The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-01-01

workingman's candidate, and though
there is great risk in the contest, it is,
perhaps, as well that workingmen
should run it, so that the character Of
a constituency that prides itself on its
liberality should be thoroughly sounded.
The situation is rather a curious one.
The first name before the constituency
is that Of George Odger, the working
man. He was the first adopted by a
public meeting Of the liberal electors.
Mr.. Odger is small man, Of somewhere
about fifty. He is quiet in his manner
and in his speaking, though not aspiring
to be considered an orator, is fluent and
sometimes forcible by his earnestness-
There is nothing in Mr.. Odger to enti-
tie him to any pre-eminent claim, more
than may be found in very large num-
bers of workingmen. In saying this,
however, | do not wish to be under
stood as discrediting the qualifications
of Mr.. Odger. On the contrary, l be-
lieve him to be much better fitted for
the position he aspires to than nine
tenths of those now t, be found in the
House of Commons. He is, no doubt,
a favorite with the men Of his own
class, by the honest devotion with
which he has served them as a trades
unionist-whilst with men of the mid
die class who favor him, he has,
think, got his influence by the calmness
and moderation with which he uniform
ly conducts himself. / wish I could
say his chances of success were good.
Much will depend no doubt, upon the
sort of field he may have to start with;
but at present, though | think stout
fight will be fought, | cannot say that
/ believe it will be rewarded with sue
cess.
Mr.. Labouchere is a man of about
forty, who has spent much of his time
in the diplomatic service-he is rich
and as liberal as he may be compelled
to be-not standing very high in his
private character, and were it not for
his wealth would be no more than a
smart man about town, dividing bis
time between the gaming table and the
heroines Of the denai monde If he
should DO returned for Southwark, il
is because his money will enable him
to employ experienced agents, who, be-
ing experienced in such work, well
know how to gather up such support as
may always be found amongst the
needy and dishonest in our crowded
cities.
Sir Francis Ligsett, another social
ed Liberal, is said to have determined
to buy the borough, whatever it may
cost. 1t is asserted that he means to
rely on the dissenting bodies, and by
subscriptions to chapels and schools,
wriggle himself into the Legislature.
Fe is not spoken highly of on ny
ground but that of piety, and if the re-
ports in circulation about him be true,
the less said about that the better.
Sir Sidney Waterlow, another of the
candidates, whose life has some useful
ness in it, and whose liberality is said
to be quite genuine, is a different kind
Of man, and the general opinion is that
he is the most likely person 10 carry off
the prize. But as yet it is really diff
cult to say who will stand or who will
declare off before the contest begins.
Mr.. Odger, however, understand,
pledged to 60 to the poll, under any
circumstances, and that determination
solemnly made and persistently stuck
to, will, no doubt, gain for him many
votes.
Of other matters a good deal might
be said. The most striking this week,
is the trial Of Mr.. Voysey before the
Chancellor of York, for heresy. The
revereng gentleman is rector Of some
church in Yorkshire, and has certainly
been preaching and publishing some
very startling things. But what makes
this trial remarkable is the calm and
able manner in which he has turned
upon his prosecutors in a defence of
great ability. know Of nothing more
remarkable, not even the escapades of
Colenso, than this address of Mr.. Voy-
sey's. He does not deny the truth Of
the Bible, nor the verify of the Thirty
Nine Articles of the church, but he
claims not to be bound by the CLOSES
put on these by the mob of divines or
the vulgar crowd of believers. How
he exercises his right Of Interpretation,
| have not space to explain, nor would
your columns be the proper place to do
90, if I had-and L only mention the
matter at all, because it is likely to
cause much discussion here and else
where, not only amongst members Of
the Church Of England but amongst
all who are interested in the progress
of free thought. In Mr.. Voysey the
friends of orthodoxy have actually
caught a tartar, whom l think they
would have left alone had they known
before the terrible power of hitting he
has in him.
Our education battle is gradually de-
veloping itself. 1t will be the fight of
the coming year, and it may be that of
three or four years to come. A great
disintegration Of opinion is going on
here in the old country. Old ortho-
doxies and the prejudices connected
with them are breaking up, and men
are everywhere taking sides either to
promote advancing thought or to re-
tard it. The crust that covered over
old forms is fairly broken, and in reli-
gion and politics and in social and in
dustriaI arrangements, the old is get
ting shaken, and the new is asserting