act
I was the chief issue
l well recollect. though cannot describe, all the
! conflicting emotions which arose within me as
approa ched that assembly. with the certainty OF
now seeing and hearing those wnom cohsidered
! 10 be the authors Of my cOuntrys wrongs. Cuii-
osity certainly held its share Of my feelings but
strong dislike to the "borouShmonger crew ana
/ their measures held far larger share. AFTER a
rough struggle at elbowing and pushing along
massage up a narrow staircase, and across a room,
/ found myself in a small gallery from whence
/ looked a dimly lighted place below Al lhe
! head Of the room. or rather den, Tor such IL APP
in a G.. IL.
/ think, scarlet and white Above his head were
! the royal arms. richly gded: at his feet several
men in robes and wigs were writing at a large
! table on which lamps were burning. which cast
softened light on a rich ornament like a ponderous
sceptre of silver and gold or what appeared 10 De
! So Those persons I knew must be the speaker
and the clerks Of the House: and that rich orna-
ment could be nothing else than the mace the
same thing. one in it's place TO which CIomNclI
/ pointed and said Take away that bauble; Tor
| shame-give way to honester men, On each side
of this pit-lookng place, leaving an open space IN
the centre of the floor, We're some three or ioui
/ hundreds OF the most ordinary-looking men hau
ever beheld at one view. Some were striking eX-
cept.ons several young fellows In military dresses
gave relief to the sombre drapery OF the others.
| Canning with his smooth, bare and capacious
forehead. sat there, q spirit beaming In his looks
like that Of the leopard waiting 10 spring upon lt
prey. Castlereagh, with his handsome but imnov-
able eatures: Burdett with his head carried oack
and held high as in defiance; and Brougham.
with his Arab soul ready to rush forth ana
| challenge to all corners. The question wac 10
|
! wrought strangely my feelings our accusers
were many and powerful, with words at will, and
applauding listeners. Our friends were few ana
| far between with no appauders save their good
conscience and the blessings of the poor What a
scene was this to be enacted by the collective
wisdom Of the nation Some or the members stoOu
! leaning against pillars with their hats cooked
| awry; some whispering by half-dozens; oth-
were lOlling upon their seats; some Win arms
akmbo. were everlasting across the house; some
were stifened immovable by starch: or pride, or
! both; one speaking, or appeared to be So by
| the motion OF his arms which he shook in token
Of defiance when his voice was drowned by a now
as wild and remorselesS as that from kennel OF
/ hounds at feeding time Now he points menacing
! 10 the ministerial benches-now he appeals to
some members on this side-then to the Speaker
all in vain At times he Is heard In the pauses Oh
that wild hubbub but again he Is borne down by
the yell which awakes on all sides around MN
Some talked aloud: some whinnied in mock laugh
ter coming like that Of the damned, from bitter
/ hearts Some caller order. order" some ques-
ton question: some beat time with the heel Of
their boots: some snorted into their napkins; and
/ one old gentleman In the side gallery actually
! coughed himself from mock cough into rea
one. and could not stop until he was almost oiacK
| In the face.
And are these thought J. the beings whose laws
/ we must obey? This the most illustrous assem-
bly, Of freemen in the world?
Such was my first view Of the House OF Com
| mons and such the Impressions strongly forced
on my feelings at the time The speaker alluded
t. was Henry Brougham | heard at first very
little Of what he said. but understood from oc-
casi0nal words. and the remarks OF some whom L
took for reporters that he was violently attacking
the Ministers and their whole home policy. That
he was doing might have been inferred from
the great eAertions OF the ministerial party to
render him inaudible and to subdue lis spirit by
q beWildering and cOntcmptuOus disapprobation
! But they had before them a wrong one for being
silenced. either by confusion menace. Like
brave stag, he held them at bay and even hurled
back their defiance with "retorted scorn." In
some time his words became more audible; pres
emily there was comparative silence, and soon
understood that he had let go the ministry. anG
| 10 seemed In m
a dead set at the reformers. Oh, how he did scow
toward us-cOntemn and disparage our best ac-
lions and wound our dearest feelings, Now steal