The Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder. — 1885-10-24 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

TNE.POLITICAL OLIIVAION LND CANTABSING.  , The hot breath of toe political sireeoo begins to blow, and Mr DiUrn/ friends in Swansea eathsrr ea° that, cest i, afterrr ls en mr-tMe. rthheiDnOgl lvi3elSl?:poel long dg gratitude fififeeiehel ! to be expected from them; and this will take the form of a large electoral committee, who will work under an organised system, and theta !make the canvass careful and complete, While I I am certain that the candidates will eendnet themselves with politeness and political propriety, a considerable amount of allowance must 11 suppose, be made for the overzeal of individaale, who, in the wellsmeant effort to serve their friend (whichever he is), may commit indiscretions sincerely tot* regret ed. A voter I have known for years, and in whose credibility I have the fullest confidence, sends me the following extraordinary looter:— Sir,—l wish to draw the attention of my fellow eleeters to an obnoxious system of can*wing, which has bean adopted by Mr. Meredyth. On • recent Wednesday my humble !abode in the San/Melds was invaded by an !emissary hem Mr. Meredyth in the shape of a female canvaper, who presented credentials from him, requesting the honour of any vote and interest at the coming election. I was not at home, but she tried to :extract a promise tram my wife that else would -use her influence with me to obtain my v3te for Mr. Meredyth. I have always been of opmion that the ladies are for the most part democrats, excepting perhaps in their own households, and my wife, being a Democrat to the backbone, promptly refueed to do anything of the kind. Thin fair, or I should rather say unfair, canviewer, then raged her suit by stating what else imagined to be the demerits of Mr. Dillwyn, and the merits of Mr Meredyth. It was the old, foolish tale.—What has Mr. Dillwyn done for Swaneea?—he never has, and never will do anything for the borough, but Mr. Meredyth, it elected will buy an estate (where?), build a handsome house, and revive trade by spending thousands of pounds in the town, besides, of course, liberally supporting all its public institutions. Now, that is not mxch of a political creed to tickle one's palate with, but it was all aboet politics the lady seemed to know, and to make up for her shortcomings, ehe made /some diecreditable allusions to Mr Dillwyn's connection with the Glamorganshire Bank, and, in a most heartless manner, stated that Mr. Dillwyn's his accident had resulted in such injuries to his brain, that his doctors had stated that he would never again ha mentally fit forpublic life. Jam not aware that anything in the least dishonourable toMr. Dillwsn has over been suggested in relation to the effaire of the Bank, and the statement as to his mental condition, everyone knows, is deliberately untrue. So far as Mr. Dillwyn's services to the borough are concerned, he has served it, and the best intereets of hie country too, faithfully and honourably, in Parliament for 30 years without pecuniary advantage to himself; and what can any honest person require more? What difference is there in principle between , bribing a community, and committing a like crime with reference to an individual? The lavielaing of favours or money upon a canseituone), for the purchase of parliamentary honours, differs, only in magnitude, from the palmmg of an individual voter with a guinea. It in condoned and even applauded, I admit. /in some 'cases, but only in the way, that one murder makes a villain, millions,—a hero. Finding that she could make! no favourable impression, this lady concluded by reproachfully intimating that she supposed we ' were "chapel people," and I imagine, therefore, hoplesely bad. Ido not for a moment suppose that Mr. Meredyth would endorse all his canvasser advanced, and might well wish to be saved from his friends, but I trust, that working men and their wives too, will set themselves sturdily against all ouch Tory clap-trap mad noneence.—Yours truly, lionmen.'?  WISE AND lIE [