The New York Herald Newspaper, February 26, 1874, Page 4

SCOTLAND. The Parliamentary Elections in the Land of Wallace and Burns. Spirited Vindication of the Cause of Reform and Progress. Interview with the President of the Trades’ Council. SRLS EE eo REASONS FOR SCOTCH LOYALTY. Good Feeling Towards America—The Ge- neva Arbitration Heartily Approved. THE PLATFORM OF THE CONSERVATIVES, EDINBURGH, Feo, 10, 1874. The great wave of conservative reaction which at this moment is threatening to submerge the constituencies of England and Ireland has been powerless in Scotland, Since the passing of the Koeral, and has never been more heartily 80 or more thoronghly anti-conservative than it is to- day. Mr. Gladstone, asa political leader, is the idol of the country; but of the thirty candidates returned up to the 6th inst. only five were con- servative, and of these five four are of the mildest possibie type. Edinburgh, the capital of the country, has returned two liberals, Mr. 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 “Ginx’s, Baby” Jenkins, whose chief fault in the eyes of the workingmen there was that his address was not so enthu- Slastically republican in sentiment as they woud have wishea. In Glasgow, the second city of the three kingdoms, Dr. Cameron, the proprietor and editor of the Daily Mad, a journalist of extreme opinions, heads the poll, while next after him stands Mr. Anderson (of Emma Mine celebrity), Whose opinions are very much those entertained by Six Charles Dilke, Glasgow is what ts termed a “three cornered’? constituency. While tt returns threes members the individual electors are re- stricted to voting only for two. This device was introduced into the last Reform bill by the tories in the interest of ‘minority representation,’’ and renders it a difficult matter even for a constituency thoroughly liberal to return three liberal members. At the present election tne third membership has be won D: , the 8 dissension in | qa ciate il 1'3 5 a hapa wd bende Rip | like bis wages to leave Ris place. He took his em- ; the liberal camp and to a defection from the liberal party of the whole Irish vote, whica has been cast solid fora home rule candidate. The emergence Of the Lrish home rule question in Scotch politics has been a disturbing power of altogether unan- tictpated magnitude, and threatens tw become criminal la the Master and Servant act of Isat, which, while its main. object was to abolish | P immoral and one-sided principle woich made Reform act of 1832 Scotland has been stanchly | COBtract equaily on both Bone, NEW YOR K HEKALD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1874.—TRIPLE SHEET. wo pepe Great Britain, and it of taining some informacion from the best possible quarter that | have sought this interview, Lt ‘@S present the amendment ot the Cre nal tion relative to the working ur. Boadn's dag igs the Pattaya fun! tae a w dabaameetactotsear 1871, theine ‘conspiracy— waten 19 the vaguest And most unsatisiactory of @ contracts of workmen eniorceable by impris- uments, really let that principle in again oy & side CORBRSPONDENT—What ts your objection to the | Criminal Law Amendment actt Mr, Boa—lts vagueness and unfairness. By that act, and 1 use ita very words, ‘“‘iverysperson shall be liable to imprisonment, with or without hard labor, for a teri not exceeding three months who shall (1) molest another person by fol- lowing him about from place to place, or (2) ifhe watch or beset the house or place where such person resides or works or carries on Or bappens to be, or if, With two or more other persona, be follow such person in @ disorderly manner in or through any street or road.” Ee sor should go aud tap & man on the shoulder say to him, ‘1 do not think you should walk you are liaple to three months out, Mr. 80 and 40," crimunal molestation, CORRESPONDENT—You object that this statute virtually creates a reign of terror over the work- meu when they and their masters disagree? Mr. Boa—Just'so, | CORRESPONDENT—NoW whas sre your complaints | 84 Co (he Master and Servant act? Mr, Boa—We object to imprisonment for breach of civil contract as a flagrant exception to ordinary rules. To failtn paying £1,000 at gate is a subject for a lawenit; to miss @ day’s work is matter for | imprisonment. The Master and aot oF 1867 | provides Civil remedies certainly for breaches of | and Its promoters, IT believe, honestly entertained the idea thas they abolished a grievous anomaly; but, inasmuch as the act gives the Coart tn whatit calle “aggravated cases” power to imprison the defaulting party lor | three months, It happens that the workman may | jor @ breach of agreement, which some sapient | Magistrate considers “aggravated,” be sent to | jail like @ common felon. t CORRESPONDENT—But this imprisonment can only occur in very special circumstances f Mr. Boa—Yes; but “aggravated misconduct” ts | @ flexible phrase, and leaves too much to the dis- imprisonment. The act ts #0 vague that it is im- | ex, ted love for politica, He dreaded the poostvle to say what harmless deed may not be to rot power of the elccinenenines ‘weir ten- construed as “molestation.” Besides, the common | dency to make their newly acquired strength uw should he suificient to meet every Case of really | work in the interests nd their own class bereafter of the most serious consequence in Scot- | tish election contests. Of its present position as a party cry I shall have more to say towards the close of this letter. THE DOMINANT POLITICAL #SSUES. The Scotch have raised no question at this gen- erai election im the foreign policy of Mr. Glad- stone’s administration. The Alabama damages, the Ashantee war and the Straits of Malacca have mot caused any heartburnings here. The first of these foreign complications ts never mentioned except in terms of warm compliment as having deen a step in the rignt direction and as a just re- turn for a grievous wrong. it is on questions of domestic legislation that the Scotch bave been ‘busying themseives. Of these the most important are the “Game laws,” which they wish abolished ; the “county franchise,’ which they wish assimi- cretion of the magistrate. And, besides, there are every day aggravated cases of breach of contract | in the civil courts, the authors of which are nut | even always cast Ia damages. Tais pamphiet I hold in my pand is by Frederick Harrison, M. A., of | lancotn’s Inn, He says, ‘“I'wo workmen left their employment in kingston attracted by the high | wages offered at the London Gas Works during: the strike, and engaged themselves for the vacant | places. Meu, as we know, who had struck were | wing sentenced every day to prison under the | clause as to “aggravated misconduct.” Yet those | men Who had Come up irom Kingston to take the places of the men on strike and do their work were | sent to prison by the same rule, though since their | conduct tended to diminish tae evils caused by the, strike, one would have looked at it leniently. -We are told, again, that in the rural districts tt is vhe rule for justices to treat the condition of, “aggravated misconduct” as mere sul as, in legal significance, equivalent to leav! em- ployment. “Thus an Kesex jarmer, who gives names and addresses, including his own, writes pene on the case Of @ man who was earning seven shil- lugs a week for fourteen hours janor, and who lett this valuable situation for work in another part of the country. On returning to his home, six months afterwards, he was sent to prison under this section. Another man, who asked for a rise ol wages, was tola by his employer it he did not (3 ployer at his word, but he found to his cost that he ad to appear at the Petty Sesstons, and that bis | employers regarded this too scrupulous literalsm | in carrying out orders as “aggravated mis. | conduct.” @ are Buglish cases, certainly, but | we have had similarly oppressive occurences in Sco.land, anc notably the Perth case, which has stirred up much indignation turoughout the country. | CORRESPONDENT—Are you meeting with saccess | im your efforts to persuade candidates for Parlis- — ment of the injustice of these laws? Mr. Boa—We are. The wosmimtty of working- men throughout the country on this topic iy start- | lung, and the power they therefore possess at clec- | tons Jorces recognition of their demands. I have | just received @ telegram this afternoon that our | of Commons. lated to that of the burghs or towns; the “law of | patronage in the Church,” which they wish abro- gated, and “shorter hours of labor in factories and public works for women and children,” which | they wish adopted in terms of a bill lately intro- duced into Parliament by Mr. Mundella, the mem- ver for SheMfcid. Upon all these questions the liberal candidates have shown a complacent wili- ingness to go almost as far as even their most ardent constituents desire. Two great pariies have sprung up, however, at this election who ewe their power to the Disraeli Reform bill of 1868, and who will ex- ercise a powerful influence on the political des- tuny of the country. These are the working class or trades’ union party aod the Irish home ruters. In the manufacturing towns the infiuence of the first has been paramount, and has manifested itself mainly in opposition to the recent British actof Partlament known as “The Criminal Law Amendment act” (June 29, 1871). The feeling to Scotland against this act of Parliament has been at fever heat among the working ciasses. They have neld open air demonstrations in various parts of the country, at which speeches have been delivered, vehemently denouncing the statute, while a political organization, almost perfect in its detail, has been effected to secure the return of members Iavorable to the repeal of the statute. Recognizing the importance of this new working class movement in Scotland, I went to Glasgow, where I had an“ INTERVIEW WITH THE MASTER MIND OF THE SCOI- 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 BO. tation of that great city segmed more solicitous of conciliating him and thi ody he represented than any other ¢lass in the community. If he frowned on their pretensions they straightway committed political hari-kari. The favored candi- dates of his choice in Glasgow have headed the poll, having first pledged themselves to vote for the repeal of all that is obnoxious in the Criminal Intenaing candidates for the represen- | ‘coadjutor, the Secretury of the Miners’ Association of Scotiand, Alexander McDonald, bas been re- turned to Parliament from Stafford. He ls the first workingman representative returned to the House t igagreat triumph. Heisaman who Will honor tu every way the electors who have returned him, and the cause which he goes to serve im the House of Commons will be imunensely strengthened. | CORRESPONDENT—I believe that will be the gen- eral ieeling turougnout the country. | Mr. Boa—I have had a further evidence of the power now wielded by our body. This aiternoon 1 received a telegram from Uolonel McDonald, the conservative candidate who is coutesting the _ Montrose bul against the late Secretary of the | ‘Treasury, W. EF. Baxter. The Colonel says to mi 1 go in for the repeal ofthe Criminal Law Am ment Act. Leud me a trades’ unionist to heip me. Money no object.” Iwas thanderstruck at this barelaced pro. asifwecould be bought and | sold. I telegraphed a rejusai, ana I téie- graphed Mr. Baxter’s election committee to make the proposa! known, and to press workingmen not to forsake liberalism nor be misled by the specious | promises of sham friends. UORKESPONDENT—Representing, as you in a mea- | sure do, the great body of Lhe mtelligent working | classes of Scotiana, I should itke to hear from you | your opigions of political measures Dot Ol a strictly class character. The game laws, for example. } Mr. Boa—lhese we Would summarily abolish. CORRESPONDENT—The law of primogeniture? wae would repeal it as well as the law of entail CORRESPONDENT—Does the present system of rep- * resentation satisty you? | Mr. Boa—No. We would have equal electoral districts, and an electoral system on Mr. Harris’ pian, if possible. We believe also in the payment Of members of Parliament. CORBESPONDENT—AS to Churcd and State * Mr. Boa—We are opposed to the continuance of the Church and State connection. CORRESPONDENT—How do you feel as to the “Home Rule’ movement ? Mr. Boa—That we have not yet given much at- tention to, Other questions have been pressing us more closely. But 80 faras Home Rule means the giving # greater charge of national or local concerns to purely national or local bodies, I be- lieve we are all in favor of that step. I do not think the Scotch workingmen favor tne disinte- gration or dismemberment of the United Kingdom. | CORRESPONDENT—But how would you feei with regard to a lederation of tne three kingdoms on | | the principle of the United States of America f } | “Mr. Boa—I do not suppose that would be very odjectionabie, but I have not considered it very | anxiously, besides, this question of “Home Rule,’ , when started in Scotland, generally assame: religions aspect, and we are told that “Home Rule means Rome rule.” I do not say that it does, but we workmen, who are united to aman on all | rely secular questions concerning trade and jabor, get to sixes and sevens when the religious ditficulty is imported into our discussions. CORRESPONDENT—May 1 ask, Mr, Boa, what are | your opinions with respect to republicanism ? Mr. Boa—Weil, I believe there i8 not any very great dissatisfaction in Scotland with tue existing Mode of government. We look on Queen Victoria as an exceptionally good monarch, and could we Jeel sure of a 5 380n of “Victorias” there would not be any cry jor republicanism. CORKESPONDENT—You are aware of the repub- | liean movement in England? Law Amendment act, Mr. Boa I met by appoint- | ment in his bome, a quiet Scottish “but ana ben,” on one of the fats of a new street in an outlying district of Giasgow, cailed Kinning Park. Usher- ing me into a little parior, remarkable for its neat appearance, and giving me a copy of ‘“‘Thomson’s Outlines of the Laws of Thought” to read, the Tribune of Western Scotland returned to another room to finish an interview he was having with the deputation of a co-operative society of which he is director, Tne parlor was quietly farnished. A mahogany bookcase stocked with the English classics, recalled to one’s mind the high intellectual acquirements one universally finas among the better class of Scottisn workingmen. On the mantelpiece 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 a valued friend now resident in that country. PERSONAL APPEARANCE. Mr, Boa {a not—as hia mame and extraordinary influence would seem to suggest—a@ flerce looking epecimen of humanity. On the contrary, he is a mild, little fair-haired man of about thirty-three years ofage, lithe and nimble in his movements, with @ bright, intelligent countenance, Jarly gentie, a finely formed head, cheeks slightly pallid, an eye metiow aud pleasing, anda rather handsome yellow mustache. He is a stone mason ‘by trade, ‘Loy of five years, kept us company throughout tne interview. Another child, of about two years of age, who kept running ‘rom room to room, Mr. Boa explained was a little orphan he had adopted, ‘whose father had been a miner in the west of Scot- laud. The surroundings of the Scottish Tribune's home spoke of domestic contentment and happl- hess—there was neither the sloveniiness, nor the dirt, hor the discontent so characteristic of the ‘English “Reds” of London and Che some somewhat as follows :— NDENT—The movements of your newly hised ciass, Mr. Boa, naturally possess tgierest for ail Who are watoming tue pollu particu- | After | leasant preliminary talk we proceeded | Mr. Boa—i am. There it 1s identified with a ulty, Iinmasmuch a8 its Most promi- nent advoc: , Charles Bradlaugh and Holyoake and Watts, are secniarists, In scotiand you will find the religious element a strong characteristic of the people, and pervading the artisan class as well as the others, and it wil be a stumbling block vo the advance of a republicanism based on secu- larism. CowRESPONDENT—You are @ Member of a Church body, Mr. Boa’ Mr. Bos—i am a Methodist. CORRES?PONDENT—You must have had hard work to-day canvassing? reiigious di Mr. Boa—t have been canvassing very hard, I have, however, mysel{ no vote. CORKESPONDENT—I um surprised at that. How | is it that a maa possessed of your intelligence and influence has no vote in the councils of the aation? Mr. Boa—simply because I am in the county of Renirew and not in tue city of Glasgow, aad the county franchise isa £14 renta year, which is a Migher rent ivan! pay. There are at least 12,000 workingmen around me in this Deighborheod sim- Marly circumstanced, and, taking the whole county, | shou there are nearly 80,000 work- ingmen who have no votes. I may say that were the county (rauchise assimilated to that of the | burghs, toryism in Scotland, at least, would be- come extinct. t CORRESPONDENT—Is there any other grievance of | which Scottish workmen complain? | Mr, Boa—Yes, we lave serious cause of complaint in the exclusion of workmen from juries, ‘This 18 | an evil which presses severely upon us, and for the | removal of Which our most anxious eforts are | being made. I should like to teil you of one other | scheme which is dear to our hearts, | mean the Workmen's Peace Association. The object of | this organization is to promote international arbi- | Jol He is married, aud his eldest child, afine | wor We have already working committees at work in each of thirty Scottish towns. J am secre- tary of the Scottish department of the Work- men’s Peace Association, and J can bear testimony to the keen feeling entertained on the question by the operative classes throughout the | length and breadth of the country. Had it not been-that this election has come sooner and more suddenly than was anticipated, we shouid have | had international arbitration made a hustings | question throughout the country, ContesronpeNT—Chen I may assume that you | | regarded with satisfaction the Anglo-American Ar- | bitration at Geneva? Mr. Boa—Undoubtedly, and whatever others may urge to the contrary, the irked solution of the Alabama claims Was hailed by Scotland with leel- ings Of the most unbounded joy. WHAT THR CONSERVATIVES SAY, Alter tu@uking Mr. Bow tor the vatience and the state and election exp representatives to be by a pure and unrestrictea ballot. the State churches. thorough and equitable settiement of the land question. ed natural rights and liber of Settiement. ‘vanceny every lover of truth and great courtesy with which he had conversed with me | bade him adieu and betook mysel! oy way of hearing the other side to the ranks of the conser- vatives. 1 accordingly waited on a leaaing tory who was very willing to give me his views, but had @ positive di o1 being “interviewed” by any New York journal whatever, so that I had ane to promise that neither his name nor poluting to his whereabouts should tran- spire. He stated frankly to me that, in his opinion, Gladstone was driving the country at a break: neck pace to “the dogs. consteusion was practi oe ‘hate paced —whatever it mig! theoretically—about the best government tn world, He opjected to all tinkering and ‘“con- stitation mongertmg” where such tinkering Was indaiged in owt Hg way of experiment sod from @n abstract love of poli speculation. ‘That was the sort of thing, he said, which had ied to successive revolutions in France, and he pre- peal [etelcoee — coneeenees: ia pnamand tically perfect one which was always m po beak 4c 'bennedased tens on paper. DISRARLI had rightly stated at Gi: WW that the spirit of the -— wus & spirit of equaiity, and he interpreted . Disraeli as meaning the endeavor of those to pull down to their @bove them. wD level the classes who below are ij was now more popular for work-- fngmen to try to pull down others to their lower ‘level by means of acts of Parliament than to raise she! ves to the higher level by industry aud eoolal virtues. ‘The ourse of the country was its alone. A number of biatent demagogues and 4 welf-seeking press were pandering to the vicious action of the working classes. A lew mn the virtues of sobriety and ty Of more value to the people taan ail the schemes of all the reiormers of tue hour. Tue de- cay of reverence for es: institutions he re- jarded as one of the most alari signs of the ‘imes. He thought political power beionged neces- sarily to the Jew, lor the very rarity of political capacity was in itself an fament against its being entrusted to all and ry who claimed the riviiege of exercising it on no better grounds ut long since exploded theories than tne romance of Jean Jacques Rousseau. He did not believe that BUGOPRAN PROGRESS was necessarily @ march trom Uwsarism on the | one hand to communal liberty on tue other. He would vote the conservative ticket straight as long | as he lived, and if he was in a minority he would al- | ways have the consolation of being in the company of sensible men. He was & morose man, and took & gloomy view of things, I found. His repeated ref- erences to France seemed to show that that nation has done much to retard, if it bas aiso done much to forward, the sentiment of political progress in Europe. HOME RULE AS A PARTY QUESTION IN SCOTLAND. Only one candidate has stood in Scotland dis- finetly pledged to home rule, and that was one of the defeated candidates for Glasgow—the Hon. | Francis Ker—a Scotchman and a Catholic, and & lover of Ireland. But the “nome rulers” have made themselves felt all over the country, and ve- fore anogher election comes round their numbers are such that, with unanimity and good organisa- tion, they will hold probably several seats at their dis; At present “home rule’ is advocated only for Ireland and by Irishmen, and on the nar- Tow issue of past Irish grievances, rather than on the broader ground of the political propriety of the step. Home rule, however, has a meaning for Scotland as well as for Ireland. The senior mem- ber for Edinburgh has been grumbling sadiy over the miserable modicum of time which the English Parliament is able to devote to Scottish tnterests, and Mr. Bust, the great home ruler, declared the ower day in Scotland tbat Mr. McLaren’s complaint constituted the beat home rule speeca he bad yet heard, To-night 1 notice one of tha debating societies at the University here discus# the ques- tion whether home rule is not @ necessity for Scotiand as well as for Ireland, and, indeed, the general tendency of advanced political specu- lation in this country seems towards the adoption o1 @ federation of the three rdoms, each with its own national parliament, ‘he desire for a modified home rule in Scotiand has at various times crop} up, but for some years it has gone to sleep. The Irish agitation, however, reawakens it, and seems likely to give it greater vitality than it has ever hitherto possessed. So lar as the strictly Irish movemers in Scotland is concerned there is not the least doubt that it must speedily assume the gigantic proportions which tts irieuas predict. THE LEADER OF THE HOME RULE PARTY in Scotland, Join Ferguson, is 4 man of great skill, energy and eloquence. An Irishman binigeif, he is | conspicuous for his labors in every patriotic move- ment for the benefit of his country. He 16 a Prot- estant, and this fact greatly disarms the cuckvo cry that “Home Rule means Rome Rule,” a cry which readily cnoten. seizes hold of so intensely Protestant @ people as the Scotch are. As & eaker, Ferguson has few equais in any country, and his speech to the home rulers in the City | Hall of Glasgow, on the eve of the election, Was one of the ablest election speeches ever heard in the west of Scotland. He possesses good social position. and is one of the partners of tae well knoWn publishing house of Cameron & Fergu- son, He ts also comparatively a young man, not over thirty-four or thirty-five years of age, and is very popular with all classes of his tellow citizens. Tall, well formed, though of slender build, of aark complexion, with # voice marvellously beauttiui in its intonation, he possesses some of the best quai nications of tife successful orator. As @ tactician he is not awhit bebind fhe best electioneering agents in the west of Scotland, and his bold deter- mination to withdraw the whole Irish vote fom the Glasgow liberal camp because of their ee. fessed inability to compreneud the meaning of the Irish home rule cry created the greatest cousterna- tion among the liberals and resulted ultimately in the logs of one of the three liberal seats lor the city. Mr. Ferguson, in a conversation with your cor- respondent deciared himself most sanguine of the future of the home rule movement in Scotland, | stating that although as yet it was limited to the | Irish residents in the country, their patriotism was of the most enthusiastic character and was even already telling on their more &| ic neighbors the Scotch, as an instance of which he | Mentioned that at a late home rule meeting in Edinbarg four of the town counseilors of that a were on the platform and one o! tuem occapie the chair, REPUBLICANISM. Only the other day a telegram appeared in the London papers that a vote of thanks to Sir Charles Dilke bad been passed by the Dundee Republican Club, I have considercd it, thereiore, germane to @D inquiry into the political condition of Scotiand to ascertain how far there was genu- ine republican sentiment she country. 1 which is evidentiy in ‘Beco! Lyons and Marseilles are | in France, and I interviewed the Presiaent of the | Dundee Republican Club. He is a working slater | in Dundee—a quiet, inoffensive man of about forty ears of age, much loved in nis neighborhood for kindly sympathy with the suffering and the poor. The ciub of which he is the head numbers bearly 400 members, mostly of the artigan class. ‘They have a hall, aud meet regularly once a week for the discussion of political questions. 1 found this arch plotter against the constitution of bis country quietly seatea at his own fireside, amid the happy surroundings of home and with a bright | to: little MaxXen-naired girl on bis knee, spelling out her alphavet from an tilustrated picture kK. Scotiand is sale enough, | thought, so long as ber reiormers are such men as these; for “PROM SCENES LIKE THESE OLD SCOTLA’S GRANDEUR SPRINGS.” Ihad along and iateresting conversation with the President. He told me the club was nearly turee years old, thatits membership was incress- ing and its principles daily becoming better known. They went in for republicanism on prin- ciple, but at the present election whatever part they took in politics Was not as repubiicans but as trades unionists, No truly republican issues were yet before the country. From a printed manifesto a the club, which he gave me, | take the lollow- ng i— , PLATFORM OF THE DUNDRE REPUBLICAN CLUS. Fird—Adult suffr: Se ‘Equal Par’ nentary representation. ment of the House of Lords and all | Shorier Pai Fourth—ihe abolition hereditary distinctions, Fith—Payinent ot Parliamentary sepresentatives by by the constituencter, county or municipal n—All young tor nati Seventh—Ibe disesiablishment and diseudowment of Fighth—The wal abolition of the game laws and a Viuh—A system of free, compulsory and unsectarian u 4 Tenth—The repeal of all acts that interfere with the y of the citizen. Hleventh—The speedy repeal by Parament of the Act The maniiesto concludes as follows :— Such, fellow citizens, are the princip! nt and triumph of which we a: justice. Do you believe them true? Act, then, the manly part, and stand side by side with those who are working in the good cause. Organ- a your thousands, and you will reap « gloriows n witnessing the realization of the noblest aspira- tions of humanity. People throughout the land, Join in one social band And save yourselves If you would happy be, Free from all slavery, Banish all knavery, And save yourselves. We are. in the name and by the authority of the Dun- dee Republican Club, &c., GEORGE WALKER, President. WILLIAM BUCHAN, Secretary. THOMAS BENNEIT, Treasurer. IN GLASGOW. I made inquiry for the Republican Clab of Glas- gow, but was informed that that instituuion was not in so flourishing @ condition as the one in Dundee. Similar inquiry for the Republican Clap of Edin- burgh resuited im the information that all the members of the Edinburgh ciub bad pecome 80 thoroughly enraptured with repubiicanism that they had emigrated in a body to the United States, and that, im consequence, no republican club now existed im the ancient aud beautiful metropolis of Scotland. The Dundonians have, however, during this last week started branch ciubs in the neigh- boring towns of Perth and Arbroath, so that they, at least, are active enough. Republicanism, how- ever, although probably one of the latent issues Of the immediate future, cannot be seid at this moment to possess any very abiding hold om the sentiments of the Scottish nation, for the ad- the ald ot A half-breed recently got out of jail at Bowlder, Col., While the jatier siept, It was not mach trou- bie to find Sim, as he had some assistance in get- ting out—from @ mob, who hung him to the nesreat tree. He was Charged with murder. A BROADSIDE FROM THE COMMUNISTS, Their Reply to the Disclosures of the French Detective—The Generals May, Pierre Bois- sect and Mr. Sanva Rise to Explain— “The Peaceful Ballot Our Only Weapon"—New York Al- ready s Commune. The startling disclosures of Louis de Plato the French detective, who has shadowed the leaders of the Communists by order of Superin- tendent Matsell, published in the Herap of yesterday, excited a great deal of indignation among the disciples of Kossel and Bianqul. A HERALD reporter was sent to learn the Com: munists' side of the story, and all those with whom he conversed expressed themselves in terms of the most bitter denunciation sbout the Police and “the traitor” who furnished the deteo- tive the published account. Among tho most prominent leaders of the “Cercle Révolutionaire et Communiste Francais” which were mentioned by the French detective were Elie and Gustave May, formerly generals of the French Oommane. The reporter found General Elie May at his office, No. 33 John street, where # huge sign announces in large letters the fact that the former leaders of the Paris Commune are now following the peace- ful and harmless occupation of “importers 01 pre- cious and imitation stones.” General Elie May is a short, well built man, of strong physique, and with a face expressive of culttvation, He wears a fuil beard, of a pale brown, and his features are cast in a determined mould. He is rather a good-iooking man, General May was very indignant at the state- ments of the detective. ‘Here ts one statement,” he said, ‘‘which accuses me of having brought bere DIAMONDS WHICH WERE STOLEN during the French Commune. Now, see how sb- surd this statement is, The Versailles govern- | ment, whenever it detected the slightest evidence of criminal conduct, sent the .Communists always to the galleys. They would have gladly sentenced us to the galleys if they could have found the flimsiest pretext for domg 80; bus no, oot @ cent tnat we had to account for was mussed, and we were con- demned to impmsonment for life in @ fortress, which, yoo know, 1s merely the punishment for purely political offences. If they could possibly have impugned our honesty they certainly would have sent us to the galleys, No; we controlled millions and not five cents were missed when we left, [let people talk about my politics as much as they please, bat I think my private character be- longs to me,."” REPORTER—I presume you are still one of the leaders of the Communists of this city? General May—Communists? Why, we are all Communists. Why all this absurd talk about the Commune? What the Communists in Paris strug- gled tor we have here in America. The people elect the municipal officers of every town—that's what the Commune is. Now, as to the detective’s statements, we shoula certainly correct them but for the fact that no man of sense will believe them. Platnval is @ secretary attached to the De- tectives’ Office, and probably WANTED TO SHOW HIS IMPORTANCE by these absard statements. If this were France T should challenge this man to fight; but, unfortu- nately, there are no duels in America. I chal- | lenged a newspaper man and he laughed at me. However, 1 suall take other measures to optain satisiaction, Here General May was called away, and he re- their omission te do so shat! be deemed as evidence that they approve of the action of the police on the occasion reterred to. | Further, that the result of this action | tion marked that he must attend to his business affairs, | n¢ “I get my money by business he said; “and as to our meet everybody who likes to attend id not by politics,” gs, they are open to them.” Generai Gustave May is still better looking than | his brother. His complexion is darker and his full, fine beard quite black. His manner was that of aman of education, and the conversation was carried on in French, English and German. General Gustave May—I have nothing to say in answer to the accusations preferred it me | by this detective, All my friends, all those who know me, can tell you wholam. I was a general in France, and such a matter | should have settled there with the pistol or the sword; but here, of course, it must be settled in quite a different man- ner. RerorTer—Did you know that Superintendent Matsell had set spies to watch you? General May—Wny, we know what Mr. Matsell does better than he knows what we do. I Know what tue police do when there ts 4 MOVEMENT OF WORKINGMEN, Iwas thrown into the most intimate relations with the Chief of Police of Paris daring the Com- mune, and know all the tricks ef detectives. We bave a secret police, too; and if they set their de- tectives to watch us we set our secret*police to watch their detectives, and our police is much bet- ter, because it 18 not paid, as theirs is. REPORTER—Do you know who the traitor is? General May—Yes, we know the man who fur- nished the iniormation. 1 presume he wanted some money and agreed to be! von us for a few dol- ars. We know him, and several times it was pro- posed to kick him out of our meetings, but I always sald ‘‘No, let us wait.’”? We shall get square with this man yet, we shall take other and more effec tive measures. This mantis in the service ofa police | which is venal, corrupt and willing to do ronda for money. The newspapers abuse me because take the part I do. ‘nat interest have Ito fur- ther? I am no citizen of the United states, and could not even become a public scavenger in the city. 80 you see that I merely endeavor to live up to my principles and not to gaim anything person- ally by this communistic agitation. eneral May was here interrupted by a business call, and the reporter left. The detective men- tioned Moustral, @ baker, at No, 17 Greene strect, as one ofthe leaders of the Communists, but there 1s no No. 171n this street and no Moustral could be found anywhere in the vicinity. Mr. Pierre Bois- set, locksmith, at No. 109 Greene street, was found to be a veritable workingman, unusually intelligent and with an honest, open face. Mr. BoisseT—I assure you that the official inves- tigation in Paris PERFECTLY VINDICATED THE MAY BROTHERS and as to our organization, we have merely come ther to protect our mutual interests and to obtain our citizens’ Papers. You would scarcely delleve it, but out of Frenchmen here there are Rot twenty-five who are citizens, and we want them all to become such, 80 that they shall vote for honest and capable men. And for aoing this we are called thieves, robbers, incendiaries. Now we awe against the statement furnished by this iamous traitor and liar, I tell you that we bave Do secret police. Why should we? The city of New York is a Commune. In France the Mayor, the Aldermen and the judges of a city are ap- pointed by the government; but here they are elected by the peuple which constitute the Com- /mune, and which is all we strove for in Paris. We are not armed brigands. No; our only weapon is our peaceful vote, RePoRTER—How about the atrocities of the Paris Commune ? Mr. Boisset (with emphatic gestures)—They were committed by the Versailies troops; it was they who set the Tuileries and Hotel de Ville on fire. At the notorious Cooper Institute meeting, | where the division of property was advocated, ail the speakers WERE GERMANS AND AMERICANS. As to our drills, the detective was foolish enough to mistake a militia company, who drill at the Casino, for us. The rifles which he alludes to are theirs. (Mr. Boisset langhed heartily at this idea.) As to the military companies of 100 men each which we are supposed to have iormed, what nonsense that is! We simply cepnnise sections of 100 men each, 80 that they might take out their citizen’s papers at the same tame and not ior purposes of pillage and pluader. Because our designs are pure, we are ac- cused of crimes, Why should we set fire to New York? Are the working men of Chicago and Bos- ton not in worse condition since the great fires in those cities? RerorTeR—And in regard to the diviston of prop- erty? Mr. BorsseT—Oh, what nonsense all that is! And Suppose we should divide the money of all the cap- italists among us, how much would each working man receive? Perhaps $1,000 at the utmost, Weil, What could I do with $1,000? No; it is worg that We want, and not a division of all property. I have been @ citizen of the Commune of ‘ork for seventeen years, and, pray, do I look the thief and incendiary the police are glad to represent every Communist? THE CAPITALISTS ARK BUT WORKMEN. T work with my tools, the millioanaire with his Greenbacks, If I engage some workmen and pay them $2 @ “ay and realize $1 bh from their labor, | am also @ “capitalist |” 1, there- fore, an enemy o! the workingman? 1 tell you we only wantour rights; we want that the police shali not club us When we assemble, peaceably. Even Recorder Hackett condemned the action of the police. If we had stolen or robbed there they might have had cause to arrest us, but not when We assembled quietly to state our grievances. Had we any weapons on our persons? No; ali the arms | hada were my pocket handkerchie! and my pipe. And as to the cartridges and cannons of our organization 1 can tell you this:—our cartridges shall be our votes, and the polls our cannons. (And Mr. Boisset burst into a Ot of laughter.) Mr. Sauva, tailor, at No, 133 Bleecker street, ‘another leader, said the workingmen did not want anything but work, The communists did not concern themselves ever with the division of prop- erty, Which was merely @ matter of conscience. if the detective was a Louis de Piainvalhe was a nobleman, who could know nothing of working- men and ought to leave them alone. The report was evidently made A Biya tain the action of the police in clubbing veaceful workinemen. All tuey ‘and for their subsequent interference with the tn- had done was to unite, 80 as ¢o prevent the capitalists PROM LETTING THOM STARVE, as they were doing now, That wasail. As to their drills the detective must have confounded them pity ad company who drilled regularly at e Casino. Chief Matsell was also called upon, and said he attached credence to most of the statements of the detective, but that there was not the least cause for alarm on account of these terrible communists, WORKINGMEN'S AGITATION. pene eT ee Measures Adopted to Obtain Satisfaction tor the Tompkins Square Clubbing— The Riot of the 13th of January In- cited by the Police Commissioners—The Froeethinkers’ Union. Under the auspices of the Freethinkers’ Union ‘& meeting of trades unton delegations was held at the Turn Mall last evening for the purpose of taking further action to call the police au- thorities to account for “inciting ® riot” on Tompkins square on the 13th of January, when the workingmen’s demonstration was contemplated. | tended freethinkers’ mass meeting at the New York Assembly Rooms, Conrad Kuhn was called upon to preside, who, in stating the object of the movement, gaid that the intention is to have the Police authorities indicted by the Grand Jury and impeached for malefeasance in office by she Legislature, and that a delegation would proceed to Albany inreference to this mat- ter. Resolutions were presented by ® com- mittee previously appointed for that purpose, which were endorsed. hey are in substance as follows :—Thut this Convention shall take steps to msure the indictment of the Police Commis- sioners for “inciting a riot” on the 13th of January last; that the sworn depositions of the victims be taken that their complaints may be laid be- fore the Legislature; further, that charges against the Police Commissioners shall be prepared and be presented to the Mayor, calling for their removal | from the office “which they have disgraced.” Also that the afidavits of the victims of ‘police bratal- ity” be laid before the Legislature, with an appeal for redress; algo that an address on the subject be issued to the public, setting forth the im- portance of this matter to the wellare of the com- munity and the people at large, Additional resolutions were presented declaring that a committee be appointed to address letters of inquiry to each member of the Boards of Alder- men and Assistant Aldermen, to each member of the Legislature from this city and toeach member of Congress irom this city: that these letters be ad- dressed tn the name of the late Cooper Institute mass meeting, calling forareply to the same, so that their position on the subject may be understood when they again ask for the vote of the working classes. They are to be called upon to state whether they approve and sustain tho various steps of the | Police Commissioners in January last agamst the workingmen in Tompkins square, causing them to be assailed with ciubs, “without | warning,” and theit subsequent attempts to interfere. with the freedom of speech. Furthermore, if ‘hey 4o not approve of these things, then why did not they raise their votce agalnst the outrage? They are to be requested to answer these questions briefly in writing, and and the replies received to these inquiries shall be | eae ae at another mass meeting, to be called for that purpose. These resolutions were passed in substance as above by a unanimous vote. A committee appointed at a previous meeting for that purpose presented a drait of an address to | the public ob the subject, which was adopted, de- | claring that the first time in the history of this | city it has occurred that pubiic officers, sworn | to” uphold the law, have trampled upon the law and the privileges of the people. A riot occurred in Tompkins square on the 13th ol Janu- ary, but the persons who engaged in the riot were the police, and those who incited the same were the Police Commissioners, The —justifica- of these acts, the address goes on, isa@faise pretence; they were acts of cruel perfidity on the part of unworthy servants of the pray, A committee composed of Messrs, Gund- bech, Cushman and Samuel, was appointed to vide for the publication and for an exten- sive circniation of the address, which Was subsequently signed by all the delegates pres- ent from twenty-seven different organizations, principaily trade unions, but including also delaga- tions from the Turnverein and other organize- tions. THE CONGRESSIONAL CHESSBOARD. + The Financial Problems gress, a and Theories on Sanking and Cur- | reney=The Want of » Party Leader. WASHINGTON, Feb, 24, 1874. Upon the various financial problems awaiting the solution of Congress numerous bills, resolu- tions and propositions have been introduced ia each house, looking to the relief of the country, the relief of the Treasury, an elastic currency and to specie payments. Among these numerous schemes there are bills providing for free bank- | ing and the absorption of the greenbacks im the redemption of the national bauk circula- tion, for the gradual withdrawaj] of the national bank notes and the snbstitution of a | universal greenback circulation; for the converth | bility of greenbacks into five per cent bonds; for | @ 3.65 per cent bond as a basis for the redemption of the national currency ; for a gradual reduction of the national bank circulation to $360,000,000, and the laying of additional taxes¢o raise a gold fund in the Treasury for specie resumption; to pursue the poiicy of masterly inactivity and let our Mnancial and business affairs regulate themselves; to issue $46,000,000 additional bank currency and various other sums up to $150,000,000 increase; various schemes for limited free bank- ing; a bill to transfer to the West and South from the East $25,000,000 of the existing bank currency, and 80 on to the end of the catalogue. ‘These diverse sohemes indicate the DIVERSITY OF OPINIONS AND PARTIES in the two houses on the banks, bonds, currency, | inflation, contraction and resumption, and the. dimoulties of reaching any comprehensive compro- mise. Here we, are. Sherman, Senate Chairman on Finance, pleads the binding obligation of a return to specie payments ag soon a8 practicable. | He would hesitate in advocating late contrac- tion, but he 1s opposed to another doliar of inflation. He would hoid Congress to ite pledge of specie payments. Morton argues the paramount necessity | and duty of an immediate increase of the national | bank currency for the relief of tae West and South from their present heavy embarrassments. Mr. Chandler contends that this hue and cry for ‘‘more | money, More money,” is a senseless cry for more wild cat and red dog currency. The impetuous Logan says that it is the people WHO CALL FOR MORR CURRENCY, the working, wealth-producin, ple of the coun- try, while it is the bank monopolists who are op- ome to any disturbance of their exclusive privi- | yes. Cameron, a snccessful banker, in sapport of his amendment for unlimited free banking, ar- gues that it offers asmooth and inviting road to | Apecie payments, while Frelinghuysen is quite as — strongly convinced that this ig the downhill road to the est speculation and inflation and to eral collapse and universal bank- Tuptcy repudiation. Fitlally, the man who, perhaps more than apy other Senator, is regarded | @8 an authority in the chamber on financial mat- tera, Mr. Boutwell, late Secretary of tne Treasury, | sees danger in contraction and peril in expansion: and would, therefore, arift @ little longer till the fog lifts and we can see exactly where We are. | THESE ARE THE FINANCIAL ELEMENTS | from which we are required to make up our esti- | mates of the provable gettlement of tne | question by this session of Congress. Wuhat- | ever it may be, it will probably he the | work of a Committee of Conference be- | tween the two under the pressure of the last days | of the ion. It will not be uniimited iree bank- ing—it will not be contraction; it will not be a | large expansion; it will, from present uppearances, be @ compromise upon the 000,000 scheme, NEED OF A LEADER. To the old political campaigners from the Sena- toriai leadership of Henry Clay the great want of | the Senate at this tine a@ party leader. Take, for instance, the sessions of Congress of 1842 and 1843, in which Henry Olay carried throug! his gr rovective tari schem and two national bank bills as whig measu ‘They were his measures. He fought them aud step by step carried them through. His word was the law to the wig party in both houses. But neither the republicans nor the democrats of | either house, at this day, can come to an agree- ment upon any important measure, except through the party cauct and so the republicans, before the end of this session, upon each of the great leading questions before them, may be reduce yet to the last resort of a party caucua in the Lean or the Honse in order to come to any understand: ing whatever. PATAL DRIVING CASUALTY. Coroner Croker was yesterday called to No. 443 Figith avenue to hold an inquest on the body of Mr. John D. Schumann, & fain o ¥ al He ay , Who died in the Ninety si Hospital. ‘On Monday evening last Mr. ge was driving a'spirtted hot ape on turning the corner of Seventh avenue 45th street, was thrown from the wagon, striking upon his h ‘and, in the opinion of House Sargeon Delgato, received concussion of the brain, Which caused | death, Before Con- the Various Parties, Schemes | ¢ | T. J. Huntm, CUBA. General Bascone’s Defeat by the {nsurrectionary Forces. “The Severest Action Since the Outbreak of the Revolution.” EIGHT THOUSAND —_—_—-. MEN ENGAGED. The Patriots on the Alert Against the Spanish Strategy. BURRIEL GONE ABROAD. HAVANA, Feb, 19, 1878. ‘The air has recently been thick with the rumors of @ severe reverse to the Spanish forces com- manded by Brigadier Bascones, The offcial re- ports, as yet very meagre, are of the usual non- committal character, but the following is the first of them published in the Hhkvana journals. Tne action is qualified by the Diario to have been one of the “severest since the outbreak of the revola- tion.” In confirmation of this there are other ver- sions in circulation, obtained from Cuban sources, in regard to this engagement, which set down the Joss to the Spaniards as very severe and at differ- ent figures ranging from 300 to 600, with the loss of their artillery. But as the latter versions have as yet no authenticity tho reai truth of the matter must be patiently awaited for. All such affairs have exaggeration in their reports, The Cubans and their sympathizers are prone to make out the Spanish joss a8 always very high, while the Spaniards, even in their oficiat accounts, scorn the idea of a battle or action tm any way whatever disastrous to them, and always have a phrase that the loss of the “rebs” must be “calculated” very great—probably only because tt is very slight, and, as can be noted in the engage- ment I am about to report, they (the Spaniards saw neither dead nor wounded, took no prisoners, nor captured any of the “pomp and circumstance’ of war, A steamer arrived yesterday from Nuevitas, and your correspondent mace diligent inquiries among several of the passengers from Puerto Principe, but | the result was not satisfactory, as the only infor- mation given consisted in the statement that no further details of the affair kaa reached Puerto Principe up to the time the train leit tor Nuevitas, but that THE ENGAGEMENT WAS VERY SKVERE and the loss of the Spaniards about 300, betweea killed and wounded. SPANISH STRAIEGY AND THE PATRIOT QUI VIVE. The report alluded to states that General Por- tilla, being privately informed of the place where the gross of the Cuban forces, under the command of the Marquis of Santa Lucia, had established their camp, near the cattle farm Narango, ordered out the colamn of Brigadier Bascones to attack them. Bascones obeyed with his column, amount- ing to about 3,000 strong, aud in a short time found the insurgents, who were about 6,000 tm number and well intreacued, and occupying good and advantageous positions, One letter from Puerto Principe, Lage m the Diario, describii the action says It lasted seven hours, and in that time the Spanish forces lost not an inca of ground, but, .rom the simple soldier to General Bas- cones, each rivalled the other in coolness aad bravery. Another letter on the same subject, published in the Voz de Cuba, says a3 fol!ows:— Our infantry operated as commanded by the art of war, and our four pieces of artillery—tmountain howit- zors—made excellent pias. using up the hal! of their am, manition, and, notwithstanding the desperate eflorts the insurgents to obiain them, with the cry, “The gu shall be ours, although it cost 5.0 men,” they were ré peatedly repulsed, and then the enemy, seeing that our forces yielded not'an inch and that by’ our steel, mus- ketry and artillery their rauks were besomipg thinned, put an end to the battle by takinw flig) ting fire to the guinea grass of the tleld, a manauvre which often prevents us trom following them in pursuit, feartuily tand set or of investigating their losses. Their losses, taking to account our own, severity of the combat and the aid © of ilery, must have Been more numetous hap eyes.” The cominand ot the action was we ar ne al we had @ killed ai Wounded, Brigadier Bascuoen bBimself among the latter. the enemy could not take trom Usa proper hor evel hotse, aor we from them migut THE LESSON AND ITS MORAL. Tne account stops here, saying it has no further details of this affair, perhaps one of the most tm- rtant since the beginning of the insurrection. ‘hat must clicit much comment is the state- ment made in this meagre report given by the Spaniards, that the insurgents bad ‘4,000’' com- batants on the field, which calls for particular at- tention, inasmuch as it comes in direct contradic- tion with the almost dally statements of the ish 01 and official proclamations, assert- ing that “the tnsarrection ia kept up by a number of small bands of bandits.” Thus the work goes on, reports coming in ol very “severe” enzage- ments, with losses of many killed and many wounded, and with the deciared intention of the government jorces now and again to make short work of the remainder of those in arms against Spanish integrity. BI }RRIBL AT SKA. The last Spanish mail steamer took away from this island Brigadier Juan N. Burriel, who bas made a name for himself in tne history of this un- happy insurrection, which will be found on the page of the brutal and bloody massacre of the ex- Peditionists of the Virginius. The same steamer took called here registro, or ordered to re- jort fora court of inquiry—the weil known Don joaé Severo Fernandes Mora, who was at the head of the military hospital, the first signer and re- ted drafter of that celebrated manifesto of Rte republican party of Cuba, and a freemason of the highest degree. Like other stanch republicans, he was no doubt obnoxious to the oligarchy of Cuba, and for this reason only has he been sent to Spain. CARNIVAL, notwithstanding the present circumstances of the island, which do not promise much improvement lor the better, was celebrated in the usual man- ner, but with much less animation than was notice- able in former years. The Paseo was again crowded with double lines of carriag nd the sides of the Paseo, the parks and pubiic squares thronged with orderly crowds of sight-seers. Balls were given at the Tacon Theatre and other places; but it could be noticed that the gayoty of this year’s carnival was forced, and that almost all the male portion of the crowd had their munds occupied with the “com- tug dratt.” The French Communist Leader at His Home in New Caledonia—Pecrsonal Con- duct, Companions and Discipline. SYDNEY, Jan. 17, 1874 Henri Rochefort, the French journalist, once @ Communist idol, now expatriated (rom gay Paris and bereft of his popniarity, has been added to the denizens of New Caledonia, He arrived there on the sth ult., per steam trans- port Virginie, alter @ tedious voyage, which neces- Sttated caiing at the Canary Islands and St. Catherines (Brazil) for provisions. To a mau of his mercurial temperament close confinement tn a convict ship for 120 days must ri eer ae er rs dared not show him sae tatty, MOE Misvodl oalste with him, and the canatue, co1 de voyage, jeered at him as one many degrees more infamous than themselves, What wonder that a more thoroughly broken spirited convict nev landed at Noumea. mn permanently located, but tt is He nag mOhiat ne will be retained at the chef liew until some change.in French affairs gives the un- unat freedom. Ometa atatistics show that on December 1 New ja contained 3,343 prisoners, of whom 766 Sie COnTices and 2,677 Communist exiles. The latter are ail located at Iie du F except 300 ticket-ofleave men employed in various capacities on the mal island. 'M. Rocnefort’s first experience of convict life discipline was the receiving of 4 sentence of eight days selitary imprisonment for some trifling viola- tion of the police rales. THE M’/NAMARA MURDER A Jury Empaneliled. Coroner Woltman has summoned the gentiemen Whose Dames are subjoined to act as jurors in the case of Michael McNamara, alleged to have been murdered at his residence, 630 West Twenty-ninth street, by being shot by Detective Leahy :—Willtam O, Bates, 1,138 Broadway; William Bergman, 1,154 Broadway; H. B, Melyille, 1,191 Broadway; co. Leseur, 1,209 Broadway; M. A. Coleman, 1,252 Broadway; M. H. Danziger, 1,238 Broadway; Mr. Snow, 1,206 Broadway; Tt. Burke, 1,172 Broad: «, Chamberlain, 1,146 Broadway}, l. D. Eaton, 1,146 Broadway; ¢. Randmets, 1,140 Broadway; an, No, 6 St. Mar! held at the Coroner's omic . street, Saturday, 26th inet, at eleven A, M., by Corougr Woltman,