SCENE IN HYDE PARK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2105, 28 June 1894, Page 35

SCENE IN HYDE PARK.

On May Day during a workmen's celebration in Hyde Park, London, many Anarchists and Socialists were grouped near the " Industrial." The Anarchist speakers indulged in the usual tirade against the existing order of things, and were listened to with good-natured tolerance until one of them, more violent than any one of his predecessors, began to speak on the eighthour question. Ho declared that an eighthour day must be obtained, even if it should be necessary to kill Gladstone and murder Lord Salisbury. This excited the anger of a crowd of workmen, and a rush was made for the platform — the crowd being apparently determined to lynch the speaker. He was dragged from the platform and very roughly handled till the police rescued him from his captors. The next speaker attempted to make a speech in a similar strain. Another rush was made for the platform. The speaker sprang from it and set off at a hot pace across the park, with the crowd in full cry after him. The fugitive would certainly have fallen into the hands of his pursuers had [not the police intervened. The crowd returned to the platform, where they eagerly listened for speakers to indulge in violent harangues. No sooner would an objectionable utterance be made than tbe speaker would be hauled from the platform and passed along to the rear, being kicked and cuffed en route. After this performance had bsen indulged in several times the remaining speakers abated their denunciations and threats, and were allowed to go on. There were storms of cat calls, hoots and hisses whenever anything was said, even in a mild way, that did nob meet the approval of the crowd. The whole proceedings showed very plainly that the Anarchists cannot count upon any friends among the genuine working men of London.