The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-29
An English Election.

Ii cannot be forgotten that in recent debate
in the English Parliament on motion for
the extension Of the electoral franchise, Mr.
D'isRAELI derived his strongest arguments
against Enlargement of popular power from
scenes that have at different times occurred
during the voting at elections in New York
city. Mr.. D'lsRAELI represented New York
as in this respect fair type of the whole Re
public and having demonstrated TO his own
satisfaction that republicansm and rowdyism
nearly Synonymous terms, he concluded
with triumphant declaration that the English
representative system, including its electoneer-
ing, is as near perfection as any thing human
can be That was the view taken by Tory
Chancellor of the Exchequer, and sustained by
large parliamentary majority.
At about the same period, the borough of
Newport, Monmouthshire, presented a pretty
illustration of the value of this self Qualification
A vacancy ia the representation of the borough
rendered a new return necessary, and two can
didates presented themselves for popular ia
vor-Mr. BAILEY, tory on-masler, owning
immense works in The county; and Mr. LIND
SAY, London ship-Owner, liberal in his poll
tics. The London Finios-which never ne
elects a chance of saying ungracious things
about our country and its ways-skeiches the
features Of the contest in detail We give an
extrsc, sample Of the whole:
"a whole street of small voters, who bad die
tinctly promised to vote for the Liberal cause had
before 10 a M polled for the blue; and various
Others who declared that they would stick TO their
colors, and vote in accordance with their con-
sciences after p. m, unlcss they got upward of
EGO per head. poled for the blue by half-past 9
a. m Votes appeared to be dear in the morning;
but contrary to the usual custom, and when it was
I und the rcd party would not buy, their market
value fell in the afternoon; for, at p m, an e1-
press arrived Offering the votcs OF ono hsndrcd
| free and independent electors for 2Os. a headl
And at half past 2, four men very respectfully
offered themselves for %. Cd each; and when this
declined they willing to support free trade
| for tho small amount OF 3D. esch-tho value of a
| pint Of beer.
"Tbe nou. electors felt terribly indignant and a
continuous battle throughout the day the con
sequence. Windows were smashed, bouscs gut
| ted, carriages overturned, reds trampled on by
blues, and blucs trampled in their turn by the
rode. Noes we're bleeding, eyes blockencd heads
cut, and limbs and ribs broken. Barrels Of beer
were rolled into tho houses Of the biues, and red
and blue vegabonds were rolling and fighting over
| them. Yclls Of Bailey forever Lindsay for
over rent he air, leading to tho most desperate
| fights. The town was foil Of athletic men from
the Hiils,' Of determined character. A county
magistrate brought down by special train from five
TO seven hundred miners from his works. armed
| with sticks, bludecons and live -proservcrs, and
lodged them at eight D. m. in large inn called the
Parrot These men so exasperatcd the townspeo.
| pic, who we're chiefly Liberals, that they in consc
quencc attacked tho inn, drove thosc men IN nosse
from il, tore down the doors, forced out the win
| DOVE and go dismRntlcd the house"
Commenting editoraly on these proceedings.
the Times says:
| Bristol and Nottingham scarcely btheld euch
scenes were enacted in the fret contcst undor
| the Derby auspices. Windows smashed,
houses Quilted, carriages overturned, barrels Of
beer roNed out, heads and limbs broken, and all
the devilry of mob fighting displayed to dcspcra
ton. The great Duke eaid he had never, lin the
whole course Of his experience known any thing
like the riots in an English town. Mr. Lindsay uses
much the same language II have visited en- vs.
he, the four quarters Of the world, and give you