Mr. Raikes, the Tory Chairman of Committees, is proposed by
the Conservatives of Cambridge University for the seat rendered vacant by the retirement of Mr. Walpole. This selec- tion is not fortunate. Mr. Walpole is not only a very accom- plished man, but one as Liberal in his attitude of mind as a Con- servative could be, and it is well known that he often did much to modify for the better the partisan spirit of his party. Mr. Raikes has no such claim on the respect of men who would class themselves in neither party. He is almost as keen a party man as ever sat in the House of Commons, and, moreover, not so scrupulous as a man of culture should be in his choice of language. Only this autumn, during a private campaign of his own in the provinces, he gave great offence, even to gentlemen of his own party, by speaking of a Liberal opponent of great weight and standing in the House of Commons as "an old woman,"—a phrase, as it happened, singularly and ludicrously inapplicable to the politician so described. This kind of violent partisan is not the man whom the University of Cambridge ought to choose, and we arc heartily glad to see that the Liberals have started Professor Stuart, an excellent speaker, a strong and independent Liberal, and a man well known in the provinces, through the admirable work he has done in organising the University Ex- tension Scheme. His share in the founding of the School of Practical Engineering at Cambridge has also made his name eminent in the University ; and we have some hopes of his success. It is so long since there was a contest for Cambridge University that no one well knows how that con- stituency will vote.
Previous page
