THE DERRY VICTORY

New Zealand Tablet, 27 March 1913, Page 23

THE DERRY VICTORY

The completeness of the Derry triumph took even the most sanguine Nationalists by surprise. The poll was an exhaustive one. If the cemeteries were not polled, the incurable hospitals were. The halt and maimed, the sick, dying, and exiled walked, drove, or .were pushed to the poll. Two Australians voted for Colonel. Pakenkam, a New Yorker voted on the right side of course. The Australians were on the high seas when the vacancy was announced, but all the others made the journey specially. Very many outvoters came from various parts of England and Scotland. Several outvoters from America did not reach their destination in time. All the local shipping companies had to keep their vessels in port, for the sailors refused to go to sea until they had voted. The blind, invalids, and cripples filed into the booths like survivors of a great battle answering the roll call. George Atcheson, aged eighty-six, who fought in the Crimean War under Colonel Pakenham's father, was carried into the booth to vote for the son of his old commander. An old man named Flood, who fought for the North in the American Civil War, was also carried to the poll. He is eighty and paralysed. He could not make the cross on the voting paper, but there was a fire in his eye as he gasped out ' Hogg ' to the presiding officer, and when his card had gone into the ballot box he gave a deep sigh and was carried home to what will probably be his death-bed. But he returned happy, for Mr. Hogg shook him by the hand and thanked him for his great courage. But for the importation of twenty-seven Scots Fusiliers, who left the Derry station last year, but whose names remained on the voting lists, the Nationalist majority would have been even greater. It was believed by the Unionists that the soldier vote would ensure the return of their candidate. The total number of votes on the register was 5445. The total number of votes polled was 5351. As there were ten votes spoiled owing to being inaccurately filled in, that left only 94 votes unpolled. Thirty-three voters have died since the register was

struck. Twenty-one voters were at the ends of the earth, and could not reach Derry in time for the election. Six voters on each side were too ill to be brought to the poll, and by mutual agreement of the two parties were not disturbed. Over 98 per cent, of the votes on the register and 99£ per cent, of available votes were polled. The exhaustive nature of the poll gives -the Derry election an easy record in this connection. The declaration of the result was attended by scenes of considerable excitement. An enormous crowd had assembled outside the courthouse, the Nationalists carrying green flags, while the Unionists sported Orange favors or waved Union Jacks. The Nationalists sang ' God Save Ireland' in chorus, and cheered continually for Mr. Hogg. The Orangemen responded with ' God save the King.' When the figures were read out, the jubilation of the Nationalists was intense, and the cheering having subsided, ' A nation once again was sung in mighty chorus, and as the Orange crowd sought to conceal their mortification by singing ' The white walls of Derry,' the two tunes seemed to blend into artistic, symphony. For Orange and Green had carried the' day. When Mr. Hogg appeared on the courthouse steps he was saluted by a, salvo of cheers, albeit a few stones and bottles were flung by some of the Unionist supporters. But these missiles were regarded as the last shot of the Ulster rebellion, and fortunately did no damage. The new member for Derry was escorted in triumph to St. Columb's Hall, the Nationalist stronghold, where he addressed a great crowd of enthusiastic supporters. The leading priests also addressed the meeting, and as the result of the united appeals the Nationalists took their victory quietly, and in spite of much provocation did not retaliate on the Orange crowd, who, deeply mortified, tried to conceal their wrath by a show of typical Orange 'forbearance.' They are incensed by the fact that a spirited little band of Protestant Home Rulers gave the Nationalist. candidate a majority. The result was awaited in every corner of Ireland and Great Britain with breathless excitement. It was a bombshell in the ranks of the anti-Home Rulers, and struck them to the very heart with consternation and dismay. No election for many a long day has aroused such universal interest. It caused as much excitement as the passing of the Third Reading of Home Rule, and was an emphatic answer to the House of Lords. Special editions of the London newspapers carried the result of the election all over the British metropolis. Derry has succeeded in surprising England and confounding Belfast. In the House of Commons the allied parties celebrated the result with. vehement applause. The victor was inundated with, congratulatory messages. These included a cable from the United Irish League of America which gave expression to the inspiring truth, 'Derry is our own for Ireland.' Mr. Asquith wired: 'My heartiest congratulations on your great and significant victory.'