The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-05-12 00:00:00

THE ROCHDALE RADICALS.

A glaring instance of the evil consequences invariably at-
tendant upon contests in which the mob are ceded in as arliitei
or auxiliaries, has been afforded in the recent poll for the elec-
tion of churchwardens at Rochdale. A number of highly-
respectable individuals having been nominated fur the office of
churchwarden in the several townships forming the parish, an,
" amended" list was put in by the snore radical dissenters,
which, being carried by a show of hands, a poll was demanded.
The objection to the first proposal being simply that the parties
named were friends of the church, the struggle at the poll be-
came a religious, or rather we should say a radico-sectarian one,
and the radical faction, seeing no hope of otherwise carrying
their point, called in the rabble from the town and outskirts in
order that those who were entitled to vote might do so, and that
those who could not vote themselves might, by intimidation and
violence, prevent their opponents from exercising the privilege.
On Thursday;-it being feared that the church party.would carry
their point, with a view to check them, an immense multitude
were brought to surround the parish church and intimidate and
abuse the voters. This they did so effectually that at length the
magistracy were compelled to call in the military to protect the
rate-payers, and the avenues to the church were thenceforward
lined with soldiers having their bayonets fixed. This had the
effect of preventiog actual violence, but such was the brutality
exhibited, and such the inclination to outrage, that it was ac-
tually found necessary on Thursday to give the rev. vicar who
had presided a military escort from the church to his residence,
a very short distance. And this although the dissenters were
carrying their point by a considerable niajority !
Our readers are already aware of the worse than bear-garden
exhibition which took place at the parish meeting whence the
poll sprang. So brutal was the conduct of the " liberal" mob,
that all the respectable leypayers hastened from the church,
fearful of personal violence, more than one eager pugilist being
ready to assail the reverend chairman and pu him down."
During the poll we are informed that the mob behaved within
the church with great levity, and with such an utter disregard
for the sacredness of the edifice in which they were assembled
as in many cases to require the correction of the police. So
far, indeed did the spirit of insubordination proceed, that many
individuals who profess a strong attachment to the people are,
we believe, utterly disgusted and ashamed of their alliance.
These outrages, however, have found an apologist and eulo-
gist in the Radical of 1819, mho, reverting to his cast-off gar-
ments, tells us he is " glad" that the people took the course
which has excited even among their chiefs at Rochdale such.
just reprobation. It is amusing to watch the changes of the
I wind with this " guardian" weathercock, who, professing to hold
the scales of public morals, is about as innocent of practising
what he preaches as the most upright hero of the Beggar's
Opera.—Manchester Chronicle.

FATHER WALSH'S LAST ADDRESS-PREACHING
THE GOSPEL.

It was our intention to have more fully noticed the labours of
the pious pastor of 'Burris, had the letter of our eel-respondent'
reached us in time to do that literary person ample justice.
That the gospel is•preached in Borris no in.an can doubt, who
reflects on the language sworn to have been uttered by this per-
son from the altar, where his gentle admonitions, in the true
spirit of charity, were fully. exemplified. Reader, take the fol-
lowing as a specimen delivered cm tiunday last in Burris Cha-
pel, AFTER M ASS •
" At the late election I hea4,l tho f...p01.n1.10re of my parish
into Carlow, and thinking it; hard for them to be at. &a own
expense, during the contest, I gave them billets on certain
houses in Carlow town, and the other day the owners of the said
houses comes with their bills to rue for payment, with faces as
long as hatches.
"But my dear friends I am sure that you would not like to
see your HOLY IwrmicEssou going to gaol for that pEet which
I must now pay. I intend, my dear friends, for to make a cut.-
Leer tors or to establish a VI:ND for the purpose of paying such
bills, and if there should any over plus remain, so much the
better, for it will answer TO SUPPORT THE PETITION AGAINST
MR. KAVANAGH AND COLONEL BRI:EN•
"As for me, my deur friends, to expect any support in Borris,
ar Balloughnegree, I don't expect A coerEit only PROM A PEW
PEOPLE."—CarIow Sentinel.