New-York daily tribune., 1859-06-01
a CARPET KNIGHT OF THE SHIRE

Ii is rather new thing. We believe, to have
Knight Of the Shire "On carpet consideration
in England. 1t has come to pass, however King
Cotton has exercised bis royal prerogative, as We
said the other day and made Mr. Strut a Peer of
the Realm in reward of eminent services done in
his Msesty's behalf. He has often made Members
of Parliament, and. in one or two cises, county
members, as we'll a. borough ones. But nov Wool
has vindcated its due weight in the body polite, as
the constitutional opposition to Cotton and elected
Mr. Frank Crossley. the great carpet-weaver OF
Halifax, Member for the West Riding Of the great
County of Yorkshire He has represented his own
town Of Halifax if We mistake not. in several Par
laments. At any rate. no is u British Senator OF
some standing; but this is the fret time he has
reached the dignity of County Member.
lie did not obtain this distinction without
pretty severe struggle, nor without paying hand
somely for it. The election was an unusually
hardly contested one. Mr.. Crossley and Sir John
Ramsden, young Yorkshire baronct, spacious
in the possession Of dirt, were the Liberal candi-
dates and the Right Hon. James Stuart Wortley,
the Recorder Of London, brother of the late
Lord Wharnci6e, stood for Conservatism and
Lord Derby. Sir John Ramsden led the poll. and
had something over 10000 votes. Mr. Crossley
came next, with 500 less; while Mr. Wortley stood
at the bottom with about 1850. The canvass had
been very active, and the vote an unusually large
one. II is estimated that this election will cost
each of the parties from fl5O0O TO 100000
sum which makes our petty briberies look small,
and which can enable us to understand why
dissolution of Parliament is looked upon as most
serious calamity BY members just comfortably
warm in their seats The voters, probably do not
regard il in so melancholy light Though there is
more or less direct bribery, or very slightly
indirect, these large expenditures are not to
be accounted for in this way, chiefly. The
travelling aid other necessary expenses OF voters
living at distance from the polling place, and
which they not unreasOnably expect to be made
good to them, must amount to very great cum.
But all this money is spent in the county, business
is made brisk, and it is the day of the voters little
brief authority.
Mr. Crossley is very creditsble choice on
the part of the yeOmen of the West Riding.
He has Iisen from the ranks Of the people and
achieved great fortune BY bis enterprise
and skilllul industry. He and his brothers have
carried the carpetweaving business to high de-
gree Of perfection, and added materially to the
con fort and just luxury of the people. They pur-
chased the patent right for England 10 the invention
of Mr.. T.. B. Bigeow Of Massachusetts, for $780,
Geo, and have found it an investment worth their
while and their money. And their employment Of
their wealth is such as to disam hatred envy and
malice. Within two years past they have made
present TO the town Of Halifax of public park,
adorned with statues fountains and other ernbellisb
ments, for the general pleasure. And they have
made large donations for the advancement of edu-
cation in their borough. Men employing an army
of ork-peope, and providing them with oppor-
tunities for mental improvement and healthful rec
reation, are public beneiactors Of high order and
deserve all the success and prosperity they can
work out
1t certainly shows an improved state of things
when man is chosen to Represent great
constituency for having successfully added to the
harmless comforts Of their homes, rather than for
yctorousy laying waste the homes of other people
and manufacturing misery BY the wholesale The
election of carpet-weaver for one of the Riiings
of Yorkshire shows, too the way in which minu-
facturers are elbOwing their way gradually along
side of land in the strife for political consequence
1t marks another stage in that social revolution
which is going on everywhere in Europe but espe-
cialy in England because of the greater freedom of
play given there to industry, which is changing
essentially the relations Of the various interests Of
society, and giving them their due weight and pro-
portion in political influence A hundred years ago
nay ffty-tha possassion of land IVA the main ell.