THE GHOST OF POPULAR FEELING.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1888, 21 January 1875, Page 3

THE GHOST OF POPULAR FEELING.

Nusqusun tua fldes—Our confidence is nowhere safe. I do not -wish to probe an old sore; neither am I so ill-natured as to take.a delight in stirring up a stagnant pool to the annoyance of my neighbors. Therefore any little remarks which I may make must be taken in a spirit of friendliness. Haying, in some way, had a good deal to say in connection with the Hospital enquiry business—-in, so to speak, the palmy days of the enquiry —I may be excused for intruding myself now that the general meeting of subscribers has been held. The result of that meeting has had a contrary effect upon different memb6rs of this enlightened community. The salt of the occasion was to be found in whatever manifestations might be made regarding the members of the sub-committee. Certain oracles previous to the meeting said the sub-com-mittee would be rejected to a man. that "popular feeling" would assert itself spiritedly, and that Mr Eowe would be oastasideforMrLush. 'Twas too luscious to be realised, apparently. Ihe Thaines Advertiser; and the fewdisaffected and strife-breeding comniittee men who rejoice in it» protection (!) once sought in Tain fpr terms to convey a bad enough impression of the morally degraded subcommittee.:; orgahof language was too imperfect for this, but they said about as 'regarding these gentlemen; as they knew^ hoyr; ■W. hctfeforei ■ then, may I ask, is it that the sub-committee have "been ie-eiecte j unanimously, and Mr Wnt:soy(re> again placed in the s*eat which it wa>Vprophesied he would be compelled to'vacate so soon as "popular feeling" could make itself heard. " Popular feelinf? 1" Oh, thou fool!' Man is shorts'ghted at the ~^ think that he could so miscalculate the public pulse is gtrahge. Popular feeling was represented by zLQ votes; The well-badgered advocate of the Hospital limb-a,mputator obtained 16 votes (mayhap 'tiieyr given out of charity) as a- recompense for all they had done in the cause of justice ! "I represent public opininon and that of the-; subscribers,": said he, at the time &£Nkk enquiry wjlleradge. Mr Tyjer the evidence which he last night received of the truth of his assertion, r would wish to remark to Mr Tyler that a man may be an excellent lawyer, and yet not be capable of representing "public opinion." *He must forget himself in the interests of that public; he must pot be splenetic and susceptible a variety influences. As? regards the organ who represented popular feeling, I do not feel disposed to say much. My own opinion is—but I would. not wishto bias otners—-that it would be better for innbculation or a cleansing of iome kind. It4s quite sufficient to draw attention to the fact that the spirited proprietor thereof managed to get ,8 more tokens of the "popular feeling "than Mr Tyler. No one will begrudge him 19 votes. If the meeting had not voted at all, I might have considered the mind of it somewhat distempered; but it Toted just enough. vto indicate, •,?' that's my opinion of you." It is not gratifying for the spirited proprietor, but the interior workings of his office at the time of the Hospital enquiry were known to be in such an ulcerous and unwholesome condition that the people avoid them naturally. I wish the 'Tiser and all its adherents in this cause the most complete joy in the manifestation made on their behalf by *'• Populur Feeling." Unfortunately it was nbvvquite powerful enough to make itself felt. "Whatever kind of feeling may have placed upon their feet that party of whom I am a humble dttachS, I care not. It is sufficient tp know that if the "popularity " spoken of is not a ghost, it has little more stamina K it, and has had no power to dp anything BFr its servile worshippers. ' _ ■ ; ' ........,:,..:-, Puck.