The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-08-30 00:00:00

GREAT TRADES DEMONSTRATION IN
EDINBURGH.

The largest demonstration of working men which
has been witnessed in Edinburgh since the Reform
agitation of 1866 took place on Saturday, the chief
object in view being the expression of a decided
opinion in favour of the repeal of the Criminal Law
Amendment Art. The representatives of the various
trades, assembling at numerous places of ren-
dezvous, marched with bands playing and colours
flying, to Bruntefield Links, on the south side
of the city, where they were marshalled in order of
procession. The number of tradesmen taking part
was, as nearly as coold be made out, about 14,500, as
compared with about 18,000, who marched in the Re-
form procession of 1866. On leaving the Links, the
procession, whiih bore numerous trades flags and em-
blems, as also a variety of mat ten and devices ex•
preasive of hostility to the CriMr's' Law Amendment
Act, marched by the route of Rope-street, Earl Grey-
street, Lothian-road, Princes-street, Cockburn-street,
High-street, and Cauongate, to the Queens Park,
where the speeched where delivered.
Twelve o'clock was the hour fixed for the start from
the Links, but the heavily-freighted trains had been
late in arriving, end numerous other delays occurred
in the marshalling of the trades, so that it was only by
unceasing energy and activity on the part of the various
" generals in command" that at half-past twelve the
vim si the procession waa set in motion, and began to
tile out et the field at a good round pace, to the deafen-
ing music of thirty.six brass and life bands and four
bands of pipets. First came the carters, astride heavy
Clydesdale horses gaily caparisoned with ribbons,
while the riders wore broad Scotch bonnets of
enormous circumference, and with portentous red
tops. The members of the trades committees followed,
and after these leaders streamed cabinetmakers, pain-
tots, plasterers, blacksmiths, and other handicraftsmen,
preceded by their bands, and bearing proudly alof
the emblems of their trade. In these flags and other
insignia a great deal of labour and capital had h.,en
expended, and, apparently, not • little ingenuity anti
fancy. One craft seem to have a Unite in floral devices,
that following would show • penchant for cunningly
constructed models of its special handiwork, • third
was strong in many coloured and emolazoned flags,
others testified on their banners to the hot zeal against
the obnoxious Act with which they were animated,
in another part of the procession was displayed a
talent in modal g punning allusion, to the statute,
while still others contenter themselves with the
effect which their close and numerous array was
calculated to produce. At the front of the black-
smith detachment was a large wagon, the leading
horse attached to which was appropriately he
strode by a veritable blackamoor, while in,ide
were three or four brawny smiths, surrounded by all
the implements of their trade, the merry clang of
whose hammer., as they forged horse-shoes all aloe g
the route. could be heard far above the, din of the brass
baud and cheering muititude. Similarly borne was a
printing press, which was indefatigably worked in
turning off sheets containing poetical appeals to the
working man to assert his rights. but which came
ridiculously far short of supplying a copy to one-tenth
of the eagerly outstret led hands which surrounded the
wavon from starting point to finish. Perhaps the
greatest soare of public attention was engross, d by the
representative of King Crispin, who, clad in antique
armour, and supported by two heralds, rode at the head
of the Cordwainers' Corporation, ill-at-ease, if appear-
ances were to be trusted, with his charger, his clat-
tering suit of mail, and the demonstrations of delight
and admiration which his remarkable tout ensemble
excited from the spectators of tender years, who kept
perseveringly close to his flank throughout the Jour.
cry. (Inc of the features of the procession was the
large numner of well-dressed and well-looking females,
t'-e wives and avreethearts of the demonstrators

from -is. distance, whO-Larch-d eithir in the ranks
or alongside of them. Along the line of route
a vast throng were congregated, who not only
filled up the streets from side to side, ex-
cept the narrow lane in the centre left for the pro-
ceasionists, but choked 913 every seindow, crowdefl
every housetop. and clung to every lamp-feint, and other
coign of vantage which oVerlooked or in any way com-
manded the line of route. It is estimated that there
were 150,000 persons in the streets. The demonttrators
imuced,ately on their arrival in the pm k were ranged
around four platforms which had been erected, and
from which they were addressed for about an hour by
the leaders in the movement among the Ilcotch trades
against the Act referred to, and other similar laws
bearing on the relationship between master and
servant, which have recently been passed.