The actual force is ample, as some forty thousand drilled
men could be in the streets in two hours ; but the scare proves a necessity for some changes. First, Sir E. Henderson should be respectfully superseded by a more vigilant and determined man, who will not wait for orders ; secondly, the police should be strengthened by a reserve of at least 500 mounted men, commanded by picked officers, who can be trusted to act alone when action is indispensable ; thirdly, the law as to "incitements to riot when followed by riot" should be made simple and severe ; and fourthly, the rights of citizens as to self-defence should be carefully explained to them. Any shop street in London will take care of itself, if certain of its right to do so ; but there is at present a want of knowledge as to what may be done, and consequently this absurdity, that a shop like Shoolbred's or Marshall's may be sacked by a few hundred ruffians while there are three or four companies of drilled riflemen within the walls. Shoolbred's employes, in particular, could hold Tottenham Court Road against all the Socialists in London, if they only had their arms, and were sure of their right to use them. It is childish for a democracy not to trust its own respectability and power of self-defence ; but ours does not yet. It will learn, and then rioters will have a short shrift. They would ruin the prosperity of London in three days, if only by exciting a Continental opinion that London was insecure.
