17 OCTOBER 1885, Page 3

It is of the higbest importance both to Ireland and

Great Britain that at this election the popularity of Mr. Parnell and his ideas should be fully.tested . at the ballot,—that we should know-, in fact, what the exact numbers of his followers are. It is often assumed that. theyinclade all the voters, of the three provinces outside Ulster ; but that is by-no means certain. He may have- behind hisu only.the farmers, for whom he is making.. such- tremendous bids,—offering„ for example, as, he did at Kildare on Sunday, to reduce rents by 40 per cent., during the next .Parliament. We welcome, therefore, the proposal. that every seat in Ireland, without exception, should be contested, even if there is, no apparent chance of victory; and hope that candidates will, be found to test strength. in every district. The. issue. should not be Toryissn or • Liberalism, the most popular Unionist being always selected, but simply Loyalism or Parnell. lam. That issue might in many-quarters call out the "silent vote" which so surprises statesmen, and would; at all events, enable both. countries to see where the strength of numbers lay. It is-said there would be a difficulty about expenses; but that must be nonsense. There should be no electioneering, and no speaking; but 'simply en issue of placards stating that Smith is Loyalist and Brown Parnellite, and so leaving the choice to the conetitnency: No colour or mark should be adopted, but every vote should be recorded as the Ballot Act intended it should be, as if in a confessional. Every man in any doubt about the issues can best. educate himself by attending the Parnellite meetings. He knows. what loyalism is, and he can there hear the other side.