The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-18
ENGLAND.

ENGLAND.
The Morale Of a General EIectiOn---(lOser
Union of tho Pcople-POwcr of the
Wealthy Over the New v0ters-The
ssstriisers'' aud Their Hopes-Necessity Of
Public Education and the Ballot.
LONDON, Sept. /, 1863
As intimated in my last the liberal party are not
likely to gain decided majority from the mere fact
that bill has been passed which increases the num-
OF electors by four hundred thousand. The union Of
the Catholics with the liberals will do to secure
liberal majority than the new Reform bill. The
Reform act has 'enfranchised an element which all
admit easy TO be caj0ied or bribed. Among the
newly enfranchised class the majority have no prin
cples to sacrifice whichever way they vote, and the
acceptance Of bride will involve no compromise Of
conscience This is the general fear and conviction
Of the electioneering agents at the present time.
Whereas it cost something like f1,0O0000
sterling to return the defunct House OF Repre-
senatives, it is anticipated that this election
will cost double that sum. These are the
illusions to which the canvassers Of the different
constituencies have come to the replies they have
received from electors themselves. 1 have heard
many men say they would vote for those who would
give them 'gutful" OF meat and drink. / have
heard others say that they would only vote on the
condition that their "rates" were returned to them.
The rate paying clause does not go down with the
unintelligent and lowest class OF househOlders.
They repeatedly say, owe would rather be without
votes than rates as q qualification" Indeed, the
impression you get from conversation on hearing
one is that the lowest class Of househoders In Eng
land have not the antest idea OF the importance OF
q vote. They have no ideas at all Of the moral uses
or effects Of voting right or wrong. The only idea
Any man that can supply these plentfuly may de-
pend on the support which brutality and ignorance
and depravity combined can give. This will be the
case to large extent If the results Of canvassing at
present are to he depended upon.
In the city OF Westminster the services OF John
Things. lie has offered himself for Reelection on
condition that the electors return him free OF ex-
cost Of his election. owing TO the enlargement
OF the constituency, and that enlargement consisting
principally OF persons utterly unable to appreciate
Mr.. Mills abilities and claims to q seat in the legs-
Iature OF the nation, his reelection is endangered
by one OF Mr.. MilI's committee:-"That ali the cos.
termongers IA large class in this part OF L0nd0n)
and the lowest class OF householders were pledged
to the tory candidate, man whose ideas are three
hundred years behind the times at least" Yet such
is the fact that enfranchsed stupidity and glut.
tony" are to defeat and swamp the intelligence of
the most renowned city in England.
This case Is sufficient to illustrate the urgent
and growing necessity for agrand system OF national
education In England. II is also a reflex OF things
many other places What the country will do
surprising Mil is thrown out at the Westminster
election 1t Is scarcely possible to tell but 1t Is prOba-
BILE that some OF the towns where depravity and g-
norance are not dominant viii return him in prefer
TO OF the standing candidates OF less note
and II less use in the House VI Parliament.
system OF feeding voters goes on here long
time before the election taxes place. Sacks OF -four
and potatoes legs OF mutton ana articles or clothing
are delivered ut places where such things were never
seen 6eore sa ,n dnane Frying pans pan al, Are 10
for long distances tells you that many are making
haste 10 get drunk and bilious at the SAME time.
or course the carriers OF these supplies don't know
who sends them. Others are transported suddenly
To the seaside, where they are RECALLED with all
manner OF delicious things. This class, I am
told, get to the seaside except an election.
No doubt they are In favor OF shorter lived Para-
Inents than would suit pockets of many Of their
supporters. Several members of Parliament were
almost ruined by this kind VI thing last election.
There are more voters now, Consequently more
breath OF seaside air and all the other little ndul.
gences that an English election brings.
In other cases men consent TO be run away with
when they are equally afraid OF voting tories or
liberals. In Illustration OF this may mention case
that occurred at the last election, In which man
was equally obligated by the favors Of each party.
The day before polling day the tories, as he
that he might not vote for the other
party Inc other parry were enraged AZ
OF great value, and this happened to DO one. His
clergyman was sent after him, but to. no purpose
The man was gone and nobody knew where No
doubt he was quietly and merriy spending the time
In some sequestered watering place, where he would
congratulate himself on the dignity and privilege OF
These facts are standing and undenable illustra-
tons OF the consclentousness OF many that have
sought and achieved Parliamentary hon0rs and also
OF the intelligence and worth Of those that support
them great deal Of this sort Of thing Is expect
ed in many quarters where Ignorance and want OF
principle VIII allow OF transactions that degrade
English elections in the estimation OF every free
and enlightened nation. The ballot would DO
great deal 10 end this dscreditable system
OF corruption and the middle and intelligent classes
would rejoice TO see II become the law OF this country.
But the tories don't like Il and are cverlastingly de-
nouncing II a. an un-Engsh institution. They say
u Is sneaking process and such every true-born
Engishnan condemns and shrinks from.
THIS Ia the line Of argument the tories adopt when
speaking OF the ballot, aud Of course IL goes down
with the gulible and stupid class TO whom they com.
mend tins KIND OF logic 10 ~ the opinion OF several
OF tne eadng statesmen In this country. the FORE
most OF wnomls John Bright, that there VIII never
be any nee exercise OF the franchise until vote by
| ballot has become the law OF England. Until that
| time comes there VIII be Unreasonable vassalage
and immortality committed ut the elections. Money
- no oDeC win many that aspire 10 Parliamentary
life IN England. II IA notorious that some individuals
pay As much a. fS0O0 and IN cases f12,0O0, FOR
| clcctiOneering expenses.
This shows how abundant the purchasable ele
| ment IN.
Notwithstanding all thcse dscouravins aspects of
the ponlcal condition OF English elections the libe-
| raj party will undoubtedly gain decided majority.
The Intelligent working classes true TO liberal
lucas, ana no amount OF money would induce them
TO contradict their deepest convictions by voting for
| the tories. The pure middle classes also united
against inc LOFTY party, and are earnestly supporting
the return to Parliament of men whose opinions are
known to be the same as those held by John Bright
and Mr.. Gladstone. Then the union Of the Catholic
party with the liberals the Irish Church question
will add considerably 10 the number OF liberal repre-
sentatives returned.
Thus while the tories gain something where Rr,o-
rance prevails, the liberals will triumph where mo
| rality and intelligence are found.
The Election Canvass-Dimcultics Of the Lib.
erals-Too Many Candidates.
In England the election canvass was in very earn