The Blackpool Herald. — 1880-04-09 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

LOCAL GOSSIP.  The Preston Guardian published a verbatim "...sport of Major-General Fielden's "astounding" speech in the Winter Gardens. Mr. Storey's central committee has caused 20,000 copies of the speech to be struck off, with the intention of sending one to each of the electors in North Lancashire. Lord Byrom awoke one morning to find himself famous. Major-General Feilden, who seemingly confesses he has no opinion of his own, awoke up from his nap on the Pavilion plat form to also find himself famous.  Some Conservatives are in high jinks that Mr. Feilden's reception was such a grand affair. Their horses were clean, and they had plenty of carriages in the procession, they say. But they seem to forget that Mr. Storey came from Kirkham in the shortest time the distance has ever been covered, along a very bad road: and if the horses were a little dirty, it in no way detracted from their value. Mr. Storey's reception has not teen surpassed, and could not be surpassed. It was as good as could be given to Beaconsfield himself, by his admirers in Blackpool. The Liberals had a worthy man to receive, and nobly they did receive him.  A gentleman in the meeting at the Winter Gardens on Monday evening intended to ask Mnjnr-General Fielden if he was in favour of "Local Option." But when the gentleman saw the General go to sleep, he thought questioning would only be a waste of words.  The manner in which one of the prominent members of the Liberal party in Blackpool was treated on Tuesday evening at Talbot-road Station, certainly reflects small credit on those who differ from him in politics. To be hooted and insulted, and have his hat knocked off, is quite enough to try the feelings of any man. John Bright had his hat knocked off in Manchester, and was otherwise insulted once; and many who took part in the scandalous act lived to feel ashamed of themselves. And perhaps those who acted so shamelessly on Tuesday night at Talbot-road Station and Poulton, may live to regret it. If the Conservatives have no better arguments to bring forward than rowdyism and physical force, they need not expect their cause to live long in those days of School Boards.  At last I have heard of one who believes in all the handbills and placards the Tories send out. I marvelled when I heard that the person was a lady of refinement, possessing more than ordinary intelligence. But the wonder ceased when I was told that she had been born at Preston, and nourished and brought up in an atmosphere that was ever-brightened by the logic of a Preston Tory paper of some years ago.  The Tory " roughs " of Weeton used their usual arguments pretty freely on Monday evening. They assembled around the Eagle and Child," and when the Liberals from Blackpool were leaving after the Liberal meeting they began " sodding" them beyond a joke. Some of the gentlemen declare that they would not visit Weeton again on any consideration. One gentleman has been heard to avow that he will never subscribe for a missionary until one is stationed at Weeton, with a prize fighter to assist him.  There are a number of the members of the Volunteer Band who think it hard lines that their services have been ignored by the Liberals during this election. They declare that they would play the ' • Dead March" as readily for the Liberals as for the Tories. They consider it too bad that the,Conservatives should ever have won the election at Liverpool. I believe the band is right enough ; but to have engaged one for every victory the Liberals have gained du; ing the last few days would have e7xllausted the powers of any one set of musicians. Besides, the Conservatives have had quite enough music lately. There is a bound to human endurance. Very little more would make some of them commit suicide.  The Conservatives at Fleetwood have had their " little go," with results scarcely corresponding to their anticipations. The room was well filled, but not a few were roughs, who at intervals vociferously cheered, not knowing what they were cheering for, but simply because they saw others doing the same.