New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-11
sARBAGlSM or TIE ENGLISH ELECTIONS

| The machinery OF an English election COM
pared with our own imprcsses tho American
mind like Chinese junk, or Mexican pillow.
Instead of our well organized system of con
ventons-Town, County, Congressional. State,
and National-for each party, wherein the dele
gates chosen ultimately by the voters OF the
| party, OF such of them rs choose to take part,
select the party candidate, and define the prin-
ciples ON which he is TO run, the English can
| didates purpoIt to be selected by an morgan
| lied mob of both parties, assembled at the call
of the High Sheriff on the day before the cleo
ton. The whole custom seems TO be sort OF
misunderstood farce. The candidate who is
TO be proposed and seconded by the most
aristocratic and influential friend whom he can
find 20 perform that ceremony, has already,
weeks before, proposed hilhself, and perhaps
made forty speeches to secure his election.
The speech which the candidate is expected TO
deliver, when proposed, is drowned by sys-
tematic yells boots, hovls, blasts Of tin horns,
sh-hOrns. bugles and even locomotive and
engine whistles, while the right honorable can
didate himself is liable to an eruption OF con-
scrvative eggs, or "liboral" shower of apple
parings, brickbats, and paving stones. The
"Ioughs' Of the two parties, who at our election
arc brought into conflict but once, viz, at the
polls, in England have three collisions. viz
ut the nominations, the polls, and the "dcclara-
"tion of the poll when the High Sheriff
announces officially the result, and the members
elect of whichever party receive, according TO
ancient custom, their swords knights of
1.-The Shire"
In only one district, last Essex, was an at
tempt made 10 prevent n collision, by building
a high fence across the street III front OF the
booth which the Conservative candidate and
his propOScrs, seconds, and followers came up
10 on one side, while the Liberals approached
on the other ii seems strange that our En-
glish cousins, when taking so much pains TO
meet separately, could not have bethought
them of the American plan OF holding the
Conservative meeting quietly III one hall at
one time, while the Liberals might meet NJ
another time and place. II the presence OF
the High Sheriff OF his Bailif were deemed
necessary TO the serenity of the British CON
science, they might preside at either or both
meetings, though probably their presence TO
preserve the peace would be needed at neither.
We drop this hint not for the present genera
ton of EnglshmeD, but for the next. For the
present We recommend high fence, with the
Liberals OH one side and the Conservatives on
the other
AT Mid Surrey we are told by the "Thun-
"dercr," which ought to know, that the Liber-
4" ais had the advantage in point of numbers,
"but the Tories made up for this in strength
" of lung and vigor of gcoticulation.n The
Conservatives imported 200 gentlemen from
Z" the East End Of London" to yell when their
own strength was exhausted BY bowling in
regularly organized squads, that relieved each
other at intervals, the Conservatives triumphed,
though the Liberals yelled brayely. "The
" candidates on each side cxcrtcd themselves
TO obtain hearing for their opponents on
The platform but not q word spoken by tho
"proposers and secondcrs was audible at the
distance of yard from the hastings, and it
" was only at intervals, few ard far between,
that the principals in the election were
"allOwed TO utter an odd sentence in vim
"dication of their political faith.n When
a candidate was proposed "a couple OF
railway whistles were brought into re-
"quisition, and the 'shrill blasts of these in
"Struments were followed by what was a
capital imitation of the Growing of cock in
IN terrible state of fright and agitation. The
Liberal mob could not resist this challenge.
" There was more cheering, again responded TO
"by more shouting, hooting, whistling, and
"cock-crowing."
AT Middlesex the candidates spoke to The re-
porters, after having like Lear grown crazy
in the eflort to address the tempest. Mr..
Gladstone, in his attempt to speak in the hust-
ings at Southwest Lancashire, was subjected
to systematic Interruptions from which even
he with difficulty came out triumphant.
At Bristol Solicitor Watkins valiantly
mounting his charger, led mob Of Liberal
roughs in brave assault upon Conservative
fences. gardens, and window panes. and even
ventured to ride down woman who ques-
toned the propriety of his order TO tho mob
to "knock down everything and everybody
" that weara fhe tlne y or Conaeruafivo noIor