AFTER THE POLL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 188, 4 May 1908, Page 9

AFTER THE POLL.

Sii 4 ,—Will you kindly allow me a small spaco iii your much-esteemed paper to express 'my. opinion on tho. late Mayoral election? To read .the account in Thursday ovening's "Post" re tho:abovo contest, one would gather that the whole proceeding front first- to last was a most exemplary affair, 'and. li.ad I not been an eye-witness I might have -taken tho report as gospel'.' . • After tho. declaration of the- poll- Mr. Aitken. addressed tho electors, and, although defeated, ho spoke in his usilal courteous and. /gentlemanly manner, accepting his defeat yith'dignity and grace, - thanking his com-mitteo-for their loyal support; and retired without one ungenerous word about ,his ■opponent. -■. . ' vv-Noto-,.tho contrast. Not so Mr. .Hislop. •who was. 'not'" satisfied with being.- returned -.• by a largo majority.' After taking up. a, great deaKof-.timo '\yltli "an arrogant, egotistical ■ spqech'. composed , chiefly of his own' deeds' , and his own clever manipulation of municipal " t - affairs' generally,. by' wav of -diversion lie held ' 1 - Mr. Aitken'up to ridicule, which was.warmly: . .responded to by his worthy followers, and' -niany. low and vulgar-remarks were-int-er-ijecle'd by- them respecting Mr. Aitken. !I3ut if every public "man- had as cleaii' a record as , ilr. Aitken;-truly our laud-would be pleasant to live. in'.'H• I- v • It -is anumwritt-en'law. in-the British, Army,' ;■ and Lord- Roberts -impressed it most emphati-;-cally'.upon alhsoldiers- under his'control,.-" Intho hjtmr.Jof victory - to j-be. generous," ' and ■> .throughout: : tho ' Boer,- -war,.-, whenever., tho -.JJritish'.' wo'ro'/.victorious, -tliero' was no exult- • ing|,'oym--!thp'onomy(-;no r deni6)istr,atioii-of arijr--c kind'.'allowed, 'anil;even patriotic , songs wcro not stint:;- in 'public, lest tho- feelings of those. who 'had: lost sjiquld bo heedlessly.'wounded.-; - , : Acts of magnanimity ...and >-consideration■ . may bo unknown qualities to Mr. Hislop audi hist followers, and f would rather bo enrolled . -ambng Mr. Aitkpn.'s friends; although ho was > .-jajt .the bottom.'of -the poll, than-identify: my-. self with tho tactics of'his opponent, though -lo had every voto ou the roll.—l am, etc., in' May ?. ENGLISHWOMAN.