The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-27
The First WOrkingman'S Candidate Returned
10 the House Of Commons for Stafford.
He Is Interviewed by a Herald
Correspondent.
HIS HOME, APPEARANCE AND HISTORY.
His speech to the Scottish
Miners.
WHAT he THINKS OF HOME RULE.

GLASGOW, Feb. 10. 1874.
Yesterday interviewed the first "workingmans
candidate" returned to the House OF Commons
Mr.. Alexander Mcdonald. President OF the Miners
National Association, Chairman OF the Parliament
tary Committee OF the Trades Unionlsts OF Britain
and Member OF Parliament for Stafford.
HIS HOME AND APPEARANCE.
Holytown, where Mr.. Mcdonald resides, Is a
small mining village, ten miles from Glasgow,
lying in bleak mineral country which at night Is
lit up far and by the lurd fires OF the vast
smelling furnaces that thlcEy stud this part OF
Western Scotland. The new Member Of Pariia-
ment resides on the second nat OF plain but SUBJ
stantiaily built&wo story house on the main street
of this village. had the good fortune to nnd MIN
Eat home" in his parIor, or, rather, his library,
for two SIDES OF the room, which was by no
means small one. contained book shelves
from floor to ceiling and filled with
volumes, mostly new and superbly bound. The
third wall was covered with Photographic views,
all OF which were American, and included pic
ture of the Capitol at Washington, scenes from the
battle field OF Gettysburg and pastoral sketches OF
Maryland and Western Virginia. A large bronze
bust OF Dante stood IN one corner, banked on
either side by two stuffed birds whose gay plumage
had nuttered in the Brazils. The honorable member
is a Scotchman. and was pre-eminently so in tne
heartness OF his welcome. He is about fifty years
oil age, is under the medium height is Of broad,
muscular build, with a tenGency to become stout
and portly. His head is large and massive, with
shaggy locks OF coarse wiry, gray nar; the eye Is
large and ustrous ana set in cavernous recesses
that remind you OF Danie Webster; his voice is
sonorous barytone, and his utterance Is
measured and emphatic, with bnt little
OF the Scotch accent Although he is to-day
a man OF culture, OF varied reading and of
extended travel in the United Stares-for he
was the first Englishman to traverse the American
Continent by rail from New ork to san Francisco
he yet started in lie at the age OF eight years
boy, and wrought twelve years in the pits. 1t was
from his hardly wrought earnings as collier that
he afterwards pad his ices as student at the
University OF Glasgow With an ambition to do
some good in his day he thought OF the pulpit as
the sphere whence his influence might be most
uselul but encounterng theological difficulties,
he babe adieu to his Church aspirations and be-
came teacher of a small school at Ardrie, MIN
ing town near Glasgow. Afterwards, the miners
having begun to organize Tor the amelioration OF
their condition, he threw himself heartily into the
work, acting for them their secretary-a post
which he still holds-but he is now at the head Of
what is probably the largest and best organized
body Oh workmen in the country. He has never
been In receipt of regular salary from the
miners. In the early days OF the association
they paid him as they best could-and he was
never i'll 70 please; but latteriy they have pre-.
sented him, from time to time. with almost
princeiy sums. Their pride in seeing min to-day
in Parliament is unbounded They have set sub
scrptons on foot TO defray his present and coming
expenses, and these are being responded to with
amunlfcence and an alacrity hitherto unheard OF
in this quarter OF the country.
HERALD SPECIAL INTERVIEW.
After congratulatiDg MIN on his return to Parlia-
ment our conversation proceeded as iollOws:-
Mr.. MCDoSALD-it is a somewhat singular cir
cumstance that, though l am mainly identified
with the miners interests, yet the constituency OF
Stafford is not a mining constituency. strangely
enough there is not o miner within twenty miles
OF That town. owe my election to a band OF noble
workingmen and to liberal party who sunk all
their minor differences, and, putting their shoulders
to the wheel, secured for the honor OF repre-
senting them in the British Parliament.
CoRREsPoNDENT-Your platform Mr.. Mcdonald
was 1T advanced IiDeralism2
Mr.. DCDoNALD-It was, and the tories made
gallant struggle against US. Although am an a9-
vanced liberal, however 10 not adopt some Of
the whims and caprices Of the day. ! am not a
Pernissive bill advocate. was asked If / would
support it, and answered that would not, even
although my refusal imperilled my election. I
have little iaith in sumptuary laws was asked if
l would abolish the Contagious Disease act, and
answered that to some Of Its provisions was OPP
posed, but that in other respects should be glad
to see that act extended over the whole country
instead oil being limited, as 1t is. 10 garrison
towns. The measure is truly sanitary one. Great
communities owe 1t to themselves so look alter
their health, and should not DC restrained by any
false dellcacy.
CoEREsPoNDENr-what do you think of this Par
iiamenfary crsisg Is there really in your opinion,
any genuine conservative reaction in tue country?
Mr. McDoNALD-For my part, DO not think that
There s. The liberal party have been making such
rapid progress OF late, and SO many sweeping
measures have been carricd-as, Tor example, the
abolition OF purchase In the army, the irish Land
act, the abolition OF the Church in lreland-that
we have now great many folks each advocating
his own pet CROCHET, and who, If he can't get the
liberal Ministry straightway to adopt II, takes
umbrage and wlthdraws his support from the Min
i Gyed MI and GaasSnes party IS now cut up and
creased IN negative sort OF way by malecontents
whose main purpose is to cnagrin the presenG Pre-
conservative majority.
CoRKEsPoNDENT-Gpon matters Affecting work.
ing class legislation, MIR. Mcdonald, presume you
Mr.. MCDONALD am. / was among the first, II
NOT the rst to advocate the repea OF the Criminal
Law Amendment act and kindred statutes press
Ing severely upon the worStnglDen.
CoRREsPoNDENT-How do you feel on the land
question What do you think OF the proposal Tor
ves,ing all land IN the hands OF the government
as trustees for the public veal
proposal nor would place any restraint upon the
individual acquisition OF property; but would
posed 20 the continuance OF our law o. prlnoSenl'
ture.
CORRESP0NDENT-Whae ABOUT nome ruleE
Mr.. NcDoNALD--I am opposed to the dissncmber.
ment disintegratiou VI the British Empire, but
nevertheless regard Ireland az being virtually
conquered country, and that until she has the
right Of making her own laws she VIII prODaoy
not be at peace with England.
CoRREspoSDENT-what do you think OF the pro-
posed federation OF the British Isles, with sepa-
rate national Parliament for each
MI. MCDoNALD-in so far az any measure proposes
togye each country the right OF passing its own
railway bills ana measures relating TO pubic build
ings and other purely national undertakings am
IN avor OF such scheme. As have said, however,
do not advocate the observance OF the Empire,
nor do think that snch step would be advisable.
CoRREsPoNDESr--What Is your opinion on the
suffrage question:
Mr.. MCDONALD am IN favor OF manhood suf-
rage. would give every man who is OF iuii age
aud not incapactated by insanity crime the
right to vote, aud would hold the simple produc-
tion OF his certificate OF birth sufficient title
TO vote, or, II he is naturazed citizen, then on
production OF his naturalization papers.
CohREsPoNDKST-YOu are q warm advocate, /
lnna 1rrith hin