The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-06 00:00:00

FROME ELECTION.

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Whit-Tuesday was selected for a public demonstration
by the friends and supporters of Mr. Donald Nicoll, the
new member for this borough. By the time the express
train reached Fromo, nearly twenty thousand persons
were assembled and lined the way from the station to the
town. through which a well-arranged procession of
Foresters, and other charitable associations, or Trades
Unions, was duly paraded, together with banners and the
usual accompaniment of several bands of music. The vast
crowd at length assembled in an adjoining field, where
tents and every arrangement was made for the enjoyment
of a holyday by the million.
Some addresses were offered by gentlemen who have
taken au interest in Mr. Nicoll's election, but special at-
tention was reserved for the remarks offered by the hon.
gentleman, who spoke at S01:110 length, but deprecated
poli-
tical discussion, as he stated that, being now a representa-
tive of the community generally, he would naturally ob-
ject to throw the apples of discord amongst them, indeed,
he was there merely to enjoy with them a holiday ; and
proceeded to pay a well-deserved compliment to
the charitable institutions whose procession through
the streets had been so much admired. Mr. Nicoll
said that in no other country in the word, save
where the Anglo-Saxon language was spoken, could such
institutions , prosper. Elsewhere secret societies were
suspected to have treasonable thoughts ' • but in these insti-
tutions loyalty ever exists—indeed,. he believed every
member would freely shed the last drop of blood in his
veins to defend the throne of her, who, whether as a wife,
a mother, or a queen, deserved the love and duty of her
people. Tho hun. gentleman proceeded to address his
young friends, who were rather boisterous, in their shouts
of '`Nicoll for ever !" He urged the lasses to follow the
counsel of their good fi iends, who had their best in-
terests at heart, and never forget that it was their
mission to become the future helpmates of England's
pride, its honest and intelligent working men, that they
could, by their example, lead, then to the enjoyment
of much happiness ; undue visits to the public-house, and
many other ancient evils could be best avoided by a well-
ordered and comfortable home. To the lads he would say.
Moro, as they would have to battle with the sterner rea-
alities of life, and he would give them this advice, -Never
be daunted by: the first disappointment : but if this cause
was right, let it merely urge them to renewed efforts,
which generally terminated in success. They might
think his position amongst them a sufficient illustra-
tion, because when he first a.-cepted an invitation to
represent the borough he was defeated, but conscious the
cause was right, he renewed his efforts, and the large
Minority. was converted into,adarger majority. Mr. Nicoll
said that it was highly prAable that many of then lads
there before him might rate, and, by carrying ener-
getic and industrious habits 170 the-land of their adoption,'
they might, contribute to the foundation of future mighty
empires ; but they would in all probability never cease to
have kindly recollections of the. land of their birth.
They might half a century hence be talking to their
grandchildren; and speak of A Whit-Tuesday when thou-
sands assembled in their_ native town .to welcome its re-
presentative, who by his industry had carved for him-
self a, career of usefulness, and had not without honour,
as he bad been made sheriff of the greatest city in
the world before he was thirty years of age, and less than
ten years from his shrievality, he was called to represent
a borough with which he had long bad commercial relations.
He (Mr. Nicoll) was another instance, however humble a
man's occupation be, yet, if pursued honourably, it could
not, and'would not, affect him in the eyes of sensible men.
The honourable gentleman was loudly cheered throughout
his speech, and after the eojoyasent of many rural sports,
together With dancing, continued to a late hour, the holy-
day crowd at length separated, highly gratified by the
arrangements that had been made for their enjoyment.