The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-06-30
Wat yler sInsurrection
Bv REV. THOMAS B. GREGORY
x67AT TYLER, one of the earliest of

XGTAT TYLER, one of the earliest Of
w the pioneers in the great strug-
gle for democratic equality and hu-
man rights In general, met his mar
tyrdom b31 years ago, June 10. 1881.
The common people OF England had
long been suffering under great op-
preston The slaves OF the lords Of
the land on which they lived, they
were treated not only with injustice.
bnt. in many cases. with incivilty and
but, in many cases. with incivility and
not rs human beings. but as cattle.
The pent-up wrath of the people
was simply waiting for a chance to
assert itself. and the chance came
In the shape OF an Insult to the
tors OF the hated poll tax came to
Watts humble cottage and behaved
toward his 14-year- old daughter In a
way that caused her TO cry for help.
Her father, at work not far off. ran to
his daughters assistance and killed
the ruffianly collector on the spot.
Instantly the men Of the town OF
Dartford arose In rebellion. and I'm an
amazingly short time hundred thou
sand men were marching on London
with Wat Tyler as their leader. En-
terlng the city, they broke open the
prisons and freed the captives, de-
stroyed some great houses and pal
aces. chopped off the heads OF some
unpopular persons, and so frightened
the king and his henchmen that they
shut themselves up In the tower,
trembling like guilty things afraid
But there was no robbery or thiev-
ins. I'VE are honest men. not thieves
and scoundrels." cried the kentish
men; and, true TO their word. they
laid their hands on no mans prop
erty.
On the fourteenth OF June, by royal
appointment, the rebels, to the num-
Der OF sixty thousand. met King Rich
ard at Mile-end. They told the king
what they wanted-first, that they
should not be made slaves any more:
second, that the rent OF the land
should be certain price in money,
instead OF being paid in service; third,
that they should be free to buy and
sell In all markets, like free men;
and finally, that there should be an
all-round amnesty for past offenese.
"T grant IT," replied Richard. and he
bade them go home, pledging himself
to at once issue orders of freedom
and pardon.
In the meantime Some OF the rebels.
remaining In the city while the Mile
end conference was going on. had
broken into the Tower and cut of the
heads OF Archbishop Sudbury. the
treasurer and the commissioner OF the
hated poll tax: and when Wat and
the king met on the following day
words between them.
We shall probably never know just
what was said or done as between
Wat and the king. but In the midst
OF the difficulty. whatever 1t was.
wiwan Wslworth. lord mayor OF
London. plunged his dagger into
Watts heart. killing him instantly.
They've slain our captainl XIII!
XIII shouted the crowd; but with
cool courage the young king calmed
them. and after giving them the
same pledge that he had given their
comrades at Mi!e-cud sent them away
home
OF course the king did not keep
his pledge-he never intended to-and
the old oppression continued Just the
same. But, nevertheless, Wat Tyler's
rebellion did much good. II showed
the oppressors that the worm" could.
and would. turn" and that II be-
hooved them TO be a little more care
ful IN the future about their treat
ment Of the people. Later on. In the
finished Temple OF Democracy. there
VIII certainly be found some reminder
OF Wat Tyler.