RADICALISM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1827, 28 April 1888, Page 2

RADICALISM.

TO THE EDITOB; Sir, — About ten days ago a resident of Ashburton called my attention to an insulting letter, written by the London oorrespondent of the " Obristohuroh Star," disparaging a cousin of mine, who was reoently put m prison for being engaged m the Trafalgar square meetings. I was not then m a position to answer these remarks, but wichin the last two days I have received from my kinsman a letter and two newspapers, the " Pall Mall Gazette " and the " Badioal," which fully explain the change of ideas among the workiDg olaßsea at Home. These newspapers I herewith hand you, requesting you to publish as much of them as, you deem requisite for public information on this important subject. Hitherto m the Ashburton oounty (with the honorable' exception of Wakanui) it has been customary to choose for members men who either have made their " pile " by contracting or nominees pf suoh ; the argument m their favor being that as they have done well for themselves they are bound to do well for their constituents. You will observe, however, that this is not i the opinion at Home, where suoh gentry are looked upon with suspioion if not something worse. For instanoe, at the last election my oousin, who is comparatively a poor man, defeated the whole foroe of the Bairds, the most wealthy ironmasters m Scotland, simply by standing as a Radical and Bupporting the Home Bute question, which question is gradually, but euroly, weeding out the bastard Liberals. — I am, etc., I. R. 0. 0. Ghaham.