Maltman Barry
Encyclopedia
Michael Maltman Barry often known as Maltman Barry, was a Scottish
political activist who described himself as a Marxist but stood in elections for the Conservative Party
.
Barry was born in Glasgow
and moved to London
in 1864 to work as a journalist
at The Standard
, where he reported on parliamentary and labour matters. He became a friend and supporter of Karl Marx
, who impressed him with his opposition to the Liberal Party
, and thereafter described himself as a Marxist.
In 1871, Barry was appointed as Provisional Chairman of the International Working Men's Association but, after a year, he was compelled to leave the organisation for being too moderate and labelled a possible spy
. Despite this, he continued to be active in radical circles, and became the secretary of the Manhood Suffrage League
. He became an outspoken supporter of the Tory
campaign to intervene in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. Much of the group objected to this, and the organisation ceased to function by the end of the year. He launched the National Society for the Resistance of Russian Aggression and the Protection of British Interests in the East. Many of its early meetings led to riot
s, but Barry continued to campaign against Russia
into the 1890s.
This experience led Barry to become a supporter of the Conservative Party
, but he also worked with Henry Hyde Champion
to call for an independent party of workers. At the 1880 UK general election, Barry unsuccessfully sought the Conservative nomination in Dundee
, where he acclaimed the Tory's support for the Factory Acts
and also the party's imperial policy.
The Conservative Central Office gave Barry £340 to pass to H. M. Hyndman of the Social Democratic Federation
(SDF) in order to fund two of its candidates in the 1885 general election
, in the hope that they would defeat Liberal Party
MPs. This "Tory gold" was not successful, and led SDF members including Ramsay Macdonald
and James MacDonald
to set up the rival Socialist Union
.
Barry changed the spelling of his name to Michael Maltman Barrie, in order for it to appear more Scottish. He worked with Champion to set up an anti-liberal labour alliance in Aberdeen
, and published The Labour Elector newspaper from 1888 to 1890 and 1893 to 1894, supporting the Independent Labour Party
and campaigning against Jewish immigration.
At the 1892 general election
, he stood unsuccessfully as the Conservative candidate in Banffshire
, then Morpeth
in 1895
and 1900
and North Aberdeen in 1906
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
political activist who described himself as a Marxist but stood in elections for the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
.
Barry was born in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1864 to work as a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
at The Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
, where he reported on parliamentary and labour matters. He became a friend and supporter of Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
, who impressed him with his opposition to the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
, and thereafter described himself as a Marxist.
In 1871, Barry was appointed as Provisional Chairman of the International Working Men's Association but, after a year, he was compelled to leave the organisation for being too moderate and labelled a possible spy
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
. Despite this, he continued to be active in radical circles, and became the secretary of the Manhood Suffrage League
Manhood Suffrage League
The Manhood Suffrage League was a nineteenth century ultra-radical and, later, socialist club.The organisation was founded in 1874 as the Democratic and Trades Alliance Association...
. He became an outspoken supporter of the Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
campaign to intervene in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. Much of the group objected to this, and the organisation ceased to function by the end of the year. He launched the National Society for the Resistance of Russian Aggression and the Protection of British Interests in the East. Many of its early meetings led to riot
Riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder characterized often by what is thought of as disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence against authority, property or people. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots are thought to be typically chaotic and...
s, but Barry continued to campaign against Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
into the 1890s.
This experience led Barry to become a supporter of the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, but he also worked with Henry Hyde Champion
Henry Hyde Champion
Henry Hyde Champion was a socialist journalist and activist, regarded as one of the leading spirits behind the formation of the Independent Labour Party...
to call for an independent party of workers. At the 1880 UK general election, Barry unsuccessfully sought the Conservative nomination in Dundee
Dundee (UK Parliament constituency)
Dundee was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1950, when it was split into Dundee East and Dundee West....
, where he acclaimed the Tory's support for the Factory Acts
Factory Acts
The Factory Acts were a series of Acts passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom to limit the number of hours worked by women and children first in the textile industry, then later in all industries....
and also the party's imperial policy.
The Conservative Central Office gave Barry £340 to pass to H. M. Hyndman of the Social Democratic Federation
Social Democratic Federation
The Social Democratic Federation was established as Britain's first organised socialist political party by H. M. Hyndman, and had its first meeting on June 7, 1881. Those joining the SDF included William Morris, George Lansbury and Eleanor Marx. However, Friedrich Engels, Karl Marx's long-term...
(SDF) in order to fund two of its candidates in the 1885 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1885
-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...
, in the hope that they would defeat Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
MPs. This "Tory gold" was not successful, and led SDF members including Ramsay Macdonald
Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
and James MacDonald
James MacDonald (trade unionist)
-Life:Born in Edinburgh, MacDonald trained as a tailor and moved to London in 1881. He joined the Central Marylebone Democratic Association and the Manhood Suffrage League, but it was reading Friedrich Engels' articles in the Labour Standard that convinced him of socialism. As a result, he joined...
to set up the rival Socialist Union
Socialist Union (UK)
The Socialist Union was a British political party active from February 1886 to 1888.The group was formed by socialists around C. L. Fitzgerald who left the Social Democratic Federation in protest at SDF leader H. M. Hyndman's acceptance of money which Maltman Barry had obtained from the...
.
Barry changed the spelling of his name to Michael Maltman Barrie, in order for it to appear more Scottish. He worked with Champion to set up an anti-liberal labour alliance in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, and published The Labour Elector newspaper from 1888 to 1890 and 1893 to 1894, supporting the Independent Labour Party
Independent Labour Party
The Independent Labour Party was a socialist political party in Britain established in 1893. The ILP was affiliated to the Labour Party from 1906 to 1932, when it voted to leave...
and campaigning against Jewish immigration.
At the 1892 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1892
The 1892 United Kingdom general election was held from 4 July to 26 July 1892. It saw the Conservatives, led by Lord Salisbury, win the greatest number of seats, but not enough for an overall majority as William Ewart Gladstone's Liberals won many more seats than in the 1886 general election...
, he stood unsuccessfully as the Conservative candidate in Banffshire
Banffshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Banffshire was a constituency of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1708 to 1800, and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1983...
, then Morpeth
Morpeth (UK Parliament constituency)
Morpeth was a borough constituency centred on the town of Morpeth in Northumberland represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of England until 1707, the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and then the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
in 1895
United Kingdom general election, 1895
The United Kingdom general election of 1895 was held from 13 July - 7 August 1895. It was won by the Conservatives led by Lord Salisbury who formed an alliance with the Liberal Unionist Party and had a large majority over the Liberals, led by Lord Rosebery...
and 1900
United Kingdom general election, 1900
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1900*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
and North Aberdeen in 1906
United Kingdom general election, 1906
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
.