The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-26
Spirited Vindication of the Cause
of Reform and Progress.
Interview with the President Of tho
Trades Council.
REASONS FOR SCOTCH LOYALTY.
Good Feeling Towards America-The &C.
neva Arbitration Heartily Approved.
THE PLATFORM OF THE CONSERVATIVES

EDINBURGH Fec. 10. 1874
The great wave OF conservative reaction which
at this moment Is threatening TO submerge the
constituencies or England and Ireland has been
powerless in Scotland. Since the passing OF the
Reform act OF 1882 Scotland has been stanchly
Noeral and has never been more heartily so or
more thoroughly anti-conservative than 1t is to-
day. Mr.. Gladstone, as political leader, is the
idol of the country; but OF the thirty candidates
returned up to the 9th inst only i've were con-
servatye, and Of these five four are OF the mildest
possible type. Edinburgh, the capital OF the
country, has returned two liberals, MI. Duncan
McLaren and Mr.. Cowan, the Lord Provost OF the
city. Dundee, the great manufacturing centre Of
the east coast, has returned two liberals
one OF whom is 'Ginxs Baby" jenkins, whose
chief fault in the eyes OF the workingmen
there was that his address was not so enthu-
siasticaly republican in sentiment as they would
have wished In Glasgow, the second city OF the
three kingdoms, Dr. Cameron, the proprietor and
editor OF the Daily KaiI a journalist OF extreme
opinions heads the poll, while next after him
stands Mr. Anderson (of Emma Nine celebrity,
whose opinions very much those entertained
by sir Charles Dixie Glasgow Is what is termed
.'three cornered" constituency. While 1t returns
three members the individual electors are
stricted to voting only for two This device was
introduced into the last Reform bill by the tories
renders 1t difficult matter even for constituency
thoroughly liberal return three liberal members.
Al the present election the third membership has
been won by the tories, thanks TO dissension in
the liberal camp and to detection from the liberal
party OF the whole Irish vote, which has been cast
solid for a home rule candidate The emergence
OF the Irish home rule question in Scotch politics
has been disturbing power OF altogether unan-
ticipated magnitude, and threatens 70 become
hare ftar0 NJ q mr.
fish election contests. Off present position as
party cry l shall have more to say towards she
close of this letter.
THE DOMINANT POLITICAL ISSUES.
The Scotch have raised no question at this gen.
eral election in the foreign policy OF Mr.. Glad
stones administration. The Alabama damages,
the Ashantee war and the Straits OF Malacca have
not caused any heartburnings here. The first or
these foreign complications is never mentioned
except in terms OF warm compliment having
been step in the right direction and as just re-
turn Tor grievous wrong. 1t is on questions Of
domestic legislation that the Scotch have been
busying themselves. or these the most important
are the "Game laws,' which they wish abolished !;
the county franchise which they wish sssim-
lated to that OF the burghs or towns the 'law OF
patronage in the Church." which they wish abro-
gated. and 'shorter hours or labor in factories
and public works Tor women and children which
they wish adopted in terms Of bill lately intro
duced into Parliament by Mr.. Mundena, the men,
Der for Sheffield. Upon all these questions the
liberal candidates have shown compIacent will
ingness TO go almost as far as even
their most ardent constituents desire. Two
great paroles have sprung up, however,
at this election who eve their power to
the Disraen Reform bin OF 1865 and who will ex-
ercise powerful influence on the political des-
tiny of the country. These are the working class
mr. trad aaf
In the manufacturing towns the influence OF the
Hrst has been paramount, and has manifested
itself mainly in opposition to the recent British
act OF Parliament known as ''The Criminal Law
Amendment actn June 90 1871. The ieelIng IN
Scotland against this act OF Parliament has been
at fever heat among the working classes. They
have ned open air demonstrations In various
parts OF the country, at which speeches have been
delivered, vehemently denouncing the statute,
while political organization, almost perfect in its
detail, has been effected to secure the return OF
members favorable to the repeal OF the statute.
Recognizing the Importance OF this new working
class movement in Scotland, went TO Glasgow,
where had an
INTERVIEW WITH THE MASTER MIND OF THE sCor-
TISH MOVEMENT,
Mr.. Andrew Boa, the President OF the Trades
Council and Chairman Of the Committee for the
Repeal OF the Criminal Law Amendment act. One
was not long In Glasgow before hearing OF Andrew
Boa. Intending candidates for the represen-
tation OF that great city seemed more soncitous
OF conciliating him and the body he represented
than any other class in the community. II he
fowned on their pretensions they straightway
committed political hari-kari The favored candi-
dates of his choice in Glasgow nave headed the
poll, having first pledged themselves TO vote for
the repeal Of all that is obnoxious in the Criminal
Law Amendment act Mr.. Boa / met by appoint
ment in his home, quiet Scottish "but ana ben"
on one OF the Oats OF a new street in an outlying
district OF Glasgow, called Kinning Park Usher
ing me into little parlor, remarkable for its neat
appearance, and giving me copy OF "Thomson's
outlines OF the Laws OF Thought" to read, the
Tribune of western Scotland returned 10 another
room to finish an interview he was having with
the deputstion OF cooperative society Of which
ne is director. The parlor was quietly furnished
mahogany bookcase stocked with the English
classics recalled to ones mind the high intellectual
acouirements one universally fnds among the
better class OF Scottish workingnen. On the
mantepiece were stucco busts OF Homer and
Socrates and two heads OF Indian corn, souvenirs
OF the United States which he afterwards told me
were sent him by valued friend now resident IN
that country.
PERSONAL APPRABANcE.
Mr. Boa Ia not-as his name and extraordinary
influence would seem TO suggest fierce looking
specimen Of humanity. On the contrary, ne Is
mild. little fair-hared man OF about thirty-three
years OF age, 1.-the and nimble in his movements,
with bright, intelligent countenance particu-
larry gentle, finely formed head, cheeks slightly
pallid, an eye mellow and pleasing. and rather
handsome yellow mustacne. He is a stone mason
by trade He is married, and his eldest child, fine
boy OF fve years, kept us company throughout the
5nterview. Another child, OF about two years OF
age, who kept running from to room, Mr..
Ron avfot a. q lttr bo had aJn cd
whose father had been a miner in the west OF Scot
land. The surroundings OF the Scottish Tribunes
home spoke Of domestic contentment and hsppi-
Dess-there was neither the slovenhness. nor the
dirt, nor the discomfort characteristic OF the
English "Redsn OF London and Chelsea. After