The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-12 00:00:00

SUNDERLAND.

Mr. Alderman Hartley, the Liberal Conservative
candidate for this borough, has issued his address.
Like Mr. Candlish's, it is a lengthy document. Mr.
Hartley says :

" My principles aro those of Conservative progress. It is
no part of my political creed to rest and bo thankful ;' for
to stand still is to retrograde. I shall, therefore, support •
all measures of improvement and reform needed by the on-
ward progress of society and the advancing knowledge of
the people. I deem the electoral franchise too much limited,
and am prepared to add thereto numbers who are entitled
to it from their intellectual capacity, moral worth, and
social position. Any well-devised measure of reform having
for its object the enfranchisement of the prudent and intel-
ligent of all classes, and also a re-distribution of seats, shall
have my hearty support. That such small boroughs as
Richmond, Thirsk, Northallerton, &c., should return mem-
bers to Parliament, while populous and wealthy hives of
industry, like the Hartlepools, Middlesborough, Stockton,
Darlington, &c., remain unrepresented, can no longer be
justified. I am opposed to secret voting. The disadvantages
attributed to open voting seem to my mind to be greatly
exaggerated, and equally so the proportion of electors co-
erced to vote contrary to their conscience. I agree with
the majority of the leading statesmen of all parties that the
franchise is a trust to be exercised publicly in like manner
as the vote of a legislator. As a member of the Established
Church I shall advocate all reforms calculated to increase
her efficiency in working out her high mission ; and to re-
lieve those who dissent from her doctrine or discipline, I
am prepared to vote for the abolition of church rates, with
the fullest confidence that the free contributions' of her
members will more than fill up the void. Such an infusion
of the voluntary element my experience gives me every
confidence in believing will do her good service."

Mr. H. W. Fenwick, the sitting member, has
likewise issued an address. Mr. Fenwick observes :
"I shall continue to give an independent support to Lord
Palmerston's Government. In times of great difficulty, and
I may add of great provocation, the adhesion on the part of
this country to the principles of non-intervention has se-
cured to her the blessings of peace. During the Parliament
about to close, while taxation has been reduced, the revenue
has increased, and the efficiency of the public service has
been maintained. While reducing the income tax for the
benefit of the comparatively rich, the necessaries of life
consumed by the sons of labour have not been forgotten.
Hence we have increasing wealth, contentment, and
happiness throughout the land. I desire that this
state of things may continue and advance, and
I believe that one means of securing it would
be to invest with the privileges of the constitution
many who are now without its pale. Any Government
which would retain the confidence of the country must be
prepared to deal with this question, and that, too, in a large,
liberal, and confiding spirit."
The contest is likely to be very close.