New-York tribune., 1900-09-30
STRONG UN[ONIST LEAD.
RESULTS OF THE POLLING IN THE UN.
CONTESTED DISTRICTS.
copyright; 1900: BY The New-York TribuneI
TBT CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.

Copyright: 1900: BY The New-York Tribunel
TBT CABLE TO TRIsUNE.l
London, Sept 30, 1 a. m.-Elections held in
uncontested boroughs give the Unionists strong
lead, but do not offer clear indication of the
trend of public opinion. Mr.. Chamberlain. Mr..
Ritchie. Mr. Wyndham and Sir Henry Fowler
are among the candidates returned without op-
position. Six Birmingham seats were carried
by the Unionsts without resistance, the polling
being reserved in the seventh for Thursday.
Mr.. Chamberlain is master Of the situation on
his ground, having carried Birmingham
with him out of the Liberal party and kept 1t
behind him. The Unionists have gained the seat
in York which Sir Frank Lockwood carried in
1895, and which won by a narrow majority
by Lord Charles Beresford IN a by-election.
The Unionists have been boasting that they
would capture all but two Of the London seats.
John Burns has been making vigorous canvass
in Battersea, and not repudiatlng his record as a
consistent opponent of the war, but the other
Liberal candidates have been less energetic. On
Saturday night mass meeting at st. James's
Hall was planned for the purpose of imparting
courage to the Liberals in the Metropolitan dis
tricts, and Sir Henry Campbell -Bannerman was
summoned from Scotland the chief speaker
The hall was crowded with a good humored
holiday audience, eager to applaud any hard hit
or to laugh at any pleasantly. The Liberal
leader gave q most enectlve exhibition or the
tactics of the Opposition. He began by explain
ing the causes of Unionist depression The Min
listers were conscious Of having ordered dis
creditable maneuvre in dissolving Parliament
on a depleted register, and of having tre-
mendous risks in demanding special demon
stration of confidence when they had failed to
deserve it. especially in South Africa, where
only the skill Of the generals and the bravery Of
the soldiers had pulled them through. He next
made incisive reply to Mr.. Chamberain's
defence of the publication of private letters of
members Of Parliament. He disclaimed sym
pathy with the views Of Labouchere and DR..
Clark and described ElIis's letter as harm
less; but, apart from the contents Of the capt
ured correspondence, he denounced the publica-
tion of private letters by Government depart
ment for partisan ends a dscreditable act
for which there was no precedent for two hun
dred years He described Mr.. Chamberlains
act as a breach of honor and breach of law.
and remarked that any one in private life who
ventured to publish private letters would be
fiouted out of society.
These hard blows delighted the audience
which clearly wanted to direct the attack upon
Mr. Chamberlain. The Liberal leader than took
up Lord Rosebery's programme Of domestic re-
forms and advocated the housing of the work
ing classes through special legislation, increased
transit facilities at the expense of the land
owners, practical temperance reform ana an en-
largement of the scope OF the national system
Of education.
The Liberal speakers are following judicious
line Of their own saying little about South
Africa and taking their cue from Lord Rosebery
in laying stress upon domestic reforms The
excitement is rising in the working districts. for
Lord George Hamilton has been nearly mobbed
in attempting TO address a hostile audience.
Mr. Burnss opponent in Battersea has aban-
doned public speeches. Oldham is in ferment.
and Labouchere is attended by a swarm Of
noisy admirers who viii not allow any one to
say aught against him.
The veteran philosopher Herbert Spencer. who
has contributed to the canvass a curious parallel
between the Outlanders and the English peo-
ple before the passage Of the Reform bill, lives
almost in solitude at Brighton, and spends his
days in looking dreamily seaward His body has
sbrunk and withered until he resembles a
mummy but his senses are keen. He reads
without glasses and hears the faintest whisper.
His mind is also as clear as 1t ever was. al
though he suffers from insomnia and bodily
ailments. He complains that recent visit from
a friend put him back for two months. and that
oeonle worry him when he sees them. So COM
nIe,elv has he passed out Of the current OF life
chs. his letter has been like g. voice from the
,orob but he retains TO a remarkable degree IN