The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-30
The British General Election.

(By Henry W Lucy in the FORUM
A primary difference between the FRESH
Dental election il the United states and
a general election in Great Britain is
that while one contest is avowedty
matter of personal preference, the other
is ostensi5ly, often actually, 60 lfiict
around certain broadly defined princi-
pies. 1t is true that whilst Disraeli and
Gladstone were yet alive and confronted
each other in the political arena, the
fight ragged as closely and distinctly
around a name and a personality as is
the custom at Presidential elections. In
1874 and in 1880 the electors throughout
the Kingdom did not profess to vote
either as Liberals or Tories. Thsy voted
for Gladstone or Disraeli.
With the passing away OF those colossal
figures the British general election has
reverted to its former manner. Lord Sails
bury Is a statesman who, even beyond the
limits of the party pale, is held In the
highest esteem. But his is not name to
eonjure with at the polls. On the other
side Mr. Gladstone has left no successor.
Accordingly. the forthcoming general cleo
ton viii be fought. as far as ministerial
lists can control it, on the question of the
war IN South Africa. whilst opposition can
didates viii enieavor to concentrate the
attention and judgment of the electors on
the shortcomings Of the administration in
respect to the conduct OF the war, and on
the sins of omission and commission COM
mitted by the Government during their
more than FIVE years term of office. An
other fundamental difference between the
two electoral campaigns appears in their
inception and direction. Presidential
election is more or less we'll ordered bat
tie. every movement being directed by the
commander-in-chief on either side. A
British general election is a series of in
dependent skirmishes, taking place all over
the country, each under local command,
owning no supreme general, observing no
common plan OF battle. The British voter
knows nothing of delegates, conventions,
or party managers. He walks into the
polling booths and votes directly for the
man OF his choice II is true that both the
Conservative (now the UnionisD and the
Liberal parties have a paid official who is
supposed to undertake general supervision
of party interests in the electorate
throughout the kingdom. He is generally
consulted by constituencies in the selec-
tlon of a candidate. What he tenders in
is advice, not instruction. Moth
ing is calculated more quickly to put I'D
the back of a constituency than any move
ment having the appearance of dictation
from London.
A great gulf, wide as the Atlantic, sep
arates the party managers of the Presi-
Dental election campaign from the chief
agent of the Liberal or the Unionist
party in England. Whilst one has almost
an unlimited supply of money at his COM
mand and is not too grievously hampered
III disposing OF 1t for campaign purposes.
the other has but a meagre subscription
list, and is bound hand and foot by the
Corrupt Practices act. 1t is that legisla-
lion which has crippled the political party
agent in Great Britain. The election
agent is bound by law. under heavy pen
alties. to keep strict account and make
full disclosure of every penny spent.