The Express.
London, England, 1867-11-26 00:00:00

Mr. J.tmr.s DORBINGION seconded the nomination.

Mr. H. B. JACKSON proposed Mr. Mitchell Henry, who,
he sail, belonged from choice and conviction to the great
liberal party, whose measures had given them trade and
employment, and who were the supporters of civil and
religions liberty.
Mr. W. R. CALLYNDZA, men., seconded the nomination as
an old reformer, who voted at the first election for Mr.
Mark Philips and Mr. Poulett Thomson.
There being no other candidates,
Mr. JACOB BRIGHT came forward amidst great cheering,
and in the course of his address said—l am in favour of
a real representation of the people. To accomplish this
we must have, first, the ballot, in order that dependent
men shall no longer be cruelly coerced in their constitu-
tional rights, and in order that all men throughout the
United Kingdom may be able to vote according to their
consciences ; and we must have, secondly, such a redistri-
bution of seats as will take away the monopoly of political
power from rotten boroughs and small communities--(hear,
hear)—end as will give to largo constituencies like this
their fair share in the legislative power of the country.
(Hear, hear, and cheers.) With a real representation we
should have an impartial House of Commons, and a parlia-
ment so powerful that it could deal justly with every
question, however important, that was ever brought before
it. When we shall once have accomplished our object
in establishing a real representation we shall approach all
those great questions of practical legislation which the
advanced party to which I belong has as deep an interest
in as any party in this country. (" Hear," and cheers.)
We should aim at having such an educational system
that every man in Great Britain end Ireland should
become an educated man, and we should never rest satis-
fied until our universities are free from those tests and
restrictions which make them sectarian universities.
(Cheers.) Our desire is that they should be national—
(hear, hear)—that all their emoluments and all their
honours should be open to • man simply because
he is a British subject. (" Hear, hear," and cheers.)
With an impartial and powerful parliament we would
fearlessly approach the great Irish problem. We would,
as I said in my address, deal with her church ;
we would equalise her educational institutions ; and we
would give security to every man who endeavoured to earn
an honest living by tilling the soil of his native country.
(Hear, hear.) Since I last stood in this place • statue of
Mr. Cobden—(loud and prolonged cheering)—has been
erected in the middle of this great square. lam happy to
know that for generations to come, so long as the hustings
shall be placed here, no candidate can ask for the suffrages
of Manchester without being reminded of the life of that
illustrious man ; and supported as I now am by my friends,
and looking in the face of this vast audience—(interrup.
tion)—l say that I derive strength at this moment from
the consciousness that I have advocated no opinion during
this contest which was nut advocated by Mi. Cobden
when alive, and which would not have found in him an
able champion now had his life been longer preserved.
(Cheers.) In conclusion, let me say that during this
contest I have not, so far as I know, departed one hair's
breadth from the line of fair discussion. (Hear, hear.)
And when my opponents, in their antagonism to me and
the principles which I represent, have impiously invaded
the domain of conscience and of private life, in the interest
of all that is ennobling in the career of public men, and in
the interest of this groat constituency which I hold in
honour, that conduct has met with the reprobation it
deserves at my hands and at the handa of my friends.
(Cheers.) I have met with enthusiastic support in
every public meeting which I have addressed ; and I
have an unwavering confidence that I shall receive the
same enthusiastic support to-morrow at the poll. (Loud
cheers.)

Mr. Alderman BsNwerr said— I was elected for the city
council three times, and have been elected twice as alder-
man. I have been actively engaged in commercial put.
suite the whole of my life, and twelve years ago, seeing
the importance of taking part in the commercial ques-
tions connected with this city, I became a member of the
Chamber of Commerce. With many of the charitable
associations of the city I em connected. I have the honour
of a seat at the Infirmary board. I have been also con-
nected with the great question of education, and for
more than three years I have been president of the
Education Aid Society. Ido not mention these things in
any boastful spirit, but to show you that having time and
leisure on my hands, I have done what I could for the citizens
of this great city, and I am proud to know that the Educa-
tion Aid Society is so far able to make an impression upon
the people of this county, and upon the government of this
country, that for the first time education is mentioned in a
Queen's speech. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the other
night, in the House of Commons, told the House of Com-
mons that the mention of the question of education there
is not a mere rhetorical phrase. So that there'll, no ques-
tion about it, but within a very short time we shall see a
measure of education proposed by her Majesty's government,
and her Majesty's government proposing that question
will, undoubtedly, in the present state of parties in the
House of Commons, succeed in carrying it. Now, gentle-
men, I have frequently told you during the course of my
canvass, that I am a moderate party man. I em not a
democrat ; and if returned to parliament as your
representative, I shall give support to such moderate
measures as I feel sure will be introduced there during the
coming session. I will give no factious vote to turn out
the government of Lord Derby. It may not be altogether
such a government's I could wish to sae—the commercial
element resynot be represented in it as I would like to see
it ; but taking it all in all, it is the only possible govern-
ment at the present time in this country. The Russell
section of the great disunited liberal party, and the Glad-
stone mention of the great disunited liberal party, are now
come to almost open rupture, and there is no chance of
their working together in the present session. I have
been taunted with being a high churchman. lam
proud of the charge. Ido not understand why my hon-
ourable opponent, Mr. Jacob Bright, refuses to tell you
to what section of the religious world he belongs. Of
course I do not find any fault with Mr. Jacob Bright for
declining to declare his religious opinions. It is a matter
between himself and his conscience ; but I submit it is also
a matter between Mr. Jacob Bright and the electors of this
great city. If Mr. Jacob Bright be what I have heard he is
—(cheers and grosnid—then I cannot understand how any
portion of the religious community of this groat city,
whether churchmen, or independents, or Wesleyan", or
Roman catholic', can support Mr. Jacob Bright. I have
not one word to say against him. As I say, it is not for
me to inquire into ; tt is a question for the electors.
Churchman as I am, I have always been a friend of civil
and religious liberty. And while anxious, of course, to see
the church of England the church of the people, and the
church of all the people, I would allow any denomination
of Christians to worship in their own way according to the
dictates of their own conscience. Fellow citizens, you
Lave known me in the past ; ;on know what I have done
during the last 16 or 18 years smoe I became a public man.
Such as I have been in tho past, I hope to be for the
future. I have no doubt that by four o'clock to-morrow
afternoon you will have placed me at the head of the poll
—l,licers) sent Mr. Bright back to Rochdale, and re-
mitted Mr. Henry to London. (Cheers and groans.)
Mr. HTNRY said—l will not speak with disrespect of
either of the other two honourable candidates. There is
no reason that I should depreciate them in order to re-
commend myself. (Hear.) I have nothing to say against
Mr. Jacob Bright and that knot of politicians who support
him upon this, se they did on • former occasion. The
only complaint I make of them is—and the electors of
Manchester will to-morrow declare the same—that that
knot of politicians is deficient in political wisdom. (Cheers
and Erma.) Gentlemen, in this practical country it is
essential that legislation should be practical. (Hear,
hear.) We know that if every men and every emacia-
tion of individuals is determined to carry its own
points and its own projects, that legislation and