NEWS BY THE ENGLISH MAIL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2243, 26 May 1880, Page 2

NEWS BY THE ENGLISH MAIL.

THE ELECTION CONTESTS. EXCITING SCENES. The “ Times ” correspondent writes reporting the election of Mr Gladstone for Midlothian: —Altogether, 90 percent of the voters on the roll turned up, among them being some very aged men and a considerable number of invalids, some of whom had to be supported from their conveyances into the polling booths. At West Calder, Tory voters were barely safe, and if any “ faggots ” had been registered there they would have been exposed to serious risk in coming forward. Not a single Tory bill was allowed to remain up anywhere in the place. The municipal authorities in Edinburgh, warned by the experience of the previous week, erected strong barricades across George IY. Bridge, near the Sheriff Courthouse, where the poll was to be declared; as well as in front of Lord Eoscbcry’s town residence in George street, where ho and Mr Gladstone were staying. The poll however, was declared an hour sooner than was expected, in consequence of which the crowds were much smaller than than they would otherwise have been. Nevertheless they numbered thousands, and their enthusiasm can onl} r bo adequately described by the word “ wild.” Mr Gladstone made a brief speech from a balcony, candles being held on either side of his head to let the people .see him ; and both he and Lord Eosebery, who followed him with an equally brief speech, made in compliance with loud calls from‘the crowd, were cheered in a manner that was simply frenzied. Throughout Scotland the news _ of Mr Gladstone’s triumph was received the same evening with manifestations of delight, even more marked than those just referred to. In many towns there were torchlight processions, bonfires were lit in the streets, fireworks were let off, houses were illuminated, bells of town halls

and churches were rung, jubilant speeches, made by provosts and other men, and altogether the country slept little that night for joy. The wildest case of excitement which has come under my notice occurred at Lanark, where an individual drew off his boots, tossed them into a bonfire, and then danced round the flaming pile in his stockings ! At Dalkeith, where Mr Gladstone’s opponents are best known, and least liked, an attempt was foolishly made to prevent a public bonfire from being kindled. The consequence was that a riot ensued, and next night the people lit a huge bontjre, which they were allowed to enjoy to their hearts’ content. The following is an extract from Mr Gladstone’s manifesto :

We can well dispense with exultation in th§ hour of victory. Personally long engaged in the hottest of the conflict, I rejoice not only in the prospect of good to be accomplished by the accession of the Liberal leaders to power, bnt in the cessation, of a controversy always on the verge of bitterness. The efforts of the party which how seems likely to attain the full measure of its predominance will, I trust, be steadily and temperately addressed towards establishing the external policy of this country upon the lines Of justice, epual right, and sympathy with freedom, , snd towards the direction of the internal government and legislation in the methods and the spirit which during the last half century have done iso much to relieve the people, to gain respect for the laws, to strengthen the foundations of the throne, and to consolidate the structure of this noble Empire. To assist in this work to the utmost of ray limited power will be, gentlemen, the best and only return that I can make for the confidence which you have given me with a generosity I never can forget, and amidst tokens of enthusiasm which have made this election memorable even in the annals of Scotland.

A Contrast;—Some 72 months (six {fears) ago the late Liberal Ministry colapsed. The following are extracts from papers of the periods :—1874.—“ Mr Gladstone, on returning from a walk with Mrs Glddstone, was hooted and mobbed in Cavendish square, and had to take refuge in the house of a neighbor to save himself from personal violence.” 1880.—“ On the result of the Midlothian election, proclaiming Mr Gladstone’s victory, becoming known in Leeds, groups of people assembled in the street and cheered most heartily.”