The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1886. RIOTS IN LONDON.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1466, 11 February 1886, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1886. RIOTS IN LONDON.

The news from Home is indicative of the existence of a feeling of uneasiness, which mar very possibly lead to very serious results. Cablegrams, published elsewhere, show that a great meeting of unemployed has been held in London, that very inflammatory speeches were made, and that Socialistic doctrines of a very violent kind were propounded. After the meeting the mob is reported to have completely sacked jewellers’, wine- sel lers’, and bakers’ establishments; robbed occupants of passing carriages, smashed windows, and altogether behaved in an ungovernable manner. They are also accused of behaving in a wanton and vindictive spirit by kicking provisions about the streets. We are inclined to take the latter statement with a grain ot salt. It is not likely that men starving with hunger would go playing football with loaves of bread, or roll casks of wine about for amusement. We feel inclined to think they would find some other use for them However, that is not the point, England is at present undergoing a great political crisis. A short time ago a Liberal Government gave way to a Conservative one, and that, in turn, within the short space of six months has been replaced by a Government which contains the strongest Radical element that ever governed Great Britain. It is not certain yet whether the latter team will be able to retain office, and if they fail an appeal must be made to the country, with what result it is difficult to say. The crisis is, therefore, serious, and this riot renders the situation more critical. A disturbance in Ireland would not be regarded as of any great importance. An Irish row could at any moment be quelled, but Englishmen cannot bo put down so easily. If the same thing had taken place in Dublin a good many of the rioters would have been shot, and a good many more of them would have been in gaol by this—Tut public opinion will not tolerate this in England. When Lord Salisbury came into power in July last a similar meeting was held on the Thames embankment, inflammatory speeches were delivered, and acts of violence perpetrated, but such as were proved guilty of these offences got off with a week or a month’s imprisonment, It was said then the Conservatives were afraid of punishing them because the franchise had been extended to them and they had votes. However that may be, such a riot as is reported is very serious, because it indicates a growing disposition on the part of the poor to protest against the unequal division of the wealth of the country. It is certainly very hard for miserable wretches perishing of hunger to look on the extravagance, arrogance, and pride of the rich, and if they allow their feelings to lead them into excesses sometimes there is no doubt but that they have a good •■xcuse for it. It is very hard for a starving man to look on his neighbor pampering his horses, his dogs, his deer, etc., with what would relieve his wants, without feeling a hatred of the system which allows him to starve while the dogs of the rich man are provided with delicacies. There is a growing feeling against this sort of thing developing itself in England, and the riot to which wc refer is the first expression of it we have had. There can be very little doubt but that similar demonstrations will be hold in other places, and that unless something is done to ameliorate the condition of the poor the result will be serious. One of the Conservative candidates for Parliament at the last elections, when discussing “ the threc-acref-and-a-cow ” policy, said that men had no more rights than pigs, or dogs, or horses. Is it likely that working men will listen to such language as this without resenting it ? The fact is, they are not half so well feed, nor so well cared for as the hors* g and dogs of the rich at present : but at the same time they hare rights, and it is probable that the time is not far distant when they will assert them. There is not in Europe a more patient man than the British workman, but education is opening his eyes to the outrageous inequalities existent in his surroundings. Lecturers such as Henry George hare directed his attention to the injustices which hare been, and are being, done to him. He is beginning to realise that the land of England was not made for the special benefit of a few lords, to enable them to spend the fruits of it in profligacy, luxury, and idleness, and without doubt the day is not far distant when he will set about adjusting certain anomalies which exist. Wcnre told in the mail news that the Radicals are looking forward to a union between Mr Gladstone and Mr Parnell, in the hope that there will be an appeal jto the country on the questions of land tenure, the abolition of the House of Lords, and the disestablishment of the Church. It is probable that if there is an appeal these questions will be discussed more seriously than they have ever been, and, if so, we may expect a change before long.

Tbmuia Lihsbbd Factobt.— A meeting of the Directors of the above Company was hold lest Tuesday. Present—Messrs Talbot (Chairman), Lyon, Pilbrow, Barker, and Brown. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. It was decided to erect a shed for the purpose of covering in the rope walk, also to purchase a powerful horizontal engine and a Cornish boiler. After attending to some minor matters the meeting adjourned.