The Waterford election took a very curious turn last Sunday.
The candidate of the Anti-Parnellite or Clerical party was up to that day Mr. Keane, who, after Mr. Davitt's refusal, had been accepted by the priests as the candidate with whom they hoped to defeat Mr. John Redmond. But on Sunday, in one of the popular struggles between the two parties, Mr. Michael Davitt was hit by one of the Parnellites, and within five minutes he had withdrawn his refusal, and allowed himself to be placed in Mr. Kea,ne's position, while Mr. Keane was bowed out,—a sudden humiliation which he accepted meekly, and even with professions of gratitude. We shall be very glad to see Mr. Davitt in Parliament, if he should be elected, as he seems to us one of the manliest and sincerest of the Home-rule Party ; but it does seem rather hard on Mr. Keane (who bad no responsibility for the blow which so greatly altered Mr. Da.vitt's condition of mind), that he should be treated as a mere warming-pan for Mr. Davitt, even after the latter had declined the offer of the priestly party. The etiquettes of Irish politics are very rude and primitive, even if they can be said to exist at all.
