The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-04-13 00:00:00

the continued experiments will be given to the
public, when we Shall return to the subject.

LORD PALMERSTON'S appeal to the electors of the
United Kingdom has not passed off without certain
external and visible signs on the part of the PEOPLE
that, notwithstanding the Premier's popularity,
they are by no Means satisfied with their present
political position. In various localities the non-
electers gave Vent to their feelings of discontent-
ment. At Kidderminster the Ehght Ilon. Rog Ear
LOWE, a Cabinet Minister, and Vice President of
the Board of Trade, was maltreated and abused
by his reluctant constituents. Other places fol-
lowed the example of Kidderminster, and the
tiaenfranchised emphatically protested by their
conduct that they felt that injustice was perpetrated
u2on them by their exclusion from the electoral
roll of the borough in which they resided. Far be
it from ti 3 to unction or even extenuate these
lawless deeds of violence. They are deeply to
be deplored. Nevertheless, when we consider
their cause, it is somewhat surprisini that such
scenes are not of greater frequency, as well as
more formidable and serious in their results.

We have already shown that, according to our
present system, the people of this country are not
represented, and that it is nothing short of mockery
to suppose that the votes of such a fraction of the
population, as are now entitled to exercise the
franchise, indicate the true political sentiments
of the country at large. In nothing has this view
of the case been more clearly demonstrated than
by the fact that in the majority of instances the
candidates at the late elections who had the greatest
show of hands were almost invariably at the foot of
the poll. A few instances, by way of example, will
show the correctness of this assertion. To begin
at home, Mr. Turner had the show of hands in his
favour ; so also had Mr. Bright at Manchester ;
Cobden at Huddersfield ; Walmsley at Leicester;
Cardwell at Oxford, and Layard in Aylesbury.
Yet all these gentlemen were not only lowest on
the poll, but actually lost their elections. The
public meet as free men—subjects of a constitu-
tional government,and at the hustings hold up their
hands for the candidate or candidates whose poli-
tical conduct and principles they approve. But
this is only a mockery. Mr. Bright, although
declared by a show of hands to be the people's
choice at Manchester, is not their representative.
The masses in that city bore their defeat without
having recourse to acts of outrage and assault.
Not so at Kidderminster. The non-electors there
took revenge for their isolated position. They
felt that the working classes are ground down by
taxation and dear living—that the governing classes
are but little, if at all, disposed to lighten their
fiscal burdens ; and seeing before them, as
they believed, one of the persons who as-
sisted in defeating Mr. Lacke King's motion,
and, thereby, depriving them of their national
and just political rights, had recourse to hriekbats,
bludgeons, and other offensive weapons. Belfast,
the modern Athens of Ireland, a place distingushed
alike for its rapidly increasing commerce, the
industry and peaceable character of its inhabi-
tants, and the seat of no less than three flourishing
colleges, acted the same riotous part as did the
" city of carpets." Lisburn, a flourishing town,
belonging to the Marquis of Hertford, and ever
noted for its loyalty and obedience to the law, wds
in a state of complete tumult. Even our neigh-
bours across the Mersey, resident in the " city of
churches," Chester, had recourse to the breaking
of windows, and the transactions of other matters
which the law denounces, and all well regulated
minds reprobate.
It may be said that these depredations are the
acts of the mob only. That may be so to some
extent. The want of education, and their non-
ability to influence, by their respective votes, the
issue of the contest, instigated them to act the
reprehensible part which each and all performed.
They certainly erred in thinking that, by prostra-
ting the man, they would put ,down the system,
which so unjustly and iniquitously ostracises
them from their political rights. Once give them
a direct interest in electioneering contests; allow
them to go up to the poll, and such outrages will
not be heard of. The fact of being an elector will
prevent their recurrence ; and, were it not so, a
short bill could soon be passed, declaring that
every parliamentary voter found guilty of aiding
and abetting an election riot, should be dis
franchised. After the promulgation of such a law,
peace and good order would prevail; and, although
the suffrage would be general, an election contest
could be carried without let or hindrance
to the general peace of the country.
It is well and truly said that " coming events cast
their shadows before." In the outrages which have
taken place, there is an evidence that the people
are determined not to allow our parliamentary re-
presentation to remain as it is. The outrages per.
petrated at Kidderminster will in all probability
be repeated on a disagreeably extensive scale, at
the next election, unless a new Reform Bill is
granted in the meantime. Every day's experience
shows that the non-electing portion of the corn
munity are getting more and more dissatisfied,
restless and exasperated, at being treated as
political and social outcasts. Those who now
govern the country should think of this. The
history of the world affords abundant examples to
prove that the rejection of the people's rights has
ever led to anarchy, bloodshed, and rebellion.
What was it that led to the abdication and flight
of Louis Philippe from France, and the establish-
ment of a short-lived Republic ? The answer is
obvious. It was the procrastination of reform.
It is a serious and a dangerous thing to rouse bad

feelings and angry passions by the infliction .o f an
injury, but it is much more perilous to laugh and
scoff at those who are writhing under a keen
sense of injury and injustice. Long indeed has
the aristocracy laughed at the people. It behoves
them not to continue that dangerous system of
treatment, lest desolation overtake the order. The
Lords, in conjunction with the other House of
Parliament, have it in their power to set themselves
right with the masses. Grant them their true
position in the social and political scale, and com-
pel them to respect from a feeling of regard every
order of the constitution under which they live,
and election riots will be no more. The people
will be contented, and animated by a spirit of true
patriotism for the benefit of their country.

AMONG the duties which journalists owe to the
community, there is the unpleasant one of holding
up public offenders to the reprobation of their
countrymen. It would be a dereliction of duty if
we were to shrink from it on the present Occasion.
We return, therefore, to the recent investigation
into the affairs of the Necropolis. It appears that
the Health Committee have received a communi-