“TO SEIZE THE QUEEN.”

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9171, 15 June 1908, Page 3

“TO SEIZE THE QUEEN.”

fSTOjS’S OF A REMARKABLE

A remarkable story of a plot to 'kidnap Queen Victoria tarn England into a Republic id tola m Mr Peter Latouche’s book, ‘ Anarchy : Its Methods and‘Exponents (Messrs Everett). The year 1888—the year of the 'West End riots and the great dock •strike —bad been fixed for the coup ■d’etat by the spirits at the back of 'the movement. These visionaries, ” says Mr Latouche, '‘conceived the wild idea that it was possible for the Revolutionists to seize the Queen as a hostage, and simultaneously capture Woolwich Arsenal and the Tower. Arrangements had been made for blowing -tip the principal railway lines r so as to isolate London, and this was held to be a necessary and •vital step, although the conspirators were aware that isolation also meant a risk df starvation. “The Provisional Government of this precious Republic were actually appointed. A member of the Stock —presumably on account df bis acquaintance with the devious methods of finance was appinted Director of State Railways; an exArtillery officer was to be General of the National Army; and another ■member was to be Postmaster-Gen-eral ; apparently because he was a foreigner and spoke very little Eugish. It may he as well not to give further details of this visionary Cabinet, as so many of its members and active supporters have now joined the ranks of that bourgeoisie they were accustomed to denounce, and it can serve no useful purpose to disturb their present serenity by reviving those embers of a past faith and a hopeless ambition; but it is interesting to "indicate the lines it was intended to make the Social Democratic Republic take its place among the Governments of the world. “When the tall order of holding the <Queen as a hostage, and the seizure of the Tower and the Arsenal had been duly executed, the already appointed Provisional Government •would at once take charge of public affairs.- -A- proclamation which had been been carefully drawn up, but febe text nf which I have been unable ifco obtain —would be issued forthwith to the world, announcing that the Social Democratic Republic of Great Sititaiu and Ireland had commenced c hsiness and were prepared to estabfriendly relations with the , eign States. The Republic would <aper assignats or labour notes V’s fcewhat on "the lines of Prudhon’s . . uiarv scheme, and as soon as pos■yp’v an “election on the basis of univoi.ifcl adult suffrage would reurn a of Representatives, „ who Wait'd, in tarn, elect a President of tho^Rebuhlic. ; ’ . The 'plot wa; , according to Mr Latorob©. frustrated by the success of tho Dock Strike and the unexpected' sympathy and help shown by the West*End, which did much to conciliate ‘ the masses,” on whose help the Revolutionists relied. The speech of Mr John Burns, on ,the occasion of his trial with other Social Democrats upon a conspiracy Charge in 1886,. is given in the Book. Burns was known as i-iie |hiau with the red flag” and now he [bold office in the Government it is ■interesting to give a few extracts Krom his faisons speech. 1 In Court, Mr Burns said the occasion demanded, strong language. E'We could not have five millions Hiving on the verge of pimperism Without gross discontent. Well fed Hen never revolt. Poverty-stricken Ipaeiy&ave all fco gain and nothing to Hbse by riot and revolution. Riot it pvas not; it‘was nothing more nor Mess than honest poverty knocking at rthe door of selfish luxury and comfort, poverty demanding that in the future every man should have the waelth created by his own labour. I cannot see things without being xnoyed not only to strong language, but to strong action, if necessary. The social system is to blame. How about the scared human IfVes that have ibeen, and are, degraded and blighted by the present system of capitalism?” ]