A hundred years ago
From the 'Spectator', 23 April 1870—A meeting was held in Trafalgar Square on Friday by a number of poor persons calling themselves the "Land and Labour League," who made speeches, passed resolutions, and drew up a memorial to Mr. Gladstone. The speeches were generally to the effect that the people could till the waste land; that Government was bound to fight poverty; that parks are nuisances; and that the "lounging classes" were nuisances too. The resolutions affirmed the right to labour at State expense, and the memorial called on Mr. Glad- stone to buy all forests, foreshores, bogs, and other uncultivated land in the United Kingdom, and set the people to work upon them. It 'Was all wild Carlylean talk, but it was the utterance of men in deep distress, and was remarkable for three points. The speakers threatened no- body, carefully disclaiming violence; they were so impressed with the right of property that they advocated compensation for the property taken; and they detested emigration, which they judged by its results on Irish poverty. One day we shall regret the ridicule which the bour- geoisie in its fat stupidity pour upon half articu- late cries of suffering like this.
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