The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-11 00:00:00

BRIGHTON ELECTION.

BRIGHTON, Thursday Morning.

Brighton at the present moment is not only involved in
the heat of an electioneering contest, but seems almost in a
state bordering on political insanity. There are five can-
didates for one vacancy, and each persists in his intention
of going to the poll. The breach in the Liberal interest is
so disastrous that it is feared nothing can heal it. That
tho three Liberal candidates are good men and true,
is not gainsaid. Nevertheless, there are reasons
why the peculiar qualifications of the first one
in the field should not be ignored. Mr. Dumas is a
consistent Liberal, thoroughly versed in matters political
and commercial, and from the outset has exhibited a manly
straightforwardness, an independence, and a degree of
honesty which stamp him as a fitting person to represent
such a constitutency as that of Brighton. Brought forward
by no clique or party, simply standing on his own merits,
he has throughout the contest acted with fairness towards
his opponents, while they in turn, piqued as they may have
been by his:succesg, have been obliged to admit the bona fides
of his principles. That Mr. Dumas is foremost in the van
is scarcely to be doubted, and, therefore, it would certainly
appear to behove the Liberals electors of the borough
to set aside all petty ebullition of jealousy or party
feeling in his regard, at the poll on Monday, by an over-
whelming majority. Mr. Fawcett's unfortunate blindness
is a fatal drawback to him, and though he may
by ad captandune sentiments, and oratorical ability,
elicit sympathy, yet it would be a great pity to re-
turn as a representative a gentleman who could not fully
discharge the duties that would devolve upon him in the
committees of the House of Commons. The third Liberal
candidate is Mr. Julian Goldsmid, nephew of Sir Francis,
the member for Reading, but as his chances of success were
never very great, and as such it is a pity he should continue
his candidature—he will probably retire early on the day of
polling. The other candidates are Mr, Harper, who is of
no party in politics, and Mr, Moor, the Conservative, who
is much respected in the town, but objected to on principle,
by what is well known to be a thoroughly Liberal constitu-
ency. -When it is stated that each of these candidates (with
the exception of Mr Moor) is addressing one or two meetings
a day, some idea of the state of affairs in Brighton may be
gathered.
Last night Mr. Dumas met a large body of the electors
at the Prince Albert Hotel, and was received with the
greatest enthusiasm. The meeting, which was densely
crowded, was presided over by Mr. Councillor Jeffs.
Mr. Duxes, who on rising was greatly cheered, said
some people thought he claimed too much advantage
from being first in the field, but he did not found
his claims solely on that. They had not been able to de-
tect in him one sentiment in which he differed from the
other Liberal candidates brought forward to gratify the
spite of a few committeemen ; who, disappointed in getting
Mr. 0 tway in, split amongst themselves, and would have
got anybody they could have laid their hands on. (Cheers.)
They got a gentleman of academical powers (Mr. Fawcett)
to come forward, and he fell into the ti ap, thinking the
committee was the organ of the Liberal electors. Mr. Faw-
cett had stated to that committee and to the constituency
that ha would not do a single act that would cause disunion.
and it was to be hoped that at the last moment he would
recollect that pledge and act in accordance with it, (Loud
applause.) He (Mr. Dumas) had made no such pledge,
though he had never been guilty of discourtesy to any of
the members of the committee. (Hear, hear.) If now
some great Liberal gun who could serve the
borough better than any of the present candidates were to
come forward, he should not press his claims upon them—
(cheers)—but when he could serve them as faithfully and
honourably as his opponents, he thought ho had a right to
go to the poll. (Loud cheers.) He warned them against
being led away by gentlemen who said they had previously
succeeded in getting so-and-so returned, and expressed his
belief that Mr. Fawcett laid too much stress upon his being
recommended by Mr. Willett. He (Mr. Dumas) asked
them not to believe in any rumours they might hear that
he was going to retire in any way—(no, no)—for he thought
the responsibility of splitting the Liberal interest could not
fall upon him—(cheers)—and when he told them he was
desirous of healing the breach in the Liberal ranks he was
sure they would give him credit for not wishing to force him-
self upon the constituency. Mr. Dumas then read some
correspondence which took place between him and Mr.
Fawcett's committee, in which he agreed to abide by the
result of the ballot of the whole of the electors, the propoe
sale of which had been rejected by Mr. Goldsmid, and pro-
ceeded to say that the committees of the other Liberal can-
didates had circulated bills with tremendous long lists of
their supporters, and amongst them he found the name of
one man who was dead and buried, one who was in a
lunatic asylum, and about a dozen who had promised him
their votes. (Laughter.) He dared say these were unin-
tentional errors. (A Voice—" Accidentally done for the
purpose," and laughter.) For his part he could issue a
list which it would be difficult to find a sheet of paper
large enough to contain. (Loud cheers.) Mr. Dumas
then recapitulated his political creed, expressing
himself in favour of the ballot, the equalisation
of poor-rates, the extension of the franchise. and the
reduction of expenditure, especially in the dockyards. The
malt duty was now creating considerable attention, but he
did not think if that were repealed beer would be much
cheaper, as the brewers would get the advantage. (Laugh-
ter and hear.) He was in favour of its repeal, however,
and thought beer ought to be cheaper. (Hear, hear.) In
Germany it was nothing unusual to find a man drinking 17
quarts of beer of an evening—(great laughter)—but it was
not so strong as that drunk in England. (Hear.) With
regard to the Volunteers, he said he admired their high
state of efficiency; their organisation and drill were perfect ;
and if occasion did arise for their services to be called into
requisition, ho believed they would answer everything
expected of them. (Cheers.) The great Napoleon called
us a " nation of shopkeepers," and it had been said in
France that when their first coat was worn out nothing
more would be heard of the volunteers, but that was not
true. (Hear, hear.) The efficiency of the volunteers was
a great argument why the army should be reduced.
(Cheers.) After some further remarks, in which Mr.
Dumas expressed himself in favour of the projected new
line to Brighton, he resumed his seat amidst the most en-
thusiastic cheering.

Mr. MACFARLANE proposed, and Mr. Cox seconded, a
resolution to the effect that Mr. Dumas was the moat fit
and proper person to represent the borough 3f Brighton in
Parliament, which was carried unanimously, three cheers
being given for Mr. Dumas.
Admiral BURNEY, in a humorous speech, spoke in the
most eulogistic terms of Mr. Dumas, and, referring to a
conversation he had with Mr. White, one of the represen-
tatives of the borough, he said he thought it was his aim to
deceive him, as he (Mr. White) said Mr. Dumas had not
the ghost of a chance. This, however, was proved to be a
fallacy by the present orderly meeting, as well as by the
numerous other meetings which had decided in favour of
Mr. Dumas.

After some remarks by Mr. Cox, a vote of thanks was
given to the chairman, and the meeting dispersed, not, how
ever, before three more hearty cheers had been given for
Dumas.

THE COUNTESS OF ELGIN.—The widow of the
Governor-General of India, the Countess of Elgin, accom-
panied by the Earl of Durham and the Hon. T. J. H.
Thurlow, has arrived at the Hotel Bristol, Paris, en route
for England. Her ladyship and party reached Toulon from
Alexandria on the 6th on board her Majesty's ship Psyche,
and proceeded at once to Marseilles, where she was received
at the railway station by the British Consul, Mr. Mark, and
the Sfnateur Prefect Count de Malpas, who had been
charged by the Emperor to convey the expressions of his
Majesty's deep sympathy with the countess in her present
bereavement.

A CHAPTER ON CABs.—Why don't you improve
your street,conveyances ? As to omnibuses, they are
beyond hope. A faint attempt was made to do something
with them, but it soon subsided, and you have lapsed back
into your old grooves again. But don't you think some-
thing might be done with the cabs ? Why not follow the
plan adopted on railways, and have first and second class
cabs. According to the present arrangement, you go to the
play with your wife, in a vehicle which just before has been
occupied by six drunken blackguards returning from a foot
raee, or even by worse customers. If there were first class
and second class cabs, such objectionable people would hail
the latter, on account of the difference in price. And,
keeping still to the cab question, why don't you have some
means of communicating with the driver without thrusting
your head and half your body out of the window ? Even
by doing that, you can hardly make yourself heard, in a
crowded thoroughfare, till you have got past the house you
wanted to stop at, or the street up which you should have
turned. By means of a flexible tube you might give your
direction with ease, without stirring from your place, or
bawling yourself hoarse. And would it be too much to ask
that in close cabs there should always be a light inside after
nightfall ? As it is, you plunge into the interior of that
dark receptacle for locomotive humanity, compelled to take
your chance of plumping down upon a seat on which some
inconsiderate person has just before deposited a pair of
boots thickly encrusted with mud. There is a lamp outside
the Hansom ; why don't you have a lamp inside the four-
wheeler ? And, talking of Hansoms, how is it that the
public puts up with that guillotine window ? We have a
very nice fellow in this establishment who once broke one
of those windows with his nose—the feature is a large one,
and the scar is upon it to this hour. If it is not possible to
make a window altogether outside the cab, allowing a good
space between it and the apron for ventilation, at least-the
window as at present existing might be left to the manage-
ment of the individual inside the cab. The majority of
persons who have sense enough to find their way into one
of these vehicles, would probably be capable of the mental
and bodily effort of dealing with the window. But it is a
curious thing, and difficult to account for, that all persons
who are professionally mixed up with horses and carriages
always treat you as if in all matters connected with either
you were a perfect baby. I must leave this subject of
Hansoms and four-wheelers. I come to my most important
suggestion. It is new. It is practical. It gets us—the
country generally—the Government—the people—out of a
difficulty. It is economical,— .Thekens' s "All the Year
Round."