The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-29 00:00:00

ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM.

No. IV.
ELECTION EXPENSES.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlP.,—There s•mie show of in one defence
made for rotten boroughs, t',at they f,i,vourecl the entrance
it,to Parliament of young men of talent without family
it,fluence, or the means of contesting (as things went) the
larger constituencies. But the basis of this and similar
arguments is the fallacy that large pecuniary outlay is
indispensable to a candidate for the senate. It may be an
usage, but it is not a necessity, and the sooner it is de-
monstrated and put an end to the better.
In contemplating a task the first thing to be ascer-
tained is, whether the apparent obstacles are insuper-
able, or capable of removal. To be the former they must
possess some natural attribute or law, and it this does
not appear, with proper exertion there is good hope of
success.

Joint-stock companies and associations are models of
society in miniature. Their object is to bring combined
action to do what single efforts would never accomplish.
This will be the task of the Administrative Reform
Association if it intends to succeed. It has certain pro-
fessed objects in view. By what means are they to be
carried into effect I Are the impediments occasioned by
any natural or physical law, or are they the spawn of
routine, selfishness, and mistaken policy ?
If the hasosiAtion only succeed by its inquiries and
inductions in producing a temporary amendment to
silence popular clamour, and not establishing a
machinery by which the reform might go steadily on, it
would not be worth the value of its first year's subscrip-
tion ; for, unlike the Anti-Corn-Law League, it is not
directed to the repeal of one or more obnoxious statutes,
which, when attained, success is accomplished ; but it
has to build up as well as cut down, and the result of
its labours should be to leave in action a power by which
its designs may be perpetuated.
They cannot create an Ephori, nor establish a censor-
ship ; they cannot set up tribunes, imperium in imperio,
for that would be an usurpation ; but they can bend
their efforts to make an existing recognised power in the
state a real representation of a great and united nation—
the key, the mainspring, and fulcrum of combined har-
monious action.
Let them do this and their labours will be glorious,
and to pave the way they cannot (io a more acceptable
service than promote the means of inexpensive elections.
I am told that the late contest for Marylebone (with-
out bribery) cost Lord Ebrington 5,0001., and Jacob
Bell quite as much !
Is not this monstrous ? Can such be called a delega-
tion of an important trust, requiring devotion, labour,
and efficiency, or is it the purchase of an opportunity for
personal advancement ? If it be made the latter, no
constituency can have a right to complain who make
their representation such a costly luxury.
If, instead of 5,0001., I could be elected for Maryle-
bone, or any other constituency in the kingdom, for as
many shillings, I would not have it at the price.
No doubt with large bodies like the metropolitan con-
stituencies, under the present system of canvassing and
electioneering, there is necessarily a considerable expen-
diture, without the least impure practice on the part of
the electors, simply to bring them acquainted with the
aspiring candidate.
For instance, at Marylebone the hire of public rooms
alone, for the purpose of addressing the electors of the
several districts, amounted to a large sum, independent
of paid agents and canvassers. The latter might be well
dispensed with (if the people would take it in hand), but
there must he some means of seeing and hearing in order
to judge ; for it may so happen that the least-known
candidate may be infinitely the most deserving.
' How is this difficulty to be met ? I am afraid of re-
lying upon mutual forbearar.ce, yet this the Association
proposes, when it asks constituents not to solicit mem-
bers, and the latter not to " darken Mr. Hayter's
doors."
If it can be done in that case it can in others, and I
know not how talent and integrity is t 3 have fair play
if a large outlay cannot be avoided.
It may be said this is one of the natural advantages
wealth cannot be deprived of, just as to ride in a coach
while merit walks in the mud ; to live in a fine house
while talent inhabits a garret ; and to enjoy all the com-
forts of a plentiful estate—which I would not deprive
them of.

But the point is, while giving wealth all its private
rights and advantages, in the public service to counteract
if possible any undue advantage, so as not to exclude
poor merit from all competition.
Let constituencies invite the comparison of candidates,
as congregations in want of a pastor. Give them a meet-
ing and an opportunity to address them, and afford
themselves means of judging who is worthy of their
support.

The effect, at present, is, that where a man is not
known or introduced, he thinks it vain to appear ; while
some wealthy noodle, equally unknown, swoops upon
a vacant borough—sends for a leading attorney, whom
he retains with others, and is at once provided with in-
troduction, committee, proposers, and—a seat ; with all
its baleful consequences to the nation.
Of late we have had a few vacancies, and I select them
as illustrations merely because they have occurred.
The last was Bath, a large, important place, vacated
by Mr. Phinn. He being a native, and otherwise known,
at the general electio❑ was returned ; but retiring I-ft
no one in similar circumstances to succeec4 him. The
interval is often des,gaedly short, as at Liskeard and
Devouport ; aGovernment candidate travelling with the
writ, or carrying the news of the vacancy which he offers
to fill, and we all know the advantage of a good start.
Bath had therefore to seek—or be sought—by a
stranger ; and then the process is—a Conservative
Churchman being already in the field, some Dissenting
admirers think of a Culling Ea,dley, or some other
favourite saint to oppose him, and a negotiation is opened
for the purpose. It fails, and now the vice-chairman of
a new and popular association comes down as a volun-
teer, clothed with fall the influence of his official
capacity.
What an outcry would have been heard bad I, or any
other person of reform principles, started as an indepen-
dent candidate—what a roar of dividing the liberal in-
terest, fighting the battle of the enemy, &c., Zte., would
base been raised ; and yet, what allegiance is due or
broken ? As the Irish member sada of posterity, the
intruder might exclaim, " What has the liberal interest
done for me that I should retire," as if, otherwiSe, the
sun of England would set for ever, or the British lion
expire in convulsions ?—the eyes of the world being
always fixed, of course, on that most important struggle.
It was a tight contest without this ; it would have been
a Tite defeat with it.

Apply this to Canterbury, Hull, Windsor, Devon-
port, Norwich, and other places, and you will find the
same tune with variations, Ex umo disce omnes.
For myself, I have often thought that, with courage
an,l self-reliance, much might be done by one's own
exertions, and at least an opportunity given to the great
bulk of a constituency, who are quite free from the job-
bery and the corruption, when there is any, to exercise
a choice rather more extensive than Hob3on's.
If an occasion, cr necessity shall arise I will some
day set the example. The mass of the electoral corps
are as much the victims of the system as any one. They
are not bribed, for you cannot purchase legion (it is
always a small clique who get the money and the places) ;
and they must either vote for the led candidate or not
at all, being much in the condition of little children,
who are to "open their mouths and shut their eyes,
and see what God will send them."
Let an independent and competent man go down to
a constituency, proclaim himself through the press, issue
addresses, and if he cannot get rooms, meet in the openf
air, as they almost always do at the nomination, and
deserving he is certain to attract supporters enough to
float, if not to return him, and thus, fighting his battle
cheaply, with none but the bare legal expenses
(which the public ought to Ray), and
a few d
an
handbills (particularly with short Parliaments,
extended suffrage), money competition would soon
beaten down.
.Like Pyrrhus their victories would ruin
be
them. Depend upon it there is nothing like healthful
competition, and none are more Interested than electors
themselves. They should encourage deserving applicants_in-
terested for their suffrages, and despite the patty cries of
rivals.

If they would be well served, elections must be free.
Better would it be for them to subscribe for the purpose
of meeting unavoidable expenses than wake the blind
choices they are driven to. Tney ought to pay their re-
presentative, as the old constitulion prescribed, and
until they do let them cease to tax him.
If Parliamentary labour is an honour worth paying
for, why then do Ministers of Sta'se receive salarids ?
Surely as the distinction is greater, and the power
more considerable, their posts, on similar princ:ples,
should be a source of revenue to the country they serve.
—I am, Sir, your obedient servant, "
SAMUEL CARTER.
Church-court, Temple, June 24, 1855.

COWES, ISLE OF WIG LlP.—June 28.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON INTELLIGENCE.—ArrivaIs—
June 23. Aurora, cutter, Le Merchant Thonia4, Esq.,
from .St. Helen's. 24. Dream, yawl; Geo. Bentinck,
E• 9., iGuernsey. 25. Stormfinch, schooner, Colonel
Bowers , Weymouth and Southampton • Mernie, cutter,
Lord Vivian, Falmouth. 25. Alarm, schooner, J.
Wild, rsq., Lymington. 26. Gipsy Queen, schoor.er,
Sir a 11. Hoghton, Bart., Torquay. 27. Julia, cutter,
Captain W. Peareth, Guernsey. 28. Cecilia, schooner,
Marquis of Conyngharn, Cowes harbour. Sailings—
June 25. Stainfinch, schooner, Colonel Bowers, for
Ramsgate. 27. Sultana, yawl,.Lord Colville, Guernsey.
Yachts :at and about the Station—Resolution, Titania,
Leda, Gipsy Queen, Brilliant, Alarm, Caprice, Spider,
Dream,Alemie. Yachts fitting out in Cowes Harbour—
Zara schooner, Lily of Test schooner, Minx yawl.
CORONATION DAY.—This day has, as usual,been kept
as a holiday. All the shops and building-yards are
closed, and royal salutes were fired at noon, Nine
steamers plyed between Southampton, Cowes, and Ports-
mouth, Two large steamers, crammed with pleasure-
seekers, steamed round the island ; and the Medina took
a large party to Weymouth. Every horse and carriage
was also put in requisition ; and the war, the times, and
the taxes for this day have been forgotten.
The report that the Commodore ,of the Royal Yacht
Squadron had taken Earl de
foundation. Lord Somerville is, we hear, in treaty for it.
Greys hous3 is without
Five hundred men are to be.embarked next week from
Parkhurst Barracks for the seat of
war. •