The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1887. THE LONDON RIOTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1692, 21 October 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1887. THE LONDON RIOTS.

Thoughtful writers have of late years repeatedly drawn attention to the growing danger to which London is exposed, from the enormous and ever increasing aggregation m her midst of the' most undesirable classes of inhabitants that any city could possibly be cursed with. Those who know anything of the composition of its population, stand aghast at the bare comtemplation of the danger which constantly threatens the largest city m the world. London has offered a secure retreat to refugees from the other countries of Europe. The deposed monarch flees to England, and is safe from revolutionary fury. So it is with those charged with political offences. They know that there is no country m the world where so much liberty is accorded to the people, and that if he can but reach London he may live m secunty for the rest of his days. Even criminals flying from justice hopes to lose their individuality or identity among its seething population. Thus it comes about that of its five million of inhabitants, London contains within its limits nearly a tithe — somewhere between three and four hundred thousands — of the lower and more datigerous classes from every nation of Europe, There are political refugees without number, Nihilists, Anarchists, Communists, Socialists, together with a considerable sprinkling of Fenians and Nationalists. Emboldened by their numbers these are ever ready to take advantage of any favorable opportunity to make a "demonstration." These demonstrations are ioimensly popular with the London thieves, pickpockets and foodpads— a host m themselves j who, if there ihould happen to be any looting business on hand, give convinc- ! ing proof that they have no claim to be considered as belonging to the " unemployed" class. People mnstnot run away with the idea that these demonstrations are got up or organised by the British unemployed working men. They are a law-abiding class, and know the proper way of obtaining redress for any grievance they may have. They are fully aware that m no country on the face of the earth have such philanthropic efforts been made to ameliorate the physical, social, domestic and moral condition of the artiran and working classes. And they fully appreciate these efforts and hold aloof from these demonstrations of lawlessness, London will constantly be exposed to this element of danger so long as it offers a home to the canaille of all the other civilised nations. The time is not far distant, we think, when the aid ot the Imperial Legislature will be invoked to provide repressive measures to check the evil, for Londoners are growing of weary these oft-recurring dewonstratfogft