The Shropshire Examiner and all round the Wrekin advertiser. — 1875-02-27 (Wenlock, Shropshire, England)

STOKE-UPON-TRENT ELECTION.  THE name of Stoke-on-Trent has become a political bye-word in the land, and papers of all political creeds have already given effect to public opinion by pouring contempt upon the electors who find their beau-ideal of legislator in the vilest reviler of the century. Not for two hundred  years has the choice of any constituency found it impossible to prevail upon two old members of the House to introduce him on taking the oath, and mztt for more than two centuries has such a politiail Ishmael been elected. Blatant scurrility and uncrupulous impudence united with an oily tongue to flatter and deceive the credulous and the ignorant, are the secrets of this success, which everywhere makes intelligent Liberalism grieve, though far more for the condition of the electors, and the reproach it brings upon the extension of the franchise, than become of any mischief which Dr. Kenealy will be able to 6. What good he can accomplish in that House of more than 600 members is revealed by the fiasco of his introduction. He will be chief of the great party, which will consist of Mr. Whalley and himself, and all the influence he will have will be to make use of the forms of the House to impede practicable legislation. But Dr. Kenealy is more fortunate in having one supporter in Mr. Whalley than his constituency, for it is difficult to imagine another borough in England committing political suicide in such a manner.  It may be profitable to enquire what are the causes that have conspired to the return of the great egotist, whose first step towards the attainment of the leadership of the House of Commons is to get only the member for Peterbore* and his umbrella to accompany him to " Speaker Brand's" chair.  As the constituency consists of more than 19,000 voters, only a few over 14,000 have took part in the election, it is evident that there is a very large number who have deliberately abstained from voting. That some of the Conservatives who have caught the prevailing Tichborrie mania supported Dr. Kenoaly we believe, but few if any refused to record their votes. The defection was in the Liberal ranks. It is not to be disputed that though some of the truest and ablest leaders of the party in the borough gave a very hearty support to the Liberal workingman candidate, Mr. Walton, yet it is evident that thousands of those who supported the Liberal candidates, Messrs. Melly and Roden, at the last election, against Mr. Robert Heath, the Conservative, and Mr. Walton, have revenged themselves upon the latter gentleman and his supporters by either voting for Dr. Kenealy or remaining pasenve spectitters of the fight in which their principles were being trampled under foot, They looked upon the choice of a workingman candidate as an unpardonable affront and injury to united Liberalism, yet now, instead of taking the opportunity of cementing the party together they have introduced greater discord than ever, by indirectly causiag the return of a candidate, who, besides being a political nondescript himself, will help to wear, a section at leaSt of the working men from their faith in the Radical party. Those foolish Liberals will have their reward. Their folly like the boomerang will return upon themselves, and they will have the pleasure of defeating Mr. Walton at the expense of their own future