The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-11-29 00:00:00

CONTEMPORARY PRESS.

THE REGISTRATION.—The revising barristers con-
cluded their labours at Rotheram on Thursdov last, after
six weeks' toil. Our rgister for the West Riding—un-
equalled throughout the kingdom for its extent and im-
portance—is therefore complete. It stands now such as
it must remain for the next eleven months, and it is more
than probable that this period will include the crisis of a
second struggle for independence. The next general
election, come when it may, will be one of most anxious
import for every well wisher to his country, and it is one
to which the conservatives of the west-riding look for-
ward with a determination to do their duty. They have
shewn by their conduct, since their last struggle, that the
object for which they began the contest is steadily in
their view, and they have lost no opportunity of convin-
cing the whig-radicals that they are resolved to meet
them foot to foot, until they obtain the return of one
member, at least, of their own opinions.
Our registration is now little short of 30,000 electors,
and we have good grounds for inferring that of these a
majority in number is conservative. In wealth, in sta-
tion, or in intelligence, it cannot be pretended that we
are second to our opponents. For the proof of our rela-
tive numbers we remind them of the result of the two
last registrations. In 1835 we had a majority on the re-
vision of 2,000 votes. This year we add to that another
majority of 726. The majority of our opponents before
the registration of 1835 was only 2,800, and those who
know the habits of the two classes of electors will judge
for themselves which party were most likely to be found
unregistered upon the sifting inquiries which ensued in
the registration of that year. Even supposing the claims
to be equal, the whig majority is now, as we have said,
annihilated, and " he who runs may read" the extensive
reaction which every part of the west-riding presents.
Take, for instance, Sheffield. There the whig-radicals
are so much in disrepute that even for the borough, which
Mr. Parker had dubbed altogether ministerial, the show
of hands was against him, and arrangements are made
for starting a conservative candidate at the next election.
Turn to Halifax and compare the splendid gathering of
conservatives at the dinner in honour of Mr. Jas. Wort-
ley, with the miserable after dinner meetings of the li-
berals. Look again at Leeds, where the hesitating whips
could raise no more than the cheers of some one hundred
partizans at the Mayor's hermaphrodite feast, in opposi-
tion to the unanimous plaudits of the great body of con-
servatives who graced the presence of Sir John Beckett.
Pontefract in its municipal movements has re-entombed
the spirit of whiggmy which last year raised its ghastly
form at the incantations of the corporation reform bill.
In Wakefield we may discern the march of sound sense
towards the conquest of the radical citadel, and Mr. Gas-
kell is probably meditating with very little complacency
on the prouress of the movement. Doncaster now feels
that it is prof
penance under the infliction of its radical
town councillors, and in its late corporate elections has
shown a reaction not less complete than sudden. In
short, whether we glance at the reaction manifest through-
out the manufacturing districts, or turn to the dislike of
the Government in the agricultural towns, the same in-
ference is presented that the west-riding electors will no
longer endure the infliction of an O'Connell-ridden lord
in company with a radico-aristocratic baronet. Well
have our friends hitherto done their duty. Englishmen
at heart, they have breasted the opposing tide, and now
rejoice, without relaxing in their efforts, to press forward
on the flowing stream to the haven of victory.—Leeds
Intelligencer.