THE WESTMINSTER ELECTION.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR:1
Sin,—There is an illustrative fact in connection with the recent Election for Westminster that may not be unworthy of your attention. In the parish of St. Margaret's, at least, it was not so much dislike of Mr. Mill, as a desire for revenge against some of his Committee, that sent hundreds of Liberal voters to poll for Mr. Smith. The offence which these gentlemen had committed appears to have been the performance of a duty. They had raised the poor rate to 2s. 9d. in the pound, and required its payment in a lump sum, instead of iu the customary fractions of three instal- ments during the year. Indignation meetings were called, and the controversy was closed by the payment of two-thirds of the money due to the parish authorities, and the postponement of one- third. But bitterness rankled in the soul of the ratepayer, and
• • Wenn man diem Ansieht, urn aie den Olaiihigen zu verieiden, elnen &belated nenuen will (mom sinudata), so thud das Jeder auf Bela Gewissen. Die Hanptaache 1st tier Olaube, doss Jesus freiwillig, sus elgenem Entschluste, in den Tod ging und ebenso dam Leben wieder an Bich nahm und auferstand. Wer es nun filr diesen Glauben fUr sicherer halt, anzunehmen, Christi verwester Leib eel wieder ueu geschuffen, und er also mit einem Innen, verkiiirten Leib ens Licht gekonunen, der mig ruhig blelben
when the election came he had his revenge. " It wasn't principles," said my informant, a working-man, living almost in the shadow of the Abbey, "it wasn't principles, but we was determined to be revenged. A likely thing, indeed, for them to come and ask us for our favours, when they had been oppressing and grinding poor people like us ! I took fourteen with me to the hustings, and I know hundreds more who voted for Smith that voted last time for Mill and Grosvenor."
This would make a nice commentary on the poor-rate system in one of its aspects. I only wish, and that with all my heart, that a little seedling of a hint you dropped in your number for Novem- ber 28 may fructify into something like the mustard tree of the parable. May the illustrious Member for Greenwich and his philanthropic wife have their minds strongly turned to the awful condition of the East End of London. There is a remedy for that fearful pauperism and that anarchy of almsgivers which only a strong Minister can apply. It is equalization of rates and gratuit- ous means of emigration.—I am, Sir, &c.,
A PARISHIONER OF ST. JAMES'S, WESTMINSTER..
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