The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-22
The Popular Vote of England.
From the london Npectqtor.

Ihe Popular Vote Of England.
From he London Spectator.
=, The amazIug party mendacily the Conserva-
tive papers In asserting that the Conservative
minority represents or the metropolitan
Doroughs be excludedl real majority OF the
English electors, has induced us to obtain trough
calculation of the actual voses given 10 all the
contested elections of which the results were
known up TO last Thursday night,
; In LaDcas nlfe, the boasted area OF the great
Conservative triumph, the actual popular vote
given in The contested elections is as nearly rs
possible balanced, an indntessma majority of
not quite two hundred belonging to the Conser-
vattves. The contested boroughs have gwen a
majority OF near 5000 votes to the Liberals. and
the contested counties Though represented in
Parliament solely by eight Consergatives) have
only givt n majority of 5000 to the Conserva-
tives. Lancashire, therefore, may be practically
said TO be in equilibrium on the great question
of the day. Its popular vote is ambiguous. 1t
cannot make up its own mind. It believes in
the Liberal policy with its SOUL and hates it
but its jealousy and dislike of the Irish are too
much for 1t. The spirit wrestling against the
flesh has been worsted,-barely worsted,-
and its weight is consequently divided all but
equally between the two scales OF the balance.
Now let us look to the other great man ufactur-
ing eounty,-Yorkshire Here, in spite OF our
disadvantage of the total exclusion OF the
great uncontested Liberal division of that
county, the Northwest Riding, there is only a
Conservative majority OF about lao on the
/. county struggles as yet known (Which would
of course, be transformed into considerable
Liberal majority if the Northwest Riding had
been contested), and vast majority for the
Liberals on the contests in the boroughs, O
majority of about s to 3. The county as yet
gives vote which we may fairly consider
(taking the uDcOntested county division into
considt ration as full two to one for the Libsr-
ais Yorkshire, therefore, has strong opinion
in favor of the Liberal policy. London separ-
ately Cncluding Greenwich) gives about two
TO one for the Liberals. So far, then, we have
q popular vote practically ambiguous in Lam
Ciashire but Liberal In the ratio of two to one
ih the other two great centres Of population,
Yorkshire and the metropolis. Now let US con-
slider the English county vote, exclusive of the
two great counties we have estimated separ-
ately. This gives, of course, q Conservative
majority, but one in amount nothing like that
which the list Of the number OF members
The popular majority for the Conservatives In
the other contested counties Of England and
Wales is not 23, 900 in total number OF 272,OOO
votes--that is, is not majority of per cent
If the county contests in Lancashire. and York
shire were taken into account, the majority
would be about $4,000, but the percentage
would be even smaller than before on the total
popular votes Given. On the other hand, take
the boroUghs of England, exclusive of those of
the counties already taken into account and of
London, and the popular vote shows majority
of about S5, coo, or more than 20 per cent, and
If we add the majonties in the Lancashire aud
Yorkshire boroughs aud London, the popular ma
jority would be increased to above 10000 votes
on the whole boroUghs of ENGLAND, and the per-
centsge TO "a per cent. While the English
counties alone have not given popular majority
of 8 per cent on the total vote for the Conserva-
tives the English bOroughs alone have given
popular maiorlty OF "a per cent. Aud, finally,
taking England (and Waes), counties and
borougbs, altogether, the popular vote gives the
Liberals a majority Of about $4,000 votes for
the Liberals; that is, more than Ia per cent
(say) one.seventh of the whole number of votes
given, and tar greater popular majority than
the Conservatives nave attained IN the counties
alone.
so much for England, which has been biased
in the counties by the supposition of the clergy
that the fall of the Irish Church will involve
evil consequences to the English Church. In
Ireland an estimate was attempted, but so many
seats had not been contested that the returns
are entnely useless tor any purpose, aud we
have omitted them. 1t is known that the Llbe-
raj majority OF members already returned in
Ireland is about tWenty-three, but there is no
means OF arriving at even rough estimate OF
the popular vote.
empire, on this question at least-for England
has been largely actuated by the fears of the
clergy for the consequences to their own estab-
lshment-the popular vote Is overwhelming on
the Liberal side near four to one on the, whole
country, five TO one in the boroughs, and even
in the counties tue majority is about 20 per
cent. on the total county vote.
Finally, taking Great Britain as whole, the
majority on the popular vote Is about 1892 OO0
on total vote of l,27S,OcO, or more than one
sixth, moe than l6 per cent. We conclude,
then, that IN the most impartial carts OF the
kingdom the popular vote for the Liberal policy
has been immense and final; that even in
selected constituencies most subject to the in
fluence OF the clergy, and, by the admission of
all, most Conservative, there is vastly less
majority against the Liberals than there is in
their favor in those constituencies best situated
for a perfectly impartial and cool re-
ply to the Issue put to them;
finally, that in Great Britain alone,
leaving Ireland out of account altogether there
is a deciside dgment in favor ofjustce TO Ire
land, which is naturally very strongly sup
nOrtpd M lrplan0'S d.
ing the verdict of those who are most deeply
interested in the matter, Great Britain declares
for justice to Ireland. Nay, even excluding
Scotland. which is, we believe, better able tC
give a tairer decision than England herself
England alone, and in spite of the imaginary
consequences of the measure to the clergy o
her o wn Church, has decided by a very declsiy
majority for justice TO Ireland.