New-York tribune., 1886-08-01
SUPPLEMENT-.
PAGES 9 TO IL.
DUKES AND EARLS."
oR THE RELATION OF THE PEEHAGE TO
ENGLISH ELECTIONS.

There is an outcry against the interference of
Peers in the elections. Tic complaint comes from
both sides. Much was said at the time of the disso
,nton about the blank check of the Duke Of Bed
ford Ii is certain that he never gave blank check,
nor has it been made known how much he did give.
Tho giving of money. however is not what is
rtected to,-nominally at least. Money has
llwavs been given. The theory is that Peer is
not supposed to use his personal influence for or
against a candidate. The stricter reading of this
rule is that he is not to interfere in his own
county. and not to appear on the hustings or any
other electoral platform after the wrts received
and the nominations made.
Mr. Gladstones protests against dukes and earls
are much wider ttan this; it is their hostility a
class which he objects to: they are against blm,
and the fact of their being against him is enough,
no matter how they express their opinions or
whether they express them at all. The telegram
TO Warwick C" if you DO not want dukes and
earls to wreck the nation vote for Mr.. Soand-so -
was one of those which Mr. Glads;one's friends
deplored. To-day appears letter to Dr. Foster,
the Mnisterialist who was defeated at Chester.
Mfr. Gladstone regrets the action. of the Duko OF
Westminster, which | conceive to be a fresh blow
struck at the aristocrac," DR.. Foster says he had
against him ducal. cathedral, Tory and Wing in
fuenccs lie tells Us in published letter that the
Duke of Westminster lent his epistolarv aid
meaning no doubt that the Duke wrote letters
against him,-that his canvassed the city,
and his carriages, decked fer the first tlne III
Tory colors carried Tory voters to the polls The
defeated candidate for Winchester complains that
the Earl of Northbrook opposed him hy letter. Earl
Spencer is charged with dong rs much on on the
other sidc indeed. instances numerous.
probably more numerous than the complaints which
reach the public ear.
Spite of all recent changes, spite of the ballot,
spite of the new franchise and the great strides OF
democracy the power of the Peers is still enormous
Ii is not so much because mau is a Duke OF an
Earl but because he is generally great landed
proprietor that he is potent i'll elections. The
influence Of a great landlord over his tenants is
lessened: II is not lost The of the Marquis of
Bath, Lord Weymouth, stood for the fiome
division of Somer sctshire last November and was
beaten by some 700 votes. In vain did Lord Bath
nut out his strength in vain did he threaten If
local reports true TO shut up longleat Lord
Weymouth were beaten. Longlcat is one OF the
great places of England to shut 1T up meant ruin
or loss to half the ira lesmen of the vicinity. ami
to many besides tradesmen. Tho electors stood to
their colors and returned an unknown map. Mr.
Baker. a stranger to Somerset. Lord Bath did not
shut up LonCleat nor 20 abroad. nor ruin anybody.
lie bided his time, and now Lord Weymouth COMES
in by mai ority equal 10 that by which he was
beaten in November. The reasons of tho change
are not all personal or local. Somerset shared IN
the feelings or opinions which have reNolntionHed
% many other constituencies all over Eigahd.
But there is this to lie said. People have Iittle
confidence in the secrecy of the ballot. In theory
the secrecy is perfect, in practice 1t wares Htte
but IN the belief of the less educated classes their
betters. as they call them, know how they vote.
No doubt many deuendent Of Lord Raths who
In November had cast his ballot against Lord
WEYMOUTH felt or fancied he felt. the displeasnre
OF that great nobeman. And no doubt many OF
them thought it more prudent TO support the man
whom they had before opposed. The Marquis OF
Bath in his capacity OF landowner is very impor-
taht parsonage indeed. ia Somcrsetshirc and III
the adjoining county of Willis he is the owner OF
nearly 10000 acres. the annual rental of which
exceeds 100000. 1t docs not much matter
whether you call man like that by a title or not
contest has Just been fought in NOrtlumber-
land between Mr. Albert Grey and Mr.. Wentworth
Beaumont Mr. Albert Grey had the support OF his
uncle, Earl Grey. with $4,000 acres and Sl2JooO
rental Mr.. Beaumont, 4 richer man, though his
holding in Northumberland is rather less than Earl
Crey's supported himself aud won Mid-North-
amptonsLire is voting to-day, and the Min
isteriaI candidate is brother and heir Presumptve
to Earl Spencer whose possessions Ia Northamp-
tonshire alone amount to 1900 acles, yielding
sl5O0OO a year Whc;ber Earl Spencer writes a
letter in behalf Of his brother not, matters
little lie cannot If he wonld divcst himself OF
the authority which his position gives him. In
Earl Spencers case, as in many others, the author
ity is personal; the man counts as well as the
property
:fBedfordshire is a rcounty in which ducal infu-
ence is supposed TO be very great For electoral
purposes il has two divisions, North and South.
and Woburn the seat of the Dukes of Bedford. is
Tka \ ru-Ii iauf of
Bedfordshire is Earl Cowper whose property and
whose place, the renowned Panshanger, are IN the
next county, IIertfordshire. Both these great per
sonages are Liberal Unlonists, and Earl Cowper.
who was Mr. Gladstone's first Viccroy OF Ireland
presided over the Union meeting at Ier Majesty
Theatre. They have done their utmost III Dehiii OF
the cause they have at heart In the North they
have won a striking victory. Mr. Magnlac, a
Gladstonian who had over 600O votes IN Novern-
ber IS turned out. losing LOO votes and Ffseonnt
BarIng Unionist and son Of Lord Northbrook'
comes in with n majority OF 500 But IN Sonth
Bedfordshire Mr. Cyril Flower retains his seat
His vote, it is true. has fallen of bis own side
seemed 10 think it a sham fight Bu; all that the
dukes and earls coad do failed to bring up his
opponents total within some hundreds Of the Tory
vote at tho last election. Mr. Cvri Flower is
man whose popularity Is proof against all the
Establishments of greater landowners than himself
All bis land indeed. lies, think, in Buckingham
SHIRE where he is Of that colony OF Rothschiids
who have annexed half the county. lio inarriou
sdaughtcr of the late Sir Anthony de Rothschilh
snd occupies the estate Of Aston Clinton which
Sir Anthony created
When We first Lcard OF the Duke OF Bedfords
blank check two men were named on The Minis
tcrial side as likely to put down whatever was
wanted for genuine electoral purposes. They were
Lord Roscbery and Lord Woverton' ard an
immense sun has bcen named as Lord Wovertons
contribution. They say he gave s2Oo"oo; an
estimate probably rs fanciful as tho Duke OF
Bediords blank cheek. Lord Rosebcrys gits' ii ne