ECHOES OF THE GREAT REVOLT.

Evening Star, Issue 12764, 17 March 1906, Page 11

ECHOES OF THE GREAT REVOLT.

The following incidents and opinions partially indicate the feelings current in the Old Country during and after the revolt against the Balfour Government. The latest details more than orafira the stupendous and surprising nature-of the defeat inflicted by the country on the disunited Unionist party. " I want to emphasise the religious aspect of the elections," said the famous Nonconformist divine, Dr Clifford, at the close of an arduous tour. " Since my boyhood I have been concerned &•• niany elections, and I never 6aw the sporting element so feeble, and the religious element so strong. At some of our greatest meetings—in Doncaster and other large .towns —.the crowd might have been gathered for a conference of the Free Church Council. A sense of responsibility pervaded ©very mind. To me such meetings were infinitely cheering, and they filled me with unbounded hope for the future of our country." Looking to the new session, Dr Clifford trusts that the Liberal party will use their great majority with courage as well as wisdom. " They must act," he said, "as Mr Gladstone did after 1868, when he carried measures worthy of the confidence which the nation had reposed in him. Personally, I never expected such a victory as this. I talked with Mr Stead over his figures, based on the bye-elections, but I did not think we could take the bye-elections as a safe test. Mr Stead's figures have, howevex, been far exceeded. My chief cause of rejoicing is that this country has returned men to Parliament who will take politics seriously, rather than those who regard the House of Commons as a club and a-placeof amusement." —The Liberal Who Defeated Mr Henry Chaplin, -rMr Arnold Lupton, who won in the Sleaford division of Lincolnshire ope of the most remarkable victories of the General Election, wub for twenty-one years Instructor and Professor in Coal Mining at the Yorkshire College, Leeds. He is consulting engineer and director of collieries, and practises as a consulting engineer and surveyor. He has written several books on mining and mine surveying. Mr Lupton is a prominent antivaccinator. His aunt was the late Mies Charlotte Lupton, who arrsunged the translation of Ewald's Commentary on tie Scriptures. Mr Luokm married the daughter of the late Mr J. W. Ramsden', of Leeds. Mrs Lupton accompanied him over, the whole of the constituency in two summer bicycling tours. The new member considers that the election in this division of Lincolnshire was won hy two gears' continuous work of an educational kind. He spoke at about 250 meetings before the election, and sixty during the election. He and Mrs Lupton called at nearly every houes in the division. Active assistance was given by the Nonconformist ministers, who came at their own expense to help the Liberal candidate. The victory was won by local people, because, except during the election itself, the outside assistance came chiefly from Lincoln City. j —Mr Asquith and Hie Daughter.— j

Mr Asquith, when touring round his constituency, was accompanied by his daughter, Miss Violet Asquith, who was present at all the many meetings held by her father in the week before polling day. Miss Aaquith was presented with a bouquet of flowers at an open-air gathering in one of the mining towns. • The declaration of the poll was made in Cupar Fife _to a very large crowd. Mr Asquith appeared at an open window in the County Buildings, and thanked the electors for returning him as their member for the sixth time. Standing by his side was Miss Asquith, who smiled "radiantly on the cheering crowd. As the motor-car came forward which was to convey her and her father to St. Andrews a rush was made to catch a last glimpse. Mr Asquith made his way to the car amid great cheering. Dozens oi hands were stretched out to him, and as he stepped into the car ho gave many cordial hand-shakes. Miss Asquith looked very charming in a green 'coat, long and tight-fitting, with a pale blue motor cap pinned to a wealth of pretty, fair hair. An old woman who has watched with admiration the career of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, was heard to exclaim : "Is 'that his lassie! * Is she that length a/ready!" —A Story of Sir Edward Grey.—

A Northumbrian correspondent says that during the recent contest in the Ber-wick-on-Tweed division Sir Edward Grey came to the assistance of his opponent, Mx Inskip, who had a breakdown with his motor. Sir Edward provided, the Tory candidate with a new spring, and waited until the machine was working smoothly and his rival was ready to resume the battle. —A Bead Candidate Returned.—

A tragic was mado at Tuam, when Mr Thomas Higgina, the Nationalist candidate for North Galway, who stood against Colonel Nolan, was found dead in his bed. The polling took place the day before, and Mr Higgins had a busy time visiting the different districts in the constituency. The cause :of death is supposed to be heart disease. After some delay for legal inquiry, it was decided to count the votes, with the consequence that Mr Higgins, the dead candidate, was formally declared returned by a majority of 1,521 over Colonel Nolan, The authorities are agreed that there must be another election—the seat did not pass to the defeated candidate. THE ALTRINCHAM ELECTION.

"At midnight there was a great ory made," writes the Rev, T. C. Porteus in the ' British Weekly.* The Bible words flashed into one's mind when, shortly after the clock struck twelve, the red light in front of the Liberal Club was kindled in accordance with a prearranged signal, and sent its fierce, weird flash across tie faces of the seething crowd, while there went up from thousands of throats a roar of "Crossley!" The appearance of the new member ait the window evoked a tremendous demonstration. "We have won a groat victory for Freetrade," he said, in a voice tremulous with emotion. "Altrincham has backed up Cheshire." Indeed, this. " crowning mercy" completes the Liberal''lira of coinmunication from Manchester to Chester. Cheshire is solid. Its nine Tory seats have dwindled one by one, like the "ten little nigger boys." Now there are none. This victory has come after fourteen years of Tory representaAion. Mr Disraeli's poster "Disraeli, 14, not out," looks strange on the walla to-da.y. There were the usual death-bed repentances, and then attempts at artificial respiration on the part of the deceased cause and its supporters, - The■-. antirvaccinators claimed Mr Disra<eli,'<and he had the suotiort of: the Licensed Victuallers' and Trade Defence Associations,- who said in their, manifesto : "Mr Disraeli has consistently supported your interests • uT the House of Commons. Mr; Crossley is the treasurer of the United Kingdom Alliance, and would Be one of your most dangerous foee in the

House of Comajona/' Mr Disraeli injured hia cause by hja use of the Royal Grown. This called forth a letter from the King's the Copaervatjve candidate met. by a sharp attack on Lord Knoilys. Has defend thafc has great ancestor had bestowed the Imperial dignity on the Grown, furnished a huge joke for election meetings. "Tell ub about your great ancestor," " No cross* no crown," " GHve _Croasley your cross pit the ballot, and let pisraeli keep the crown," were popular cries. Even the Freetrade paper? considered the issue doubtful on account of the rally made, by the Tories. On election daty, when .the excitement was hat and high, I heard a lady say to her little boy: " Wretches they are, those * reds' !** "Why,' mother?" "Because they are," was the logical reply. The "wretches" have stormed a Tory stronghold with sensational result. In Mr Grossley they have a hard-headed and sncoasßful business man, a temperance reformer, a phitanthropist of munificent generosity, and a champion of commercial and educational freedom, who will be a credit to the constituency and to the country.