Some Northern Notes [1900]

Propaganda continues to be slack everywhere in the north of England, unless indeed, we except Leeds. The only work to be heard of lately from Manchester has been a lecture by P. J. Kelly to the South Salford S.D.F. on Anarchism and Organisation. Barton has been having good crowds to hear him in Sheffield, and although on one occasion they were very rowdy in consequence of his anti-Jingo utterances, he has succeeded in creating a good impression. 

The Leeds group have been keeping the meetings up very regularly and although suffering from that common complaint – lack of speakers – have maintained the interest of the crowd. On October 1, they held a mass demonstration against War which turned out to be the most successful and orderly meeting held in this part of the country on that matter. This is certainly a plume in the group’s hat. The Liberal meetings, held all over the place and at great expense, have been without exception most miserable fiascoes; but our meeting, with the Anarchist as opposed to Capitalist and Imperialist spirit put plainly, enthused the workers, for there was a concrete exposition of a social state based upon their interests, compared with a condition of things based upon their misery and degradation. Liberal hypocrisy might be howled down, and Tory bluntness cheered for on the spur of the moment, but, in their calm and dispassionate mood they knew that we were right. Out of a crowd of about 2,000 folk only 16 voted against the resolution. This meeting has done us a lot of good in the town and since our meetings have been well attended and enthusiastic. The group’s annual ball was held on Nov. 19, and was a success in more senses than one. Profit was made which will provide the sinews for a good winter’s work. 

Thornhill Lees, a manufacturing and colliery village near Dewsbury, noted for its colliery explosions and for the notorious ‘Oliver’ conspiracy under the despicable Castlereagh regime,[1] was invaded for the first time by Anarchism on Sunday the 13th October. MacQueen spoke on Communism and Anarchism. The ideas were exceptionally well received and some very intelligent discussion elicited. The chairman, who was a Yankee, gave some interesting information about Emma Goldman, whose fame has thus travelled before her. 

Councillor Fred Brocklehurst has been lecturing to the Moss side (Manchester) Socialist Society upon ‘Individualism’. He confined his remarks mainly to a criticism of Individualist and Communist Anarchism. It certainly is a sign of the times when these form important enough subjects for politicians to talk about and I suppose we have to be grateful. But, unfortunately, Brocklehurst has been drawing upon his imagination largely. Who told him, for instance, that Kropotkin has said that ‘we would have to progress through Social Democracy to Anarchism’? 

Hull at one tine was the centre of a pretty vigorous propaganda, both in English and German. Unfortunately owing to some local bother, Club Liberty got broken up and the comrades since have had no place to meet and consequently have got scattered all over the place. Many of them are seafarers, and that makes it much worse. However, a few of the comrades have been met and talked to at the instance of the Leeds Group, and a meeting was arranged for Nov. 29 to see what can be done in the way of starting some English propaganda again. Seeing that there are some fifty comrades there it should not be difficult task. 

W. M. 

Freedom : A Journal of Anarchist Communism, January-February 1900

Note

1, ‘Oliver the Spy’ was active in 1817.