NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE elections in England and Wales are over ; and the result is a Tory majority of forty-two votes. The returns from Ireland and Scotland, when completed, will probably throw the balance on the other side, and give the Liberals in the next Parliament a ma- jority not exceeding ten.
The contests in the English Counties have been most disastrous to the Liberals. They have lost 2 seats in West Norfolk, 1 I scat in Middlesex, 1 1 ... in East Sorry, 1 1 ... in South Nottinghamsh. 1 I ... in East Sussex, 1 2 seats in East Worcesterstire, 1 ... in Glamorganshire, 1 ... in Huntingdonshire, 1 ... in Flintshi re, 1 ... in North Leicestershire,
... in the Isle of Wight, ... in North Wiltshire, ... in East Cornwall, ... in East Yorkshire, ... in West Suffolk,
In all, twenty-three seats, equal on a They endeavoured to substitute Liberal following coo nties- division to forty-six votes. for Tory Members in the East Surry, West Surry, South Lancashire, Oxfordshire, East Suffolk, Breconshire, East Kent, South Hampshire,
In every instance they were defeated, except in the last. Two thorough Liberals, not ntilk-and-water Whigs, are returned for East Cumberland; and GRAHAM the Apostate is kicked out. This is our solitary victory in the English counties ; and gained, be it observed, by men of strong opinions. In the other thirty- six contests, the Liberals were beaten. There is the naked truth, which nothing can varnish over. The causes of these manifold disasters lie on the surface. The first is the want of union and energy among the Liberals. In some counties—North Wiltshire, East Sussex, and East Suffolk, for instance—the Liberals would not pull together. Generally, there has been "supineness and apathy" in the ranks of the Re- formers; their opponents exhibiting the vigour and activity created by a struggle for a common object, of great value, and almost, perhaps quite, within their reach. The Tories had a stirring unitive for exertion: the mass of the Liberals could not be per- suaded that they had any thing substantial to gain by victory. Supposing that the contending parties were equally matched in other respects,—in numbers, electioneering experience, orga- !ligation, and money,—it is manifest that the eager and hopeful would prevail over the sluggish and indifferent. But, in the talish counties, the Tories have also the superiority in property, Mt in discipline. In the Established Clergy they have a band of canvassers, thousands in number, full of zeal, often outstripping di4eretion, but more frequently directed with skill to the end of getting votes. The County Mristracy are Tory ; the Clerks of the Peace are Tories; the tax-gatherer, overseer, constable, eery Petty person in authority in most counties, is the humble servant of the Tory aristocracy. The Reform Act allows full Play to every species of corrupt influence. The system of open or unprotected voting renders the tenant his landlord's slave; and the landlords generally are Tories. The legal manufacture of fegot.votes is easy under the Reform Act a sharp attorney, serviceable dependents, and a little money, will suffice to swamp 4 county.
" But who would have thought that the Tories could be so wicked
5 le employ the means in their power to intimidate, to bribe, and tuanulacture constituencies? To be sure, they have drubbed the Liberals soundly ; but, Lot d help us, who could have expected such cruelty ! No doubt, we did prophesy that the Liberals would have increased their majority; but we were under the impression that the Tories had become meek and scrupulous, and inert, and would let the friends of the Queen—the youthful Queen—have their own way." Absolutely, this is the apology of certain Whig guides, for misleading their confiding followers. Of course, the Tories—the ‘Vbigs—every party, and all men, will use whatever power and appliances they possess for the attainment of the objects they value. " The law allows it, and the court awards it." How purely infantile to complain that the adversary has availed himself of his advantages ! What a wretched consolation to the vanquished to be told that they have been beaten by the superior force of the foe!
The Tories, triumphant and merciless, only regret that they did not start more candidates, and gain more seats. They will not commit a similar error at the next election. Already they are preparing for the autumnal registration. There will be a new swarm of fagot-voters put on the register. The entire county representation of England and Wales is within reach of the Tories ; and will they not stretch forth their hands and clutch it
