The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-03
The Lesson of the English Elections.

Fronl the ". Y Tribune.
Our London correspondent, in the admirable
summary of the English elections, printed on
Tuesday, said
cit is an unpleas SAINT and to some extent un-
expected result, that In tue first election under
the new Reform bill every workingmau who
has stood a candidate has been defeated. So
has almost every man VINO stood avowedly as
the friend OF the working class. Three of them
were forced out OF the canvass in advance of the
polls the fact OF The uniform defeat of
these radical or artisan candidates is a sugges-
tive one, but l cannot stay for comment Oo'
serve only how IL marks the other fact tnat
money and social pos ilon are to be IN this Par
lament, as they Wee in the last all powerful.
And do not be surprised that, in a country so
slow a. England to receive new Impressions, u
class just enIranchised has failed TO make the
best use of its unaccustomed power, The first
lesson an American has to learn in respect to
England is that events move slowly"
We see by a cable despatch that Earl Rus
sell has written letter regretting the defeat
of the "workingmens 8 candidates for Parlia-
ment, especially Mr.. Odger. A marked event
in the canvass was the attack made upon Mr..
Odger by the Pail Mall Gazette, paper which
has liberal inclinations and processes to be the
organ of the English gentlemen. The Gazette
descended to playing upon Mr.. Odger'S name,
and commented upon the misfortunes OF his
parents and his own humble origin, sneering
at his claims to represent the working classes
of England. Mr.. Mills came to his defense, to
the prejudice OF his own canvass. Lord Russell
would hsve shown more magnanimity had he
done as much when his assistance would have
been of value. We are afraid that the vete-
ran Wing leader has been trimming. When
Mr.. Odger was a candidate, a WORD of COM
fort from the most illustrous member OF the
noble house of Russell would have prob
ably secured his election. Now that he is
beaten, we presume there is a feeling OF dis
trust and anger among the wOrklugme0, wno
form such large portion of the new Liberal
1 -. I
letter OF com mpliment and regret as necessary
to appease this feeling and give the party
| tone.
The Liberals were not wise in permitting
the defeat of the candidates for the working
! classes. They should have streug Lnened their
newly gained power by giving labor vo. -
in the reformed House OF Commons. A III s.
fortune of the Liberal party is the predomi-
| nance of the great Wing families. With loud
advocacy of REFORM they nave been constant
and furtive in their real enmity. Their ideas
| of TIE extension OF the franchise have practi-
| cally meant the abolition of the Tory pocket
boroughs, and the perpetualiOn OF their own.
| Tom Moore, in one of his satres describes a
Whig and Tory consulting over the body OF
| Ireland. The Whig says:-"What to do with
him I'm cursed if know; hare promised
him dnodyneS." Tue theory of the Wing policy
has too often been the promise OF anodynes
When the true remedy was thorough and radi
cal. The interests of these powerful Whig
families are really with the Tories. They arr
Liberal to gain power, not because they
have faith in government of the people
The sacrifice of the wOrkingmen's candidates
was biunder. The laboring men of England
will find that reform bill which gives the
power of Parliament to "money and socia
position" is imperfect. Mistakes like thi
will only compel Liberalism to advance to
new platform and demand the ballot and man
hood suffrage.