The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-20 00:00:00

THE SUN LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, , AUGUST 20, 1868.

ELECTION IIVIELLIGENCE.

TOWER H AMLET S.

Last evening Mr. Ayrton, M.P., addressed a
nur ierous meeting of his constituents at the Beau-
mont Institute, Beaumont-square, Mile-end.
Mr. W. ALLAM presided, and was supported on
the platform by several of the prominent electors
of the borough.

Mr, AYRTON, in presenting himself to the meet-
ing, was enthusiastically received. He said that
though there might be many in the assembly he
was addressing who might differ from himself in
opinion, he was sure they would set a good example

by listening patiently to what he had to say re-
garding his political career. lle had -stated his
political opinions befoio the electors of the Tuwer
Hamlets for the first time 16 years ago, and he
now appeared before his constituents, not in the
same position occupied by many men of distinction,

who bad to explain the inconsistency of the course
of their political action, but able as he was to reite-
rate he might almost say the identical opinions he
had advocated before them when he first appeared
as a candidate for their suffrages. They would re-
member that he had taken his stand long ago on
the principle which many at that time thought
would exclude him from the practical political
circle of the House of Commons —namely, that no
real progress could be made in the enfranchise-
ment of the people until it was founded on the
sound and enduring basis of household suffrage.
That principle had now been admitted as the basis
of our political system. But he was compelled to
add that those who used that principle knew how
to abuse it. Two ways had been adopted to render
the franchise abortive—one was to complicate it by
a system of rating which would be harassing to the
elector, and another was to so arrange matters that
a man might live in a home for years and might
never obtain a vote, although he was endeavouring
all his life to obtain that privilege. With regard
to the first scheme, that gentleman who had shown
so instinctive a knowledge of the wants of the
working classes—Mr. Gladstone —had exerted him-
self to effect the result that a man should obtain
the franchise whether his landlord or he himself
was personally rated. If the policy of that gentle-
man had been adopted by the House of Commons,
about 500,000 persons would have been relieved in
a political sense. But the Liberal party was at the
time to which he referred for various reasons divided,
and so the effort proved ineffectual. He had himself
at the commencement of last session moved for a
committee with a view to find a suitable remedy for
the assessment of unnecessary rates and taxes. Hav-
ing taken evidence he framed a report, but on moving
its adoption he had been opposed by a Cabinet
Minister, the Secretary of the Poor Law Board,
and the other Conservative members of the com-
mittee. Speaking of household suffrage, he said he
never considered that household suffrage meant
that a man should occupy a whole house in order to
entitle him to the elective franchise. In the metro-
polis, for instance, what would be cottages in the
country were put, so to speak, one over the other,
owing to the exigencies of space, and he held that
the man who occupied any part of a large house for
a certain time should obtain a vote. Another boon
had been granted in the lodger franchise, but those
who went to seek that privilege knew that is was
circumscribed by conditions which robbed it of half
_ .

its value. Under the present condition of things
the claim of any elector might be questioned by
any one before the Revising Barrister's Court, and
if the claimant were not present his claim would be
disallowed. He had endeavoured to carry a clause
in the House of Commons by which notice should
be given to any one whose claim was opposed. Ile
had also tried to diminish the term of residence
which was considered necessary for the granting of
the franchise. He had secured the reduction of that
period from two years to one. He might, he be-
lieved, congratulate the people of the Tower Ham-
lets on the fact that in the great struggle on the re-
distribution scheme of the Government that bo-
rough was the only constituency divided so that
electors would command four effective votes. Other
great boroughs were placed in the ignoble position
of possessing three members, while every elector
could vote for only two. How did it happen that
the Tower Hamlets was so favoured ? They had
no agitation, no memorial to the Ministers of the
Crown but he might add that they had a member
in the House of Commons who was always endea-
vouring to prevent the result that 60,000 should be
added to the number of the electors, and that they
should still return only two members to Parliament.
The Liberals had, with most laudable self-denial,
extended the representation in the counties, and the
whole question as regarded boroughs would be re-
opened as soon as possible. Speaking of the ballot,
he said that he was an advocate of its adoption ;
and at one time, when Mr. Berkeley wanted a
seconder, he was at his post and supported that gen-
tleman. He contended that it was to the self-
sacrificing conduct of Mr. Gladstone and Lord Rus-
sell's Government they were indebted for the
measure of Reform which they had lately ob-
tained, for no Government could remain in power
who did not introduce such a measure after the
resignation of the Russell Ministry of 1865. He
then dwelt at some length on the neglect of
the intellectual wants of the people—the neglect,
as he called it, of 300 years of opportu-
nity. When they remembered that £5,000,000
or £6,000,000 had been spent on an expedition to
a country of which few knew anything ; that
£4,000,000 or £5,000,000 was about to be expended
in the purchase of the telegraphs of the country,
concerning which not one in a thousand of the
working classes felt the faintest interest ; that there
was an increase of £3,000,000 a year in our national
expenditure ; when they remembered these things,
they should consider that what was done to promote
education was indeed insignificant. He was not
blind to the fact that there were great difficulties
in the way of promoting education. One thing he
would say regarding it, that there was no necessary
connection between secular education and religious
instruction. Speaking of the combinations of the
working classes, he said that nothing in the history
of these organisations had effected more disastrous
results than the joint-stock companies of recent
years. He then spoke at considerable length of the
subject of the Irish Church, designating it as the
plague-stricken part of the imperial body. He
thought all honour was due to Mr. Gladstone for
his conduct on that question during the past Session
of Parliament—never falling into traps laid for him,
and never going beyond the practical necessities of
the time. They received a tempottary check, but
it would, be was sure, be but of short duration.
(Cheers.) He concluded by expressing his confi-
dence that he would be returned to Parliament a
member for the Tower Hamlets at the ensuing elec-
tion. (The hon. gentleman entered at considerable
length into local questions, and sat down amid loud
and prolonged cheering, having spoken for upwards
of two hours and a half.)
Mr. SHELTON moved the following resolution :
" That this meeting cordially thanks Mr. Ayrton
for his services during the 11 years he has been the
representative for the Tower Hamlets, and having
heard an exposition of his views for the future will
use their best efforts to secure his return to the new
Parliament."
The resolution having been seconded by Dr.
Corner, was almost unanimously adopted.

GREENWICII.—The effect of the new Reform Bill
in the borough of Greenwich will be to increase
the constituency at the forthcoming registration
nearly 50 per cent., the number of voters on the
now existing register being 9,789, and those on the
overseers' list at present exhibited at the doors of
churches and chapels, and entitled to the franchise,
being 14,054, or au increase of 4,265. This total
is made up as follows :—Greenwich, 3,964 ; St.
Paul, Deptford, 3,870 ; St. Nicholas, Deptford,
630 ; Charlton, 700 ; Plumstead, 1,760 ; and
Woolwich, 3,130. The greatest increase is in the
parish of Plumstead, the whole of which, on the
recommendation of the Boundary Commissioners,
is now included in the borough representation,
whereas the greater portion of it was a part of the
constituency of the western division of Kent.
BARNSTAPLE.—There is a feeling prevalent in the
Conservative quarters at Barnstaple in favour of

an invitation being sent to Mr. llowel Gwyn, at
present M.P. for Brecon, to ask him to come f or-.
ward to contest this borough. Mr. Gwyn., who was
a candidate for the representation of this b0r,A4.11
at the last election, stood third on the p 011...

they had received from Great Britain, and now was
the time for this course to be altered. If the same
state of matters regarding the Church prevailed in
Scotland, he believed the result would be an uproar
such as that country had never seen. He was
thoroughly prepared to support a large scheme of
free and unsectarian education in the country, and
he was not sore but that before long it would be
found necessary to make it compulsory. A vote
of confidence in Mr. Carnegie was unanimously
carried.