POSTSCRIPT.
SATURDAY.
In anticipation of the Parliamentary vacancy created by Mr. Ward's ap- pointment to the Ionian Islands, the Liberal electors of Sheffield have taken active steps to secure the return of Mr. Roebuck. The local Reform Association entered into correspondence with Mr. Roebuck, to know if he would stand; and he has very cordially accepted the invitation. On Thurs- day, a meeting of electors was held in the Sessions-room of the Town-hall: it was crowded by Liberals of all shades; one opponent appeared in the per- son of a Dissenting minister; but his opposition only called forth a more hearty unanimity.
Among the correspondence read was a letter from Mr. Roebuck, briefly indicating his political principles. He declared his conviction that the pre- sent is a very critical time, its dangers only to be averted by "a really free trade, an honest reform in our expenditure, and our financial system being put upon a rational footing." Objecting to the erroneous term "uni- versal suffrage," he argued for a continued extension of the suffrage: by registration, by requiring a known and established domicile, and by exclu • ding criminals and vagabonds, you would go far in establishing the restric- tions required for safety. He emphatically disclaimed the " wild principle of the Communist theory.", " The whole question of ecclesiastical endow- ments is one of the coming questions in politics which statesmen must meet."
The meeting unanimously appointed a Committee to promote Mr. Roe- buck's election.
They could not make a better choice, and they seem to know it. At a time when the usual party distinctions are so far lost, the only safe clue to the treatment of public affairs consists in the intimate merits of each ques- tion; and no man in Parliament has ever shown more consistent per- severance in the endeavour to treat every question on its own merits.
It is understood that Mr. Ward's appointment will not be completed im- mediately, so that the election will be deferred for a time; but come when it may, Mr. Roebuck's success appears to be beyond a doubt.
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