The workmen are beginning to perceive the power which the
new franchise puts in their hands. Messrs Potter and Hartwell have put forward an address calling upon them to return only men who will do "justice to labour " and legalize the Trades' Unions ; an effort is to be made to secure the minority seats for the Trade organizations ; a demonstration managed by tailors has been made in Aberdeen with a similar view, and workmen will probably contest several of the large northern towns. The result of the movement—in itself a healthy one—will mainly depend upon a single question. Do the Unions, if they obtain legal status, intend to put dawn intimidation decidedly and for ever ? If they do not, their nominees will be resisted not by the old ten- pounders alone, who might be beaten, but by the ten pounders and the non-unionist workmen, who will beat them. " Free labour !" would be even in the North a very telling cry.
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