MR. BERNAL OSBORNE ON HIS DEFEAT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 244, 23 February 1869, Page 3

MR. BERNAL OSBORNE ON HIS DEFEAT.

One of the wittiest, if not the most witty speakers in the late House of Commons was Mr Bernal (Jshorne. At getting up a scene, or throwing oil 0.1 the troubled waters of debate by lively sallies, he had no equal, and always commanded the ear of the House when orators of more weighty delivery, could scarcely find listeners. Mr Osbornc went on the liberal " ticket " for Nottingham, but two Conservatives, Sir R. J. Clifton and Lieutenant-Colonel Wright, were returned by large majorities. To. "make assurance doubly sure," the wives of the successful candidates entered into the contest with considerable zeal, canvassing votes, and in many instances, converting those of a j Liberal tendency into Conservatives. Mr OBborne accepted his defpat with the utmost : good humour, and took leave of the Nottinpj- j ham constituency in ..the following lively terms, as reported in The Times of- the 19 th November.: — :■-. •■■•■■ •■■• ■•-, Mr Osborne, who was loudly cheesed, said, — Sir Robert Clifton lias told you that he if? "stumped- up." : Think of my condition. (Laughter.) , You cricketers will understand me when I say that I am stumped out — (laughter) — stumped out without leaving my ground; the bails are off, nnd I have nothing to do but to retire into the bosom of ray family. Let us,, however, conclude, '. he contest in the same manner in which it has been carried on, — in peace, goodwill, and friend-linc-SF. (Cheers.) Matters are somewhat reversed since last Monday, for then I was in the first place. But 1 am accustomed to that. (Laughter.) You have all read that " the last shall be first, and the first last." (Laughter.) lam now performing the part of "cad" to the concern. (Renewed laughter.) But remember this, that it is the guard who sits behindhand looks after 'the property of the vehicle. I accept that position. We have heard something of the issues upon which this contest hns been fought. Well, from the time that. I saw the great coalition on both sides against me, I did not begin to funk—

(laughter) — but I began to have doubts as to the security of my position. I acknowledge the popularity of your present senior member, bir Robert. He is, in fact, the real working man's candidate, in Nottingham. (Cheers.) I also acknowledge the high standing and the local connections, together with the advantageous association of his name with the Robin Hoods, which Colonel Wright may claim; and I say that in him you have a good man. (Cheers.) I don't know that if he had other principles, you could have a better man. I don't like his principles, but he has something about him that. Ido like— l like his wife. (Roars of laughter, amid which the speaker shook hands with Mrs Wright.) From the moment when I saw two of the handsomest, two of the best, two of the most winning women in Great Britain, enter into this contest, in the shape of Lady Clifton (cheers) and Mrs Wright, I wrote to ray wife and said, "It is all U.P. with me." (Great laughter.) Gentlemen, we hear something of bribery at elections. I accuse you, Mrs Wright, of having won people by the witchery of your smiles. I accuse you, Lady Clifton, of having made your husband what he is by your winning ways and your charitable hand. (Applause.) Though beaten, I am not disgraced ; I have been defeated by two women, whom I could not find the equals of. (Uenewed applause.) Mr Osborne went on to say, — I. accept the decision you have given, though my position reminds me of that of the classical tyrant who invented a machine which he considered was for his own benefit as well as that of the people and he was the first to perish by it. 1 was not the inventor, but I was among the earliest supporters of household suffrage, and a nice thing I have got by it. (Great laughter.) Like many an inventor, the first thing that happens to me is I have been blown up by the very instrument I supported. Well, I don't complain. It is very easy to laugh when you win; the great art of the philosopher is to play the mountebank when you lose. (Laughter and cheers.) Of course, there is some vexation in being beaten* No man likes it. I don't like being being beaten ; but at the same time I have been so good-naturedly beaten— l have been patted on the back by my opponents, and smiled upon now by my most arch foe (bowing to Mrs Wright), so that I shall go away with a very cordial remembrance of both my supporters and my opponents. (Cheers.) Some mistakes, have been committed in this contest. -Necessarily that will happen. The whole thing here, as. Lord Derby said of his Reform Bill, was a leap in the dark; and. a precious leap I have made of it. Well j all I can say is, better luck next time. (Cheers.) 'How ; let me .say one thing in sobeiv sadness tp.you.- . I.make no accusations, as it is comrtiouly..therpa'ct of a beaten candidate to do. I iim sure that I could not have got in. (Cheers.) But— [Mr;Osborne went:on to .read the immense crowd a severe homily ; op. ; . the corruption he. witnessed, here, during the municipal con tests,- which; he said -debauched the con--sjbituencyj and ...until that was Btopped ,they \fould find that neither prudent men nor great- political characters would come near the town. -They knew, ( he. said, that at their! ;niunicipal electioas they, were, bought and sold* (Owes of "It is true,") nEe added that on thepotfing day he was, offered fifty votes, for 60s, but, .of course; he refused ; and in a ward which, should be nameless he waß offered,, jit half T pas,t three o'clock .200 votes of men who in the/morning had stood out for a! pound. (Laughter and applause.) He concluded by thanking them, and was loudly cheered."] ,-.- : /.. ■ ■.-.■"