The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-21 00:00:00

working men electors of the borough are confident
of Mr. Odger's return.

EXETER.—On Wednesday evening Mr. Coleridge
and Mr. Edgar Bowring met an assemblage of the
electors of Exeter and delivered addresses. The
speech of the former gentleman was at once full of
political matter and an admirable specimen of
electioneering rhetoric. He entered fully into a
disquisition on the claims which the Attorney-
General had put forth to the representation of the
city, and signified, with all possible plainness, that
he would oppose his hon. and learned friend, though
in all good feeling, to the uttermost.
HACKNEY.—In pursuance of his canvass for this
borough, Mr. John Holmes attended a meeting at
the Peel-grove Hall, Bethnal-green. He was well
received, and a formal acceptance of his candidature
was pronounced.
HANTS (SOUTII).—It is rumoured that Lord H.
Scott, second son of the Duke of Buccleugh, who
resides at the Beaulieu estates of his grace, and who
at present sits for Solkirkshire, is t 3 be brought for-
ward as a colleague of Colonel Ihmlyn Pane, to
contest the seat vacated by Sir J ervoise Clarke Jer-
voise, and for which the Hon. W. Cowper is a can-
didate. There has been no trial of strength in this
division of the county for some years, but it is
believed that the Liberals have a sufficient majority
to carry both seats if they wished it.
STROUD.—A second address has been issuel by
Mr. Horsman to the electors of this borough, iu
which he elaborately defends his conduct in regard
to the Reform Bill ; and, referring to his proposal
for a reform of the House of Lords, says that the
first step in that direction should be the removal of
the bishops. In a special appeal to the newly-en-
franchised operatives, he asks them to invite him
and his opponent to a public meeting, and after
having heard them both to decide between them.

WESTMINSTER.—The address of Mr. W. 11.
Smith, the Conservative candidate for this city, has
been issued. It states that Mr. Smith, having re-
ceived a numerously-signed requisition, asking him
again to become a candidate, he accepted such a
mark of confidence conveyed to him in so flattering
a manner. Referring to his political opinions, in
regard to the state of Ireland, he says that he has
long believed that it was the greatest misfortune of
the people of that country that their condition had
become the patrimony of political_ parties in this
country, who, to obtain a fleeting popularity, fanned
the flame of discontent, by attributing that condi-

tion to unjust or partial legislation, whereas the
whole aim of Government and legislation had for
years been the improvement of the position of the
people of Ireland. It was under such circumstances
that a cry was raised for the disestablishment
and disendowment of the Irish branch of the Esta-
blished Church. As he was convinced that this
would not conciliate the Roman Catholic, while it
would affront and distress the Protestant population,
he should oppose the measure proposed by Mr.
Gladstone, while he would concur in any measure
founded on the report of the Royal Commission.
In regard to education, he would promote every
effort to bring instruction within the reach of every
child, duo regard being had to home influence, re-
ligious teaching, and industrial occupation as
necessary to real training ; but he was not infavour
of compulsory education in the strict sense of the
term. He would be glad also to aid in extending
technical education ; and, indeed, in every attempt
to improve the capacity and raise the condi-
tion of the working man. The condition of the
relations between capital and labour would meet
his attention, and he anticipated great advantages
therefrom, in the removal of distrust between the
two classes, whose co-operation was essential to
their own prosperity and the advancement of the
nation. The increase of imperial and local taxa-
tion greatly concerned him ; and, while taking care
of efficiency, he would assist in reducing the de-
mands upon the taxpayer. He viewed the exten-
sion of the principle of centralisation with distrust,
and would aid in every way he could to improve
and render efficient local self-government. The
interests of Westminster would have his constant
attention, and though he would enter Parliament
unpledged, as a Liberal-Conservative, he would
give a general but independent support to the pre-
sent Government.

THE LODGER FRANCHISE ITV THE
BOROUGHS OF CHELSEA.

Last night a densely crowded meeting (called by
.he Working Men's Electoral Association) was

held in the Tabernacle Schools, Notting Dale, for
the purpo3e of taking measures to have all claims
of lodgers in the district not yet delivered sent to
the overseers on or before Monday next. The
chair was taken by Mr. H. Varley, pastor of the
Tabernacle. Mr. Dilke, one of the candidates for
the representation of the borough, was present.
A letter was read, from Mr. W. Shean, regretting
his inability to attend. He says —" I hope a large
number of lodger claims will be made, to show
that at all events the franchise is wished for. If,
as I fear may be the case, many of the claims may
be defeated by the vexatious conditions imposed
by the Act of Parliament, and will form an un-
answerable argument for an amendment of the act
in the first session of the new Parliament. I see
the Tories mean to give us a contest. I trust they
may receive such a defeat as will obviate the need
of a second contest in Chelsea."
Mr. LOCKWOOD, C.E., moved the first resolution:
_ig That Tuesday next, the 25th August, being
the last day for sending in claims to. the overseers,
those present at this meeting pledge themselves to
do all that lies in their power to aid as many lod-
gers as possible in procuring and filling up forms of
claims before Monday night at the latest." The
mover reminded the meeting that the overseers
were not bound to put lodgers on the register as

they were those who paid the poor-rates, and
therefore it behoved all who valued the franchise to
make their claims.
Mr. J. OsnonNE seconded the motion.
Mr. DILKE, who was received with loud cheers,
supported the resolution. Referring to the election
itself, he wished to speak of the personal interest
which the working classes had in the representation
of the people. It was for the people not only a
moral question, but also a pecuniary question, and
he did not think the Liberal party ought to be run
down because they laid stress upon public economy.
Because he held that the waste which had taken
place under both Liberal and Conservative Govern-
ments meant the degradation of the lower classes.
(Cheers.) The smallest increase of taxation bad
been found to send an enormous number of self-re-
specting men into the workhouse. So it was that
artisans and all the working classes were deeply in-
terested in keeping down pauperism. (Hear.) The
only possible way to procure public economy was
for those who had nothing to gain and everything
to lose by waste to make their weight felt in the
coming elections. (Cheers.) To touch upon the
moral aspect of the question, he would not say the

Reform Act had created a great revolution in the
country, but he thought it had opened the door to
a great revolution, and had opened it through the
operations of the lodger franchise. (Hear, hear.)
No doubt the restrictions on this franchise were
most vexatious ; but the very fact that they were
so was a reason why every one who was entitled to
the franchise should make his claim. Whatever the
actual bearing of the lodger franchise might be, it
was of vital importance that the working classes
should be as strongly represented on the register as
possible, because he hoped one of the results of this
election would be the raising up in this borough of
a powerful and permanent organization, which shall
bring into thoroughly harmonious working the
whole public force of the mind of the borough.
(Cheers.)
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. J. NIASS proposed, and Mr. PREECE
seconded—" That in the opinion of this meeting
one of the first duties of the Reformed Parliament
will be the abolition of the mischievous restrictions
which have been imposed upon the exercise of the
franchise by lodgers."
The Rev. Mr. WHITE, pastor of Cromwell-road
Chapel, Notting-hill, in supporting the resolution,
confessed himself to be a strong partisan. If asked
to what party he belonged, he would say he was all
his lifetime a staunch disciple of Mr. Bright. (Loud