OUR LONDON FLANEUR.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 202, 28 August 1886, Page 5

OUR LONDON FLANEUR.

GOSSIP ABOUT THE ELECTIONS.

(l.'ltOM ODlt _Et__ CORRESPONDENT.)

London, JiilJ. From the safe seclusion of Hawarden the Urand Old Man surveys (let us hope not without a touch of remorse) tho ruin 3of tho onco "great Liberal party." Well, lie danced his Irish jig, and it ends-appro-priately enough —in a smashing " breakdown." A few infatuated Gladiltonians still look to, or pretend to look to, tho counties to partially remedy matters, but the real loadora of tho party are in despair. They recognise quite correctly that

Not a 1 Hodge's ploughboye, nor all Hodge's Can sot Mr Gladetono in power again.

Up to Monday night, or rathor Tuesday uiorning, tho noiay demagoguea of tho National Liberal Club affected to have confidence in Demos. The "voice of the people" would prevail in "tho cause of freedom," and so on. News of Mr Goschen's dofeat in Edinburgh naturally o_oitod extraordinary enthusiasm at midnight, but it waa quickly damped by tho long Btring of Gladstoniau overthrows chronicled an hour later.

The Hon. Howard Spenaley'a experience of tho Imporial Parliament has boon ahort, sweet, and, I hear, eomowhat expensive. He was dofeatod for Central Finsbury by 5 votes only on Tuosdny, aftor a most costly contest. In Novembor last ho hud nearly 000 votes to tho good, and against a much more powerful candidate than the ono now returned. Mr Spentley declares that both for good and 111 D ia his fatoful number. In IS7I, when ho first ontered public life in Victoria, ho was, atrango to say, returned to tho Legislative Assombly by a majority of just that number of votes.

To thoso aware of tho malevolont feminine influences at work in Cholsea evor eincethe last olection Sir Charles Dilko's dofeat occaaioned but little surpriae. Tho astonishment of the gonerat public was, howover, unbounded. In Floot-etreot tho publication of tho return in tho " Daily '-olograph " ollico wiudow nearly lod to a free tight of tho gocd old 6ort. Rognrdles3 of tho hour of night, the Conservatives commonced to bawl MacDormott'a ribald ditty —

',' Charlie Dilke spilt .the milk Tuklng it homo to -llelsen," otc ; ote,

Thoexasporated Liboralsaltogother failed to see tho appropriateness of tho melody, and but for tho police moving overybody on, somo broken heads might—as doctors say—havo supervoned. Mr Wliitmore, the now " monibor for Cholaea," is a bridles., buc inoffensive and pleasant- maonorod young barrister. A rolativo of hia, Col. Whitmore, you all know as a distinguished publio man in New Zealand.

Tho wind of policy which proved fatal to Mr Spcnaloy and so many othors haa wnftod Sir Samuel Wilson into tin haven of success. Tho wealthy Victorian can at last attach tho long coveted letters M.P. to his name, and ,'is ropiesontativo of no less a borough than Portsmouth, too Like most self-made men, Sir Samuel is a thoroughgoing Tory, and stood aglvu-t at the notion of letting Irishmen inanago their own affniis. I hear ho made two or threo -ather forcible spooches during tho eloction campaign.

Tho greatest " turn up" of all was (a 8 I havo already hinted) Mr Goechon'a defeat for East Edinburgh. He had all the power of the "Scotsman" at his back, and considered himself invincilbe, novortholoss the majority against him numbered 1,459. Moreover, tho victorious candidate was onco an oditor of tho " Scotsman." Contoquontly tho old " Scoteman " has proved too much for the present " Scotsman "

Mr Octaviuß Morgan (of the " European Mail ") is onco again triumphant at Battersea, and Mr Alex McAithur retains hia soat for Leicester, though by v reduced majority. Mr Edmund Routledgo (of tho groat pub lißhing linn) failed in his attack on Sir Boper Lothbridge-seat at Kensington, and your old friend Sir John Gorst eff.ctuully sottlod tho pretensions of Sir Andrew Clurko.

Captain Colomb, tho groat enthueiast on tho subject of Imperial Federation, achieved an unoxpected victory at Bow (Towor Hamlets North), whore tho return of Mr Robson, tho Liberal candidate, waa con sidorod cortuin. Mr Honniker Beaton and Captain Colomb may bo trusted to work cordially togothor in all matters affecting tho foderation of the colonies and of the mother country. Thoy think very much alike.

The Hon. Harold Finch flatten (author of "Advance Australia," and a delogato of tho Queensland Separation Loaguo) fared no bettor at Nottingham this month than he did in Novombor last. Ho chose to contest a Liberal section of the City, which waa a mi»take. Othor "literary" candidates in tho Bhopo of Mr Bennet Burleigh (the famous *' Telegraph " correspondent), who fought n dirision of Glasgow, and Mr Charles Williams (of the "Chronicle") have boen well boaton as Unionists. Mr Justin McCarthy loso° Londonderry by throe votes, but hopes to unseat hia opponent on petition. Mr Justin Hunt'.ey McCarthy, on the othor hand, can boast an in creased majority at Newry, Novortheloss the Parncllities aro not carrying as many Irish Boats aa pooplo anticipated. Amongst othor candidates connected with journalism, and already numbered with tho slain, may bo mentioned the editors of tho Manchester "Guardian" and the Manchester "Courier," and the proprietor of tho "Illustrated London News."

Election storioa aro fur fewer than in Novomber last Tho truth is, thero has been no time for thoir manufacture. Mr E. R. Russell (M. P for Glasgow) describes on amusing incidont which occurred nt a Unionist meeting in Leeds district. A spoaker was engaged in showing that tho Liberal party were hopelessly at variance. " Look, gentlemen," he cried,"at tho men who have left the party. Lord Hartington is gon_, Mr Chamberlain haa gono, Mr Trovelyon baa gone -" "Aye I lad," came a voico from tho oudience, "they're gono, but t'owa' uns gaffer yot." Tho burst of laughter which followed this interruption took all the oratory out of tho lucklese speaker. Sinco writing tho foregoing tho prospects of tho Liborala havo hardly improved at all. The solo question of interest now ia whether the Conservatives will have a sufficient mojority to defeat tho Gladstonitos, Liberals, and Parnollites in combination. The influence of Mr Jesse Collings thrown into the ecale against Josoph Arch has aufficed to aecuro the defoat of that sterling working-man's candidate by 20 votea. Tim Hoiley, too, Parnell's fiery lieutenant, finds himself temporarily "chucked," and tho Unionists lose Mr Brand, Sir George Trovelyon, ond Mr Albert Grey, all three most influential men.

No one haa precieely shed tears ovor the dofeat of tho aharp-tongued Professor Thorold Rogera, for Bermondsey, but all London Liberals would have been sorry had the clever juvenile, Harry Lawscn, lost St. Pancras. Fortunately, he just got in by the skin of hie teeth.

Wales, liko Scotland, remains faithful to the G.O.M. This being co, it was foared that tbe Unionist leanings of the member for Carnarvonshire (Mr Rathbone) might lead to difficulties. Fortunately, however, his personal popularity is as great in Wales as in Liverpool, and sufficed yet again to return ono of tho hardest working ot M.P.'s by a spanking mojority.