The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-02-28
RETURN OF ALEX. MCDONALD.


On Wednesday, Feb. 4th, Alex. MELON
aid, President of the Miners National As
ISOLATION Of Great Britain, was elected to
Parliament from the town Of Stafford
England, having polled l, 1888 votes to DAT
votes polled by Capt. Bridgeman, conser-
vative.
The following is his address Of thanks
to his constituents upon the announcement
of the vote, which we clip from the Stat
fondhire AdrertiSer:
Mr.. A Mcdonald, NJ. p, then, amid great
cheering, stepped to the front of the balcony
to thank his supporters. Addressing the au
dlence As electors of Stafford and fellow work.
Ingmen, he assured them that, in his estima-
ton, that night was proud one in the history
OF the town. (Cres of 1T is" and loud
cheers Several months ago, he continued. |
came here at your request, and | told YOU
then that II you would have confidence in me
| would have confidence in you. and that come
what would | and you would 20 to the polls
together. You have not only shown your con-
hdence IN me, but have gwen me the opportu-
NIFTY OF showing that deserve your confidence;
and you have shown to this country and l
venture to say, to more countries than this -
that the worklngmen of Stafford are WORTHY
to lead IN that great social and political refor.
nation that Is now not far distant from any
one OF us. loud cheers At this hour 81
the night, or rather morning, it would be very
improper for me to detain your worthy Mayor
but let me say that | thank you ten Thousand
times for this great and glorious victory. Re.
neWed cheers My only regret is that the
town OF Stafford has not been entirely wrested
from the Conservative party-(hear, hear, and
applause and that IN spite of the cry Of Con
seIVatlve reaction you have not returned two
members to support William Ewart Gladston,
and his Government As YOU have given IN,
tins unexampled mark of your confidence. de
pend upon 1t that | will 20 to the House O
Commons unpledged and untrammelled bD
either party. Hear, hear, and cheers
Though l Will give hearty support to tn,
party Of progress and never throw any Difficult
ties In their way-(hear, hear, will lool
AZ measures and not men. (Cheersl ALLOW
me TO say, in conclusion that the news Of tn,
glorious example which YOU have set to-niCh
will ring over EnglAnd-(gr cheering)-anc
that 1t Will show the country that so far from
there being Tory reaction, the working mel
et least have full confidence In Mr.. Gladstone
Government, and are determined to suppor
them In those measures of reform which hav,
been enunc.~ted- renewed cheers. $50 tina
our nation may in the years to come be create
and more glorious than it has ever vet been
and our Queen still more beloved by her peo
pie. Loud and prolonged cheering On
word more IN coaclusion. (Cries of go on,
and aPplause.l | deeply sympathize with tn
excitement see exhibited, but if YOU love me
II you love the cause of order and those vrea
and glorious principles that we espouse, ever,
man, on leaving this place, will return to hi
home, so that the streets Of Stafford may un
til morning dawns be desert ask YOU +
do this IN order to show that the WORKING
men of Stafford are able under circumstance
OF the greatest excitement, to conduct them
selves with perfect order and thus set an ex
ample to every class of society. 1t NAV no
be in my power to visit you all now, but wi
take an early opportunity of doing so. Their
are few other borOughs which are being con
tested by working men, and it appears to m
that ought t. visit one of these tomorrow
and render what support can to the cause
IN the hope that by so doing l may confirm
and strengthen the great Liberal party in thei
efforts to make our country greater and bette
than it is. (Cheers.) | again return you
thousand thanks for your support, and as yo
have shown confidence in me | will endeayor
during the time / shall have the honor of serv
ing you as member, to reflect credit upon you
choice, and do all the good ! can for you an
the great working population of this country
loud cheers. The Hon. member conclude,
by proposing a vote of thanks to the Mayo
as returning officer, observing that, from wha
he had seen that night, his worship was tn
right man in the right place