31 JULY 1880, Page 3

Mr. Rathbone has, we regret to say, refused to contest

Liver- pool in the Liberal interest ; and unless he could rely on a large number of Conservative votes, he was, douttless, right. It appears, as we ventured last week to anticipate, that Mr. Bright's unfortunate sneer against the minority principle came out just at the nick of time to prevent the Conservatives from seriously considering the propriety of permitting a Liberal candidate to walk over the course. Lord Claud Hamilton is the choice of the Conservatives, and the Liberals are looking out for a held man to lead their forlorn-hope. Mr. Plimsoll has apparently intimated his willingness to stand, and in a great maritime port like Liverpool he is a good man to lead a forlorn-hope.