The only English Catholics who, as far as we know,
have offered themselves in the boroughs, Lord Edward Howard at Preston, and Sir John Acton at Bridgnorth, have been rejected,—Lord Edward
Howard standing lowest on the Preston poll, and Sir John Acton losing his election by a much greater majority than last time, when he was defeated only by one vote. This time Mr. Whit- more beat him by a majority of 65. We fear that the new voters, therefore, are not yet disposed to look with much personal favour on Catholics, however moderate and thoroughly identified with English social life. Sir John Acton would have been in every respect an ornament to the House of Commons, and the Pro- testantism which fears him is certainly of an illiterate kind. It is time that we tried to do not only political but personal justice to English Catholics, and made a great effort to break up the unjust prejudice which as yet shuts them out front English social dis- tinctions. We trust Sir John Simeon, however, may be re-elected for the Isle of Wight.
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