THE WOODSTOCK ELECTION.
LTO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR." I
SIR,—In a note in your issue of July 4th you say respecting the Woodstock election that you think the contest "unwise and unfair." I trust you will permit me, as one of the voluntary helpers in that contest, to explain why we felt it right to enter upon it. It is admitted even by those who, like yourself, dis- approve of our action, that the language and conduct of Lord Randolph Churchill, both in and out of the House of Commons, during recent years, have been a scandal in the political life of the country. We felt it a duty to take the first opportunity of entering an emphatic protest against such conduct as his. This was the feeling of the working-men of Woodstock also, upon whom rests the responsibility of this contest ; for the leading members of the Woodstock Liberal Committee were at first in- disposed to offer opposition to the re-election of Lord Randolph Churchill, until they were driven to do so by the strong feeling of indignation in the constituency.
This was the sole ground on which the election was fought, and we believe with Mr. Grant that the cause for which we were fighting—the cause of purity of language and earnestness and high-mindedness in politics—has been promoted by the struggle which ended last Friday.-1 am, Sir, &c.,
Clare College, Cambridge, July 7th. R. D. ROBERTS.
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