Mr. Lowe made a speech at Caine after his election
on Wednesday, which was mainly an amplification of his last speech in the House, the main point being that as you must stop some- where in reducing the franchise, you had much better stop now, that halting-place being indicated by the prosperity of all around. Stop in Goshen, says Mr. Lowe, for even if there be a Promised Land, there is the desert to cross, with neither milk nor honey. We have analyzed this part of his speech in another place, but would just ask him one frank question. He says " large electoral districts put a premium upon money," merit being elbowed out unless backed by cash. That is true, though many of the repre- sentatives of London are by no means rich men ; but does not precisely the same danger exist in the little boroughs? Is it at this moment possible to fight any nominee borough in England except by bringing money to bear, and making the fight one not between principles, but between personalty and realty? Mr. Lowe may sit cheaply at Caine, but it is not cheap to the person really returned, namely, the Marquis of Lansdowne.
Previous page
