I.ELE HYDE PARK DISTURBANCES.
THE disturbance to the peace of the Metropolis which now occurs weekly in Hyde Park and its neighbourhood, shows that the ex- isting arrangements for the preservation of order are insufficient and require immediate attention; for social, like physical disor- ders, are often infectious, and when they are allowed to gain head they become difficult to suppress. It would be a melancholy change if that habitual respect and deference for constituted au- thority and established law, hitherto so general among the English, and of such service in times of political excitement, dearth, or commercial distress, were to give way to the licence and mob law which are but too common in some other countries.
It has been proposed for the inhabitants of the neighbour- hood of Hyde Park to enrol themselves as special consta- bles; but such a course is surely a rude mode of proceeding which ought now to be wholly unnecessary. There was a time when every man was necessarily half a soldier, and had in a great measure to depend on himself for the defence of his life and pro- perty ; but this system, besides being contrary to all principles of division of labour, was bad in other respects, since it made every man, even when excited by passion, accuser, judge, and execu- tioner in his own case.
An effectual remedy for the evil under consideration has frequent-
ly been urged, and it seems so simple and reasonable that nothing but our political via inertias can account for its not having been adopted. We refer to the proposal for establishing a reserve police force in every town and district; to consist of a large body of re= spectable working men, engaged usually in their ordinary oceva-- tions, but holding themselves in readiness, when called on, to stignali the regular police. A small annual payment, with an additiojk for actual service when the men should be called out, would, we are- satisfied, be' found a sufficient remuneration. With such a force at hand, not only might such petty disturbances as that in ques- tion be at once put an end to, but the greater riots might easily be suppressed which from time to time disgrace some of our manu- facturing towns and agricultural districts. Indeed, with the knowledge that a large force for maintaining order was ready to spring into existence, few riots would commence.
We must still wait on the pleasure of Parliament for the adoption of such an institution ; but in the mean time the crying necessity for more effectual arrangements in the Park will not wait. Some special and provisional measures should be taken at once. It has been seen that the chief offenders are boys : is it im- possible to adopt some rough distinction of that juvenile class, and to issue an order that, for the present, no boys shall be admitted into Hyde Park on the Sunday ? And why not put up a further notice at each entrance to the Park, advising all other persons to abstain, for the present, from going into the Park on that day ; at the same time pointing out the danger that every one who disregards the caution will run of being confounded with rioters. If the riotous will make it a battle-field, let quiet folks keep away, and leave the ground clear for constituted authority to exercise its summary power.
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