THE ENGLISH ELECTIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 179, 8 December 1868, Page 3

THE ENGLISH ELECTIONS.

As the time for the elections draws near, all parties aro bestirring themselves with renewed activity. The most noticeable fact is the number of Liberal candidates. Tn some horouglu there is risk of disunion and defeat; and Mr Thomas Hughei, the popular member for Lambeth, has set a nobl. example in. electing to contest Frome, and retiring; from the metropolitan borough rather than damage the chances of his party. Mr Bright has written a wise letter, in answer to a question from a Northampton elector, apropos of the candidature for that town of the atheist lecturer, Mr Charles Bradlnugh, in which he suggests tliat it would bo a misfortune for the nation to elect ' extreme men" simply because they are extreme, and that tried and faithful services should be fully recognised. The Nonconformist has carefully analysed the list of candidates for Great Britain up to the present time, with a vi>w to form some rough estimate of the probable result. In order tbat our contemporary's calculations as to the prospects of the Liberal party may not be too sanguine, eighty doubtful seats have been wholly assigned to the Conservatives. All of these eighty seats, continues the Nonconformist, are to bo contested, and our readers will judge for themselves as to the probability that the Conservatives will carry the whole of them. Assuming, however, for the purpose we have in view, that they should be so signally successful, and that the balance of parties in Ireland remains unaltered although a gain of at least half-a-dozen seats to the Liberals seems to be expected there, the following Jl[lil£U^aeßi_aHHEofl9|flHß|

land, 56; total, 396. Conservatives— Eng land, 189; Wales, 13; Scotland, 9; Ireland, 49; total, 260. This would give the Liberal party — or, as it might be fitly described, the national party — a minimum majority of 136 in the new Parliament.