The Westport Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1873.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1126, 21 November 1873, Page 2

The Westport Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1873.

The quadruple alliance of Westport candidates for Provincial Council honors is a novelty in election experience. It is not unusual for such 'birds of passage to fly in pairs, but a covey of four, and all abreast, not even sailing like flitting geese, wedge fashion, is unique and funny. Yet tlie idea, in chatty parlance, is not half a bad one. Pledged on one " ticket," like the Lares and Penates of some hard-up individual consigned to mine uncle, it is well that their modesty curbs their ambition, and they tacitly admit the least said the soonest mended. It might have aff"i - 'el a nor uninflucntial section of the electorate more satisfaction had even one of our local tyros in politics gone in independently, and to the avoidance of all truckling to the popular cry of the hour, declared himself a Curtis supporter, an advocate of mild conservatism and respectability, as opposed to the political fiUibnstoring of the O'Conorite party. He might not have won the election, this daring advocate of right and reason against bounce and bluster, but he would have gained the respect of all whose respect is worth having, and even in losing his election might have found consolation in the fact that he had lost something of little worth. The com< st would have also served as a Trial Stakes, a flight preliminary to the big event of the day, the Superintendent's Cup It would have shown to electors the chances and probabilities in favor of either candidate for the larger event. As things now are the contest for the Provincial Council seats, if it can he called a contest, will be but tame. The four candidates, linked in brotherly affection, will be on the stump for a brief interval, and then all agape, like young gpslin s craving for their morning meal, will wait and watch the day of election. No disrespect is meant to the four gentleman soliciting the suffrages*of the electors, but n sense of the ridiculous asserts itsilf in contemplating them, so dubious of their own merits or individuality of oninion, that each and all are fain to proclaim themselves supporters of the caudidate x'or the Superiutcndency

who, by sheer impertinence, asserts hi:* chance of siicces*, but for whom we feel quite certain, neither -Candidate for provincial !ibno:.a entertains tlie slightest personal respect or confidence. Bn!. enough! The four candidates have spoken. Tiiojr ad dresses, as delivered last night, wore amusing if not instructive, and in making choice the electors will be puzzled to elect the two best men out of four competitors so evenly matched. Mr Kis 1 01 represents the conservative candidale with a wavering tendency to radicalism. Mr Shapter's political ideas are like a careless husbandman's stock of last season's ;-eeds, good, n-> doubt, but mixed somewhat. Mr Lloyd holds a safe card, if originality of expression and a perfect individual convict ion of fitness for office will prevail aught. Mr Hume, as the miners' advocate, pure and simple, should at the present juncture of affairs obtain a numerous following. It may be presumed that to either is will be satisfactory to know that, after making their final appeal to the electors to-morrow evening, there will be n > vtiry tiresome interval to wile away before their fate is decided. To the electors the issue,from one aspect, will be inconclusive, except that those who hail as the Curtis party refrain from voting altogether on Monday. The votes recorded under such a circum stance would be suggestive.