The Sun.
London, England, 1868-09-16 00:00:00

THE MEMBERS FOR SHEFFIELD ON

PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

Mr. Roebuck and Mr. Hadfield have issued their addresses
seeking re-election. The senior member's political mani-
festo is remarkable for not containing the name of either
Mr. Gladstone or Mr. Disraeli, but his remarks throughout
are remarkably free from the acerbity which so
often characterizes his speeches. He commences by
saying that as he has grown older he has grown
wiser; that ago has made him more tolerant, more patient;
that Liberal politicians have no monopoly of wisdom and
virtue ; that differences of opinion need not necessarily lead
to enmity and strife; and that men may be friends, though
they habitually take different sides upon political questions.
Mr. Roebuck says that he has supported every Liberal
measure which has been brought into the House of
Commons since 1832, and that the object of his life has
now been attained. On the great question of the day
the hon. member thus speaks :—" The greatest difficulty
which in the coming time will lie in the path of the Eng-
lish politicians is Ireland. Into the circumstances which
render our government of Ireland so difficult I will not now
stop to inquire; suffice it to say that every man who takes
part in the government of the empire knows that the
clangor and difficulty of which I speak do exist, and
that they must be met by those who rule over
us. The first aim of every one who seeks to guide and
govern us must be to make the people of Ireland contented,
and to this end it is clear that the Irish Church must bo put
open a footing satisfactory to the great majority of the Irish
people; and this can only be done by making every religious
denomination equal before the law, and applying that which
is the property of the State to such purposes as will be satis-
factory to every section and class of the people. To do this will
be difficult, hut unless it be done we can never hope for peace
and content iu Ireland." The next subject of importance Is
the relations between capital and labour. His belief is that
in the long run the interests of both the employers and em-
ployed will be found identical. Mr. Roebuck says if the
working man desires to combine, the law ought to allow
him to combine and to protect his combination. The funds
of his combination ought to be protected from the dis-
honest official ; and, as I would protect the funds of a joint-
stock bank, I would protect his. As one or the other com-
bination, if their objects cease to be legal, ought to lose the
aid and protection of the law, so both, if such be the law,
will make it their aim to seek legal ends by legal means."
Mr. Hadfield contents himself with alluding to the fact
that his principles of civil, religious, and commercial freedom
have been so lone before the electors, that he considers it
unnecessary to recapitulate them. Concerning the Irish
Church he says —" J ustice to Ireland has become the question

of the day, and I claim to be considered one of its most earnest
friends and supporters. I look for the time when, all causes of
reasonable dissatisfaction having been removed by just le-
gislation, the people of Ireland will be as loyal and prosper-
ous as are those of Scotland, and as powerful for good to the
United Kingdom. In common with many other public
men, I adopt with confidence Mr. Gladstone'e leadership in
the matter, and shall give all the support In my power
to his efforts to bring about so desirable a consummation."

THE .REVISION COURTS.

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WHAT IS RENTAL ?—At the Middlesex Registration
Edward Taylor, with eighty other persons on the list for
" rental," i.e. r, 11:.‘1 of £l2 a year, were objected to on the
ground that rent meant rent received, not rent paid.—The
Barrister : Dr. Johnson describes rent as that which is
derived from a rent-roll.---Mr. Jones (the Conservative
agent) : Rental is no qualification in law.—Mr. Dear (the
Liberal agent): Everything depends on the meaning which
the barrister attaches to the word "rental."—The Barris-
ter : The amount received by a country gentleman is his
rental. I feel very loth to strike out these names. I
think I had better reserve the question.—Mr. Jones : I
think so. It is a serious question.—After further con-
sideration on the 'point, the barrister decided to deliver
his judgment at Brentford on Thursday.
" COMPOUND HOUSEHOLDERS."—At Lambeth the list of
occupiers lately known as " compound householders" was
investigated, and a large proportion of the new names
were struck out in the Camberwell district, and only those
allowed where the persons were known to the rate col-
lectors as having occupied continuously for twelve months,
or where they appeared in person to defend their
claim. In a number of cases in which it proved that the
landlords had paid, bond fide, the rates in the name of the
tenant, the claimants were placed on the register of voters,
the revising barrister stating that he was decidedly in'
favour of the validity of such an arrangement, which had
been most beneficially carried out by Miss Burdett
' Coutts's agent, and other owners of large premises used
as model lodging-houses.
A TECHNICAL VOTER.—In West Kent an inmate of a
workhouse has been put on the register because he was in
possession of the necessary qualification on the last day
for making up the lists, although he parted with it twenty-
four hours afterwards.
DR. TEMPLE STRUCK OFP.—In North Warwickshire,
Dr. Temple, Master of Rugby School, was objected to by
the Conservatives. Dr. Temple was placed on the list as a
person who was rated to the relief of the poor at the sum
of £l2 per annum, and the ground of opposition was that
he was not so rated ; that according to the terms of his
appointment he was compelled to reside in the house
specified in the register, and that he was not a rate-
payer. The revising barrister said it was a great
pity that Dr. Temple was not point, as it was
necessary to prove that he had a beneficial holding.
A long conversation ensued, the chief point being to ascer-
tain the beneficial interest of Dr. Temple in the school
building, and ultimately the revising barrister decided
that in the absence of Dr. Temple the claim could not be
maintained. He wished to be satisfied that Dr. Temple
had exclusive occupation and control, and the keys of the
premises, and as that had not been proved the claim
would be disallowed.

Captain Saville, one of the largest landed proprie-
tors in the West Riding, has expressed his wish that all
his tenantry will vote according to the dictates of their con-
science at the approaching election for the Southern Division
of the West Riding. The contest promises to be of a very
severe character, and it is earnestly hoped that Lord Fitz-
william and other Whig magnates will carry out their libe-
ral professions by following the example of Captain Saville
and emancipating their tenantry.— orkshire Post.
A SCOTTISH BISHOP ON DISESTABLISHMENT.—It
does not require any great sagacity to predict that this
kingdom and this Church are on the eve of great changes.
In our position, we, who may be spared for a short time,
will be able to look quietly on, our Church having centuries
ago passed through those very changes which seem now
to be imminent to the religious establishments of this
land. We have passed through the storm, which swept
away from us all our earthly things. But it could not
affect the divine authority of the Church ; and during the
quiet of succeeding years the Church has gradually been
recovering from her depression ; and now that we have
survived our evil days, when I look around, I, for one, dc
not regret that our Church is free, and dependent upon
the zeal and love of her faithful members. I believe,
brethren, if we continue to labour earnestly in faith, and
to walk in the via media, upholding Catholic dogma, which
is Evangelical truth, a,n.l avoiding, either in Ritual or
otherwise, things which have hitherto been consideree
Roman Catholic, there is a great future for our Church
When the threatening storm comes it cannot touch us,
except in our sympathy with those affected, who are in
communion with us. But we may do good to them—out
suffering patience and constant witness to certain price
ciples may be an example ; our gratification may be a
guide, and our increasing prosperity may be an encourage.
ment to churches who have to depend upon their divine
constitution, in the promises of God and the alms of the
faithful, instead of the authority of human law and the
faiour of eat tidy, ptinces.7.rr9/A 0; Clams oi tkoidoi
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