Lord Dalkeith is not taking his defeat in Midlothian well.
Like Mr. Douglas-Pennant in Carnarvonshire, he kicks against the pricks ; but, unlike him, insinuates charges against his adversary which he does not plainly set forth_ Mr. Douglas-Pennant was very plain indeed in his charges. The electors, he said, were liars who broke their promises. Lord Dalkeith, in the meeting in the Edinburgh Music-hall yesterday week, only said that "he had been confident to. the last, for he was loath to believe it possible that those who had promised to support him would desert and go- over to the other side. He would rather be defeated, and have clean hands, than succeed in the manner in which his opponent had succeeded." How was that What corrupt practices does Lord Dalkeith charge upon Mr. Gladstone ? Does he suppose that he, any more than Lord Dalkeith, encouraged the electors to say one thing and do another? For our own parts, we altogether disbelieve in this wholesale lying, though it is the- fatal flaw in the Ballot that it takes a lie, or something very like it, to keep its secret fully. Still, in nine cases out of ten, we suspect that the election agent or canvasser, anxious to encourage- his party and show his own energy, reports as promises mere- intimations of a favourable inclination, which have no such force or meaning. " Indeed, Sir, I doubt if I could do better than give you my vote," is the kind of evasive reply which. san- guine canvassers seize upon as a promise. In any case, it is neither manly nor quite prudent in Lord. Dalkeith to revenge himself by casting mud at Mr. Gladstone.
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