The Sun.
London, England, 1868-10-09 00:00:00

raittees.r

Mr. COOPE, the Conservative candidate, met a
large number of constituents last night in the Bow-
road, at the Riding School. He was well received,
and made some impressive remarks. He stated
that he had taken every opportunity of " eliciting
the feelings of the electors," and the result of his
canvass, especially among the working class, was
more satisfactory than he had anticipated at the
outset. Ia that borough, as in many others,
they could see that the Liberal party was divided
against itself, whereas in the camp of the Conser-
vatives there were no waverers or defaulters. This
account of Mr. COOPE'S is an accurate one, and it
would be well if the Liberals would take it to heart.
Fas est ab hoste doceri is well known, and in this
instance of dividing votes and losing interest the
party may well apply it. It is a disgrace, in a
national sense, as well as a loss in a party one,
that so much selfishness should be displayed in
the matter of getting seats, quite putting aside the
interests of the cause they profess to have at heart
in the prosecution of one-sided objects. In enume-
rating the various claims of the present Adminis-
tration to the confidence of the country, Mr. COOPE
mentioned the suffrage which had been given to the
working classes, and the efficiency of the national
defences, the Abyssinian Expedition, and now the
adjustment of our differences with America. The
vacancies to appointments in the Church and law
have been most ably filled up, and the last nomina-
tion, that of the Bishopric of Peterborough, he truly
styled as in a " special degree creditable to the
Administration and acceptable to the country." In
the course of his speech Mr. COOPE very properly
denounced the system of bribery and
intimidation, and declared his intention always
to be plain and straightforward when he
spoke to the working classes. To tell them
the truth is certainly better than to flatter and be-
wilder them with promises of what they can do
never to be realised, or diatribes against their supe-
riors in rank, which contain more abuse than argu-
ment, and will not bear a close investigation. In
passing a comment upon some strictures of Mr.
AYRTON'S, Mr. COOPE appropriately put in an ex-
planation of that gentleman's first appearance
among them. Some years ago, when the present
candidate was presiding over a meeting of Germans
for charitable purposes, an , unknown gentleman
came up and asked his permission to address the
meeting for a " few minutes." These lengthened
into three-quarters of an hour, and the Germans,
not understanding a word, cheered him most lustily.
Mr. COOPE'S recollection of the maiden speech will
amuse those who are now well acquainted with the
style in Parliament. "Never in his life did he listen
to such a flow of mere words, such a marvellous
volubility—he was almost going to say such an un-
interrupted torrent of expressions."

SALE OF WAR DEPARTMENT LAND AT SHEER-
NESS. —The freehold piece of land situate near the sea, at
Sheerness, on the road to Chesney-road and adjoining
Alms and Trinity roads, having been put up to tender by
the Secretary of State for the War Department, has been
bought by the United Land Company (Limited), co-oper-
ating with the Conservative Land Society. Tho land will
bo at once converted into streets, the demand for houses
at Sheerness being on the increase every year, the locality
finding favour with the public as a watering-place.
IRISH TENANT RIGIIT.—The Government Com-
mission appointed to investigate the relations between
landlord and tenant in Ireland will commence its sittings
in a few days. It is intended that the report shall be an
exhaustive ono, and that all details respecting the tenure
of laud in Ireland shall be set forth. The Commissioners
will be able to place their report before the new Parlia
meat very early in the first Session.—Irish Mail.