As it still does all so often, politics came around for discussion in Blantyre in Summer 1892, as politicians lined up their candidates. On Monday 27th June 1892, Colonel Harington Stuart, the Unionist candidate for mid Lanark arrived in Blantyre to address potential voters. As you would expect there was strong representation there that day from various Masonic institutions including community figures like Major Ness and Colonel Clark Forrest.
There’s a detailed account of what happened that day, which I hope you find interesting.
The Colonel was commencing his overall campaign starting off strongly in Blantyre, then a town which would have leant much support to his cause. At 1.30pm, he addressed a crowd in the large factory ground of R.M Topping & Co, Blantyre Foundry, (now where First Bus is at the boundary with Burnbank).
Mr J. Banks was called to the chair, and after a few remarks as to Col. Harington-Stuart’s connection with the county, called upon the candidate to address the meeting.
Col. Harington-Stuart delivered an interesting address, in which he touched upon the Labour question—advocating arbitration in the case of disputes—and declared for an eight hours’ day for miners. He was against Home Rule, and at some length showed the consequences he thought would follow its adoption. As to the liquor question, he was in favour of a fair scheme of local option. A vote of thanks to Col. Harington-Stuart for his address was carried with acclamation.
At 6.30 Col. Harington-Stuart addressed an open-air meeting at nearby Springwell, the weather still fine and bright that summers evening. Mr Archibald Clarke was called upon to preside. He asked Mr J. Banks to read over the candidate’s election address, after which Colonel Harington-Stuart addressed the meeting at some length on the questions of Home Rule and Labour. On the motion of the chairman, the candidate was unanimously declared a fit and proper person to represent Mid-Lanark in Parliament. A vote of thanks to the chairman brought a very successful meeting to a close.
At eight o’clock, Colonel Harington-Stuart addressed a largely-attended meeting of his committee and others in the Reading-Rooms at Dixon’s Row, Stonefield (now the end of Calder Street). After being introduced by Colonel J. Clark Forrest, who occupied the chair, he said the two meetings he had addressed had been very successful. There were a few present opposed to his opinions, but that only made matters more lively. He had had the satisfaction of meeting the gentleman who was opposed to him and had heartily shaken hands with him (cheers).
This was a man who knew how to get his audience onside. He spoke at length about Ireland Home Rule (which he was fiercely against) and how he was partially in favour of the temperance movement, agreeing with campaigners that there should be less drinking in pubs. But in true politican style, addressed that unpopular sentiment with an additional welcome comment, that ‘a man can do his drinking in his own home’, which again got cheers.
Illustation: AI Generated for Blantyre Project
