The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-12-10 00:00:00

SOUTH LANCASHIRE ELECTION.

(From the Wigan Gazette)

We last week noticed hastily the statements, that Sir John
Gerard, Mr. Scarisbrick, and Mr. Trafford, the three leading
Roman Catholic landowners in the southern division of this
county, had expressed their determination to support the
cause of radicalism at the next election ; and, at the same
timeove gave our reason, as far as two of those gentlemen
were concerned, for our discredit of it. Since that time,
Mr. Trafford has given a positive contradiction to the asser-
tion, and adds, " there is no truth for foundation whatever
for the report. Had such a contradiction, from so un-
questionable a source, been made as to any thing advanced
by the conservative press, it would have been sufficient ; but
it appears:that, as drowning men catch at straws, so our
contemporary of the Manchester Guardian is willing—the
wish being father to the hope—still to cling to the statement
as though It were true. In Wednesday's edition of that
journal, after giving Mr. Trafford's contradiction, we find
the following assertion

"The Wigan Gazette also undertakes, but on grounds
which appear somewhat slender, to contradict the report, so
far as it relates to the two other gentlemen named."
Then quoting our remarks of Friday last respecting Sir
John Gerard and Mr. Scarisbrick, thus argues—
" The fact of Sir John Gerard's- asking for votes a few
weeks ago is not at all conclusive, seeing that we are unin-
formed, not only as to the particular time—whether before or
after the alleged cause of offence—but even, As to the pur-
pose for which the votes were asked. The statement with
respect to Mr. Soarisbrick, is equally inconclusive. A ca-
tholic gentleman may give land for a protestant church for
the use of his tenants, although very much offended by the
offensive scurrilities of the lire brands who disgrace the pro-
testant name, and thoroughly disgusted with the party, who,
for a political purpose, are endeavouring to rouse an intole-
rant feeling against himself and every member of the church
to which he belongs, and to stigmatise them as persons unfit
to be trusted with any legislative or executive functions.
The statement of the Preston Chronicle, therefore, remains
wholly untouched. so far as Mr. Scarisbrick and Sir John
Geaard are concerned.

" With respect to Mr. Trafford, updoubtedly the contra-
diction is decisive; and however wonderful it may appear,
that a gentleman should continue to act with a party who
unite in applying Its e grossest and foulest terms of reproach
totthe professors of the religion of himself and his fore-
fathers, we may take the 'fact to be as it is stated in the
Courier. Possibly Mr. Trafford may be desirous of exem-
plifying, by his own conduct, the beneficial influence of the
catholic faith in causing the forgiveness of injuries and con-
tumelies. Having been smitten on one cheek, at the late
" Protestant meeting"--and pretty sharply smitten too
—he, in obedience to the injunctions of scripture, meekly
turns the other cheek, that it may be smitten also."
With all deference for our more talented and more expe-
rienced contemporary, we think this looks almost like a beg-
ging of the questimi. The fact is, and we happen to know
this from undoubted authority, that neither the present high
sheriff, nor the worthy baronet of New-hall, were ever so
anxious for the success of the conservative cause as now. If
necessary, we could give cogent reasons for this assertion,
such as no radical could controvert, and no conservative
would for a moment question. We last week wrote cautiously,
and we purposely did so, because we are ever anxious to keep
so far within the boundary of truth that nothing shake cur
statements.

But it is needless to give our reasons for 'the assertion we
have now made—indeed, we are not certain whether it would
be judicious to do so—for, on looking at the state of the re-
gister since the revision, such is the increase of conservative
names, that were the whole 1050—the number asserted by
our opponents to be under the influence of the three gentle-
men referred to—to vote for our opponents, still the cause of
conservatism must be triumphant. We have no hesitation
in saying that the majority on the list of conservative voters
is upwards of 3000. In this polling district, which a few
years ago only numbered Mr. Wilbraham's majority,
namely, one hundred, over our opponents, we can now count
nearly one thousand. So much for the increase of con-
servatism—so much for the increase of loyalty and true
patriotism. We have no doubt that the Preston Chro-
nicle, which first gave a kind of authority for the statement,
will now see that it has been misled. As to the Guardian,
the editors may rest assured 6f one fact, -that the cause of
whig-radicalism is on the decline in every part of the coun-
try, and neither the plausible cry of cheap bread, nor the
fiiscinating show of pretended free trade, can bolster up the
tottering fabric. The imbecility of her Majesty's ministers
—the reckless manner in which they have conducted the af-
fairs of the country—the indifference to the best interests of
the people, so long manifested by them—the base tyranny
they have frequently exhibited—their total incapacity to guide
the machine of the state—the countenance given to those
who desire to overthrow the existing order of things, and to
set all authority at nought—have so completely disgusted
thinking Britons, that fall they must, and fall they shortly
will, without one pitying eye, or one sympathising heart, ex-
cept it be from those who are fattening on their loaves and
tithes.