LONDON PROTEST AGAINST THE BOMBARDMENT OF PARIS.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 795, 30 March 1871, Page 3

LONDON PROTEST AGAINST THE BOMBARDMENT OF PARIS.

A demonstration was called on the night of the 23rd Jan. in Trafalgarsquare to protest against the bombardment of Paris, and against the inaction of the English Government in the war, and was held despite miserable weather and for nearly two hours a very large throng of persons stood in the rainy and windy night, listening to bitter denunciations of the English and Prussian governing powers. The organised procession started for Trafalgar-square from a back thoroughfare of the Farringdonroad, the head-quarters of the " Pioneers of Liberty," led by a brass band, playing the " Marseillaise." Some fifteen flags were carried, and these of a peculiar character. Many were simply red, with a cap of liberty, of very bad workman, ship and ugly shape, surmounting each pole. One of those not simply red was decorated with stars, and dedicated to the " United States of Europe ;" auother •to the "Universal Bepublic and France," while a third distinct flag had the inscription, "Long life to Gambetta and Jules Favre." The bearers had red ribands about their arms, and some, in addition, wore sashes of the same hue about their waists. The meeting was formed on the side facing Cockspur-street, and great pains were taken, with indifferent success, to light the spot by means of the " flamers," the peculiar out-door lights used by the costermongers. A large number in the crowd were, to all appearances, practically acquainted with the use of the flamers, and this knowledge led to two disadvantages, for at one period of the evening the costermongers shouted out instructions how the lights should be managed, and so disturbed the proceedings ; aud in the after part they gave their assistance and tumbled the framework on which the lamps were hanging, the lamps themselves, and the burning fluid, among the assemblage. Mr. Odger, who was called to the position of chairman, commenced by saying that the meeting had assembled for no idle purpose, but for the important one of telling the nations of the earth that if the English Government was not alive to the importance of the present occasion, seeing what was going on in France, the English working men were. It had been seen by all who had paid attention to the subject that our Foreign Office had a German representative in it, and the English working classes meant to tell Earl Granville that, instead of representing German Princes, he must represent the good feeling, the aspirations, and the desires of the people of England. The English working classes had held meeting after meeting, and had called upon the Government time after time to interfere in a dignified manner in order to put a stop to this atrocious war. What had been the reply of the Government ? Why, nothing at all, for the Government paid no more attention to the wishes of the people, when German princes were concerned, than if the people were at the most distant part of the world. Mr. Fagan, who discribes himself as an Irish working man, proposed the following resolution : " That this meeting views with indignation and horror the cruel and relentless manner in which this lamentable war is now being carried on in France by the despot King of Prussia, who, appealing to the Deity, sets whole villages on fire, bombards and captures towns and cities, robs the inhabitants of their food, clothing, and money, and is completing his work of destruction by throwing shot, shell, and liquid fire into Paris upon the heads of two millions of men, women, and children ; and desii es to express its profound sympathy with that noble populace, who, in despite of famine and sickness, have for four months defended their hearths and homes against this most barbarous and ruthless war, of which we have no parallel in history." This and several other resolutions were carried, and the meeting broke up.