The Sun.
London, England, 1868-11-06 00:00:00

BRIBERY.

" The London Committee of the National Reform
Union, being anxious for the protection of electors
in the exercise of their franchise, and for promoting
purity of election, offers a reward of ,1.00 to any
person or persons giving such information as will lead
to the conviction of parties who exercise intimidation
over the voter, or who gives, or offers to give, or who
receives, bribes in any shape, for voting or refraining
from voting at either county or borough elections."
Such is the announcement in the London papers, an
announcement which as it stands is a disgrace to this
country. Not as far as the Reform Union is con-
cerned. That organisation deserves praise for the
action it has taken. But the notice marks the relation
which has existed between too many " honourable "
members and their "worthy" constituents. It should
be added that the Union is prepared to prosecute in
any case without distinction of party.
The necessity for some action being taken for the
suppression of undue influence is shown by a letter
addressed from " Menlough Castle, Galway," to the
editor of the Irish Times. The writer, " Valentine
Blake," signs " J.P." after his name. "It has been
reported in several quarters that I have given
my support and influence at the coming elec-
tion for the borough of Galway to Lord
bt. Lawrence. 1 now wish publicly to have it
known, and I think the press the best organ,
that I have refused my support to any of the
candidates since the retirement of Mr. G. Morris ;
and that, having learned with pride of Captain
O'Hara's candidature, I am determined to hand over
all the support I am possessed of (commanding over
fifty voters, including my tenantry) to that worthy
gentleman." This is about the coolest thing in its
way we ever read. Probably Mr. Blake does not
understand that in "handing over" the fifty he may
be falsifying the registers of the nation.
At Blackburn, it is stated, the " Radicals " working
in the manufactories owned by Conservatives have
been seized by their fellow-workmen and sent out of
doors. On appealing to the masters, these say they
cannot help it. A subscription has been commenced
for those thus driven from their work.

THE WESTMINSTER ELECTION.

The Rev. J. Kempe, rector of St. James's, Picca-
dilly, having hitherto refused to allow his name to be
placed on Mr. Smith's committee, although he
intended to vote for him, has now changed his
mind. Hitherto, out of consideration for his useful-
ness as a parish priest, he has not taken
an active or prominent part in political contests.
Yet exceptional circumstances may warrant, and
indeed demand exceptional procedure. He says :
" Such circumstances appear to me to have arisen in
Westminster through the conduct of Mr. J. S.
Mill, especially in subscribing to promote the return
of Mr. Bradlaugh to Parliament. I feel it to be a
duty from which I must not shrink, not only
to mark my reprobation of that act, but also to
do all I can to prevent the doer of it from
acquiring power which there is so much reason to
believe he would use neither wisely nor consistently
with Christian principles. With this conviction I
now beg to offer you my name for your committee,
and to express my regret that I cannot promise you
my active exertions also in your struggle with so
ill-
judging and so mischievous an antagonist as I believe
you have in Mr. Mill." It is clear now that
the clergy discard the fiction that they abstain
from politics. The Bishop of London's appeal has
been answered, though in some quarters in a different
manner from what he expected.

THE " TIMES" AND THE " NATIONAL TEMPERANCE

LEAGUE."

The Times fell into a most absurd blunder a few
clays back. It was criticising the action of the
National Temperance League in issuing an address
to the electors on temperance. The "leading journal"
denounced some of the supposed sins of the society
very energetically, and held the address up to
ridicule. It spoke of the extravagant enthusiasm of
the League ; thought that it wanted curbing ; and
spoke of Mr. Bowly, the president, as only wanting
the power to go " through the land with a sword in
one hand and a glass of cold water in the other,
compelling everyone to turn teetotaller." A mis-
representation could hardly be farther from the
truth than this, and Mr. Samuel Bowly naturally
resents it. In a letter to his critic he says :
" There is another organisation, viz., the United
Kingdom Alliance, which has for its object the
suppression of the liquor traffic by legislative enact-
ment, the supporters of which are quite able to
defend the ground they have taken ; but as I am not
a member of that association, and am thought by
some ardent teetotallers to be rather too mild and
tolerant even in my moral suasion, it is rather unfor-
tunate that I should be held up in the Times as an
enthusiast ready to go forth sword in hand to compel
people to abstain."