§ MR. BELLINGHAMasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If it is a fact that a meeting promoted by the Social and Democratic Club, Rose Street, was held recently in Grafton Hall, Grafton Street, Fitzroy Square, to commemorate the Revolution of 1848, the Paris Commune of 1871, and to celebrate the execution of the Emperor of Russia; whether the handbill convening the meeting stated that it would be held under the auspices of the revolutionary party in London; whether the meeting was not attended by persons of various nationalities, an Englishman in the chair; whether speeches were made in justification of the assassination of the Tsar, one of which commended the example of Russia to the revolutionary party in other countries, ridiculed the sentiments of those who thought it a shame that an Emperor should be killed, and said that "if ever a man deserved death it was the Tsar;" 556 whether a German named Most, ex-member of the German Reichstag, and now the reputed editor of a revolutionary paper called "Freiheit," used the following language at this or any other recent meeting:
Capitalists, aristocrats, and priests must be exterminated. The assassins of the Tsar have earned the gratitude of all Socialists, for the time of theories is gone by, the dagger, poison, and bombs are lawful weapons, and we hope and wish that similar acts may quickly follow, not only in Russia, but in all other lands;whether these sentiments were received by a crowded meeting of working men with applause; and, whether, considering the danger there is to society in general by the promulgation of such theories at public meetings, Her Majesty's Government can take any steps to prevent their diffusion, and deal effectually with those who advocate them?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTSir, I have no authentic information in reference to the meeting to which the hon. Member alludes. With respect to that part of the Question which refers to a German named Most and the paper called The Freiheit, the action of the Government in that case has been made known to the House. But I take this opportunity of stating that it is an error to suppose that this is a State prosecution of a political character. It is nothing of the sort. It is a police prosecution instituted in the case of a serious crime. I desire further to say, and I am surprised that it is necessary to make the statement, that murder and incitement to murder are, in the eye of the English law, heinous offences, by whomsoever and against whomsoever committed. They are crimes which it is the duty of every Government to punish and to repress; and I wish also to add that the English law does not recognize any exemption in favour of the murder of any particular class of persons, whether they are Sovereigns or private individuals; and, further, that in this matter foreigners in this country are as much amenable to the law as English subjects.