The Sun.
London, England, 1837-08-04 00:00:00

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
DUBLIN, WEDNESDAY, AUG. 2.
Toryism is doomed to destruction in this City, and
throughout Ireland—no matter what may be here the re-
sult of the present struggle. Whether Reform shall have
triumphed to the extent anticipated, or be retarded and
obstructed by the deep-laid schemes and machinations of the
enemy, who have recourse to every species of the most
base, profligate, and barefaced corruption—in either case
the sentence of perpetual condemnation must be pro-
nounced against the faction. There can be no escape--
their misdeeds are so flagrant and manifest as to deserve
immediate conviction.
The elections for the City and for the University have
been proceeding vigorously for the last three days. Both
are remarkable for novelty in the history of even Irish col-
lisions. In the former, a spirit and determination on the
part of the Reformers never before evoked,- must surmount
every obstacle, and insure the return of O'Connell and
Hutton. It is impossible it can be otherwise, considering
the indignation created among the electors and independent
inhabitants of Dublin, on discovery of the means resorted
to by the opposing party to gain their object. A secret
canvass has been carried on for some time past, not only
amongst the freemen and other persons under Orange and
Corporate influence, but amongst the humble Catholic
tradesmen and shopkeepers. The latter are told by their
Tory customers and employers that, unless they vote for
West and Hamilton, their tradesmen and business must
be ruined. In some parishes, such as St. George's, this
is an alarming threat, because the greater part of the
respectable inhabitants, being Orange Protestants, the
withholding of their dealings from the provision, fancy, and
such like shops, may prove ruinous to many poor persons.
Yet such is the fact—many of this description hare as-
sured the friends of O'Connell and Hutton, that their
families have been threatened with starvation by their
wealthy employers, if they did not vote for what is called
the Conservative side. And there are but too many ex-
amples of this kind of persecution to be instanced since the
last election. It is, however, cheering to find that threats
do not everywhere succeed, but that instances of the most
pure patriotism and national pride being to be found
amongst the most humble tradesmen and labourers, the
greater part of the independent voters and the house-
holders under heavy municipal taxation are beginning to
make every exertion for O'Connell and Hutton. Nothing
can exceed the enthusiasm with which some of these poor
fellows lend money to each other to pay off the arrears of
taxes that might invalidate their votes. The number
of electors on the books exceeds eleven thousand.
Not more than about five thousand of them have
been canvassed on behalf of the Liberal candidates ;
and of these nearly 3,000 have declared in their favour.
On the other hand, several voters, supposed Liberal, have
been discovered to have made promises. to the other side,
and to be afraid or unwilling to break them. Among these
are some Quaker and Catholic tradesmen, under the in-
fluence just mentioned. The Tories are practising every.
sort of delay at the hustings—putting the bribery and quali-
fication oaths to the most respectable electors for that pur-
pose. But all will not do ; the Liberals will be returned
by a small majority.
As to the University, the Conservatives have there a
great majority on the two first day's polling. But it is ex-
pected that Mr. Stock, the Liberal candidate's friend, will
muster strong to-morrow, and alarm the enemy. Should
he be able to muster 300 voters, it will be the strongest
proof of the progress of reform in Ireland that could pos-
sibly be exhibited. The Catholic electors in our Univer-
sity are not, compared to the Protestants, as one to twenty.
Any increase, therefore, on Mr. Stock's poll, beyond that
ratio, will be evidence of reaction among the enlightened
Protestants of Ireland, since the last general election. But
it is to be regretted very much that Mr. Stock did not
commence his canvass much earlier. 1t is quite absurd to
suppose that in a few hours he could assemble as many
Liberal friends as would outnumber the unthinking de-
votees always in the interest of his adversaries.
As I stated to you lately, Reform will gain between ten
and fifteen supporters by the present election. The num-
ber would be considerably more, if the constituencies were
better organised ; but it is not enough to have diffused the
spirit of Reform through the land ; something more is re-
quisite on the eve of an election such as that we are now
engaged in. The very best class of voters—the inde-
pendent and industrious men most engaged in their private
pursuits—require to be reminded of their public duty. if
the majority of Hutton and O'Connell be not an overwhelm-
ing one, it will be owing to their remissness in not having
earlier preparation for the present contest. Their oppo-
nents were promising, threatening, and bribing in private,
while they were appealing to their principles in public.