The North Wales Express

THE ELECTION FOR THE FLINT- SHIRE BOROUGHS. NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES. The nomination of candidates for the represen- tation of the Flintshire boroughs took place on Monday, between twelve and two ^o'clock, at the Town Hall, Flint. The Mayor of Flint (Mr Richard Muspratt) is the returning officer but on account of that gentleman being in London and in a delicate state of health, the Council appointed Mr Alderman Alfred Dyson to officiate in his stead. Only two candidates were nominated—Mr John Roberts, Bryngwenallt, near Abergele, in the Liberal interest, and Phillip Pennant Pennant, Nantlys, near St Asaph, in the Conservative in- terest-so that there is no doubt now as to the contest being fought on purely political grounds and without any division in the Liberal ranks. Mr Roberts was nominated by Mr Adam Eyton, and iiis supporters were Messrs Edwd. Price Jones, Severn Lehman, Clemmence Deciinus William- son, Richard Gratton, Ishmael Jones, Samuel Jones, William Easterley, William Thomas Cole, and Joseph Simon Williams. Mr Pennant was nominated by Major Conwy Grenville Hercules Rowley Conwy, and his nomination was supported by Messrs John Corbett, Peter Alfred Mawdsley, Evan Jenkins, Joseph Williams, James Hughes, Thomas Hughes, Joseph Wilson, Joseph Lloyd, and Oliver Jones. There was considerable excitement in Flint during the afternoon. The streets were crowded with people, flags were displayed, and the colours of the candidates—yellow and blue—were observ- able everywhere. The candidates themselves were also present. Sir Roberts was accompanied by Mrs Roberts, and about two o'clock drove up to the Royal Oak Hotel, where he was received with the greatest enthusiasm. After Mr and Mrs Roberts had left the carriage, it was taken posses- sion of by a persdfi in the crowd, who in an amusing style addressed the assemblage in support of the candidature of Mr Roberts. Crowds of boys paraded the streets, some exhibiting the Liberal colours and others the Conservative, one side singing John Roberts is the man," and the other Pennant is the man." As the day of the election (Friday next) approaches, the excitement will no doubt become greater in all the districts. There will be eleven polling places—namely, two at Flint, two at Mold, and one each at Rhuddlan, Overton, Caerwys, Caergwrle, St. Asaph, Holywell, and Greenfield. The number of electors on the foil is 3707. FLINT. A meeting of the supporters of Mr J. Roberts the Liberal candidate, was held on Saturday even- ing at the Town Hall. The speakers were Lord Richard Grosvenor, the county member, Mr J. R. Huntley, J.P., &c. The speeches wese listened to by a number of persons mostly of the Calvinistic body. The chair was taken by Mr J. L. Mus- pratt, J. P. On the same evening, a meeting was held on the Cattle Green in support of Mr. P. P. Pennant, the Consevative candidate. The Rev Father Jones, in a lengthy speech, advocated the candidature of Mr Pennant. On Monday evening, a large and influential meeting of the supporters of Mr Pennant was held at the Town Hall, the chair being taken by Mr Thos. Bate, of Kelsterton. The principal speakers were the Rev J. E. Jones, vicar of Bagillt; the Rev P. Power, Flint; Mr Wm. Bentham, Flint: Rev D. Williams, Ysceifieg; Mr J. W. M. Evans, Flint: Rev W. A. Jones, Flint; Mr P. Suthard, Holywell; Mr P. A. Mawdsley, .J.P., Flint. The Rev P. Power in his remarks stated that he had received a letter from Mr Pennant, which he read, which stated that if returned, to Parliament he would advocate the unconditional release of the Irish political prisoners, which was received with cheers by the Irish portion of the audience. A vote of thanks was proposed by Mr Mawdsley and seconded by the Rev E. Jenkins. Mr Bate suit. ably replied, and the proceedings were brought to a close. On Tuesday evening, a large meeting of Mr Roberts'supporters was held in the To-wiil-lall, Flint, Mr Joseph Hall, jun., being voted to the chair. Tlio assembly was almost entirely composed of working men, for whom the meeting had been specially called. MJ Roberts was not present, being engaged at a similar gathering at Caerwys. Placards had been post-d announcing that Dr Commins, barrister, of Liverpool, would be present, and. as that gentleman could not arrive until after eight o'clock, the proceedings were commenced at half-past seven o'clock by the election of Mr Joseph Hall, jun., to the chair. Brief addresses were delivered by Mr R. Wil- liams (Rhyl), who remarked that the release of the Fenian prisoners would send a thrill of joy through the hearts of Irishmen, who would be grateful to the little constituency like Flint for having started the tide: Mr Humphreys, and Mr "Garibaldi" Roberts, who observed that one of the points put forward on behalf of Mr Pennant was that he had once pulled an oar in the university boat race and won it, and that on another occasion he had lost it (laughter).. After a song in honour ot Sir Roberts, Mr Beau- mont delivered an energetic speech, and was followed by Mr Lattrey. Dr Commins then arrived, and was most enthusi- astically received. After a eulogistic reference to their late member, Mr Eyton, he said they had an -opportunity, and it was a great opportunity, of giving expression to the "opinion of a large mixed population, composed of Welshmen, Irishmen, Englishmcu, and Scotchman, on the policy of a Government which stood accused by f £ e ^flon °f the People of acting contrary to the initials of the country, although it had Vw r y R Kmt J and supported by another party with ribakirv 110nseu,i-al songs, more nonsensical speeches, who came m to support tnem Whether they were right or wrou- (applause) l jle iarge proportion of> he might say, the most intelligent-he certain'v znigut say Jit. most honest, the most disinterested portion-ot the people ",list tle con- duct of r ne present Government, and the present -Government had put io, ward every engine they could possibly empiOi t> get sufficient support to prevent the condemnation they deserved, and deserved so nchl> (iLpptallSC). He hoped the lectors of Flint would piouounce that condemna- tion at ihe election on Friday Designating Mr Pennant, of whwni he desuxjp. to speak with every fesp 'ct as a man bound to follow his leader," lie said'the Welshmen of That constituency might Weil be proud of Mr I-Joberts as a commercial man; but, speaking politically, he was not the man to follow blindly the policy of any leader but would think for himself, and nipport that which com- mended itself to his jviogment as being for the interests and welfare t the country. These con- siderations affected ail present, but there were peculiar reasons which affected the Irish portion of the electors of Flint. The electors of Flint were composed of a v, J'uiit representation of the .three kingdoms, but he was glad to say that there was a very large element of the Irish among them —(applause)—and he believed these Irishmen were as independent, as honest, and as truthful, and would do what was right as well as their fellow- townsmen (applause). He himself was a Liberal; he was a Radical; but, as the Irish residents of Flint were., he was an Irishman before that (ap- plause). Though a Liberal and a Radical, and though he esteemed Mr Gladstone's leadership, he was an Irishman and an Irish Nationalist before that, and when it came to the election of a member he voted for the interests of Ireland. Both men before a constituency might be equally good in matters which affected the general interest, but Irishmen had got what some people might call a craze.-aii idea that they could manage their affairs better in Ireland than a Parliament in London could manage them for them—and a man who would help to vot", for an inquiry into this particular grievance of Irishmen—who would vote, say, for Mr Butt's motion to grant a parlia- mentary inquiry into the relations of the two countries, and to see whether they would not do better with a Parliament in Dublin than under the present arrangement—he (Dr Commins) took that to be the first point to judge a candidate by. Mr Roberts, just like the late Mr Eyton, would go that far; he would vote'for such an inquiry, and he (Dr Commins) would vote for him even if Mr Pennant were fifty times as good a man as he was (applause). Another grievance of Irishmen was that those poor fellows who had loved their country, not wisely, but too well," should still su-fer incarceration for their patriotism-(applause) —and there was no true Irishman of the present day who did not wish that those men should be released from prison, and he (Dr Commins) was authorized to say that Mr Roberts would follow worthily in the steps of Mr Eyton in that respect (applause). The way to heal those old wounds and to prevent a recurrence of the folly of which thev were guilty, and to prevent insurrection and disloyalty, was to treat men engaged in such transactions as theirs-not as they treated the the robber and the murderer. These men were but e rring brothers after all, and the man who would vote for their release was the man he would support, in Flint or anywhere else (applause). Dr Commins then referred to the injustice of laws between landlord and tenant in Ireland and to the frequent evictions which had taken place in con- sequence of the tenant daring to have an opinion of his own. This inj ustice, he admitted, had been partially relieved by Mr Gladstone's Land Act, but the landlords still held and exercised an enor- mous influence, crushed down their tenants, and it was this that the Irish tenant right party in the House of Commons were seeking to re- move. In one of the addresses delivered by Mr Roberts he himself referred to having taken part in the election of 18G8 and to the consequences- that resulted to the tenant farmers in Wales from having voted according to their convictions. They were exterminated in the same manner as others in Ireland. Mr Roberts would endeavour to promote such legislation us would prevent the recurrence of such tyranny, and secure for ten- ants, either in Ireland or Wale-, security from the arbitrary conduct of their landlords (great ap- plause). The speaker also referred to the neces- sity which existed in Wales, as in Ireland, for education, worship, nud the rights of burial, and said that if Mr Roberts would help the Irish party to obtain these benefits for Ireland, they in turn would help Mr Roberts and the other Welsh members to obtain them for Wales (loud ap- plause). Other speeches followed, and the proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman GREENFIELD. On Monday evening a meeting of the supporters of Mr John Roberts was held in the yard attached to Parry's Mine Works, Greenfield. Mr Adam Eyton presided, and amongst those present were Mr John Roberts, who was accompanied by Mrs Roberts; the Revs Evan Lloyd, Holywell; B. Jones, Bagillt; Wallace Thomas, Greenfield; D. Pugh, HolywcM D. Oliver, Greenfield; Captain John Jones, Holywell; Dr P. Jones, Mostyn Messrs H. Machno Williams, Mwyndeg Evans, W. Brown (director of the Welsh flannel munu- factory), Enoch Lewis, W. Davies (solicitor), J. Kerfoot Evans, Bryan Carmel Davies, Victoria Mills, &c. The meeting was held in the open air, and there was a large attendance. Mr Roberts had a most enthusiastic reception. Just after the meeting had commenced a strong reinforcement of supporters arrived from Bagillt, headed by a brass band, and wearing the Liberal colours. After the band had ceased playing cheers were given for Mr Roberts. The Chairman said he was proud to have the opportunity of introducing Mr John Roberts, who was an earnest representative of the Liberal interest (applause). He was sure if they were to hunt the whole country round they could not find a "better Liberal than Mr Roberts (applause), and they musf support him. If they threw out Mr Roberts orf the present occasion it would be a precedent for a future defeat (hear, hear). He was sure everyone of them must feel that this was a most trying and interesting time, and he therefore impressed upon them the desirability of not only voting for but supporting Mr Roberts in every way (applause). Mr ITrias Bromley was then called upon, and said that some of the people of Mold thought that he had been a little bit too harsh in what he said on Saturday night about the Tories. He was re- presented as having called them "plunderers, thieves, and robbers (applause). He did not call them that, but he quoted from Hume's History of England as to what was the meaning of the word Tory, and if they referred to that book they would find that the history qf the Tories, had not been very creditable, and the meaning of the word Tory was given as "plunderers, thieves, and robbers." He (Mr Bromley) had ah-o said that the working man who was a Tory was a fool. He repeated that statement, and said emphatically that the working man who was a Tory sacrificed the best interests of himself and his wife and his family, and was there- fore a fool (applause;. Mr John Roberts was next introduced, and was received with hearty cheers. He said he appeared at. the meeting in a rather different capacity to what he had appeared at other meetings. At the meetings at Holywell, FJint, Mold, Bagillt, and other places he asked for their suffrages as the chosen candidate of the Liberal party; now he had moved on another step, and had gone through the process of being nominated (applause). He was glad to say that Mr Adam Eyton did him the honour of proposing him (hear, hear). He was seconded by the chairman of the Liberal Com- mittee at Mold, and supported by influential burgesses from nearly every contributory borough (applause). He was glad to say that no other person was nominated in opposition to him, ex- cepting Mr Pennant, so that now they had a clear fight between a Liberal and a Tory (applause). Mr Pennant, in his address, laid claim to their support upon the ground that he was a magis- trate and a guardian. He (Mr Roberts) was n. chairman and a guardian (applause), and on those two points they were equal. He hoped that he (Mr Roberts) in other public capacities had done some good work for the Welsh people. He was not there to sound his own trumpet, but he might be permitted to state a few things which he had had the honoursf doing. lie would not go further back than 1868. Before the general (flec- tion of that period he had the honour of sitting on the same platform as thit great mm John Bright (applause), at a meeting of Welshmen in Liverpool, which meeting gave the keynote of political action in Wales at the forthcoming general election. They remembered the result of that election—how Car- narvonshire and other seats were won, and how they returned a great majority of Welsh Liberals in Parliament. As a consequence of that election, which took place under open voting, manv people suffered, mainly farmers who were turned out of their holdings, and poor people, who were turned out of their cottages, and a great amount of misery ensued. He had the privilege to take part in alleviating the sufferings of those people, and he presided at a meeting held at Aberystwyth to aid those who suffered for conscience sake (applause). At the nomination that day in Flint, when Mr Eyton handed in his nomination paper, he (Mr Roberts) could not help thinking of the contrast with the time when he nominated Mr Osborne Morgan, in 1868, in the presence of a large crowd, and beat Sir Watkin on his own ground (applause). He (Mr Roberts) afterwards took part in the conference on the education question, which he believed did great good in Wales. While upon the subject of education he wished to correct a misrepresentation which had been made in that and other districts. Some people had placarded the walls with bills stating that he was opposed to the reading of the Bible iu schools (cries of Shame"). In reply to that- he had to say that, as a member ot the Liverpool School Board, lie voted for Bible reading in schools, and if there were Roman Catholics present at the meeting, he ^iVlied to tell them that he proposed that the Roman Catholic children should have the Scriptures read to them in their own version (hear, hear). He thought the matters lie had mentioned would constitute as high a claim for their votes as that of being a magistrate and a guardian. After all, the great question for them was the question between Liberal principles and Tory principles. Were they for Mr Gladstone, or were they for Lord Beafconsfield (cries of Gladstone"). After addressing the meeting on the Eastern Question and the increase of the taxation, Sir Ro- berts said he was perfectly satisfied with his can- vass he thought that they were going to gain a great victory (loud applause). That victory, would, however, only be gained by. perseverance to the end. He thanked his friends for the work they had already done, and he hoped that they would remain with him to the end of the fight. The working men were really the electors. It was upon them that he relied, and he had no doubt that at the end of this week he should be placed in the honourable position of being member for the Flint boroughs (applause). He had the sup- port of Mr Thomas Jackson, principal proprietor of the Bettisfield Collieries, and of Mr E. G. Salisbury. On Wednesday evening he hoped to be supported by Mr Osborne Morgan. M.P., and others (applause). His opponents had printed papers stating, "Do not vote for John Roberts, who will deprive the working man of his glass of beer." That was a perfectly false statement (hear, hear). At Bagillt the other night, he said he be. lieved the Permissive Bill was an impracticable measure. He believed if such a bill passed it would create such a reaction that the measure would be utterly futile. He did not believe it was possible to pass a measure which would prohibit the use of beer and other drinks; at the same time, he was a lover of the temperance cause, and he thought they would agree with him that work- ing men were better for the moderate and not the immoderate use of drink (applause). The state- ment that he had pledged himself to vote for the Permissive Bill was entirely false. These were the dodges of despairing opponents, who, he believed were becoming angry, and in their anger they did not confine themselves to the truth (applause). That day, during the canvass, an old lady caught him up in her arms, and said if he did not go to the top of the poll, he should go in that way (laughter). The ladies were with him, and he be. lieved that even the dumb auimals were with him, because, in looking out of his sitting-room window he saw a dog in sad trouble, and lie observed that someone had tied a blue ribbon to his tail, and the poor animal was trying very hard to get it off, and at last succeeded (laughter). If the electors did as that poor dog was doing, he was sure he would have a large majority over liis opponent, Mr Pen- nant (applause). On the motion of the Rev. David Oliver,seconded by Mr W. Brown, the usual resolution pledging the meeting to support Mr Roberts was passed. MOLD. 0*1 Saturday evening, at seven o'clock, a meeting in support of the candidature of Sir Roberts was held in the Town Hall, Mold. The candidate himself did not attend, but the Right Hon. Lord Richard Grosvenor, M.P., was present. The chair was taken by Mr Edward Thompson, and amongst others oil and about the platform were Mr J' L. Muspratt, Mr E. Price Jones, the Rev D. Burford Hooke, the Rev T. Owen, the Rev B. Joseph (Ruabon), Dr Williams (Woodlands), Captain Julian, Messrs Roger Jones, John Bur- stall, Joseph Eaton, Edward Drury, J. D. Jones, Urias Bromley (Holywell), George Hughes (Hal- kin), &c. The hall was crowded. The Chairman apologised to the meeting for the absence of Mr Roberts, who, he said, had been actively engaged all day in canvassing Rhuddlan, St Asaph, and Caerwys, and he was glad to say with very great success (applause). Mr J. L. Muspratt said the canvassers on behalf of Mr Roberts reported that they wore doing remarkably well. In coming from St Asaph, in the train, he (Mr Muspratt) had been asked whether Mr Pennant was not going to retire. The Rev D. B. Hooke then moved a resolution to the effect that the best interests of tlifc country would be served by the return of the Liberal candidate, and that the meeting would use its utmost endeavours to secure that result. Alluding to the meeting held at Mold on Friday night,, in support of Mr Pennant, JVIr Hooke said that two things struck him as being remarkable. One was that no resolution was submitted to the meeting approving of the candidature of Mr Pennant, and he inferred from that omission that they were afraid to put such a resolution (applause). The second thing was, the candidate was asked whether lie would give to the Welsh and to the English the same right (not privilege) in relation to the parish churchyards which the people of Scotland and Ireland had. The Tory candidate said he did not, know that privileges were given to the Scotch and Irish. All he (Mr Hooke) could say was that such an answer appeared to be the proclamation of ignorance (applause). He was very glad that such a question was put at a meeting presided over by a Scotchman. With respect to the. present concst,. he (Mr Hooke) thought their opponents were using weapons that hardly ought to be used in such a contest.. It had been stated that the Liberal candidate was such a thorough Welshman that he employed almost entirely Welshmen at his works, that he was averse to Irishmen, that, in fact, No Irish need apply." Mr Roberts had in his employ, just now, 100 Irishmen (applause). Another thing that. was said was that Mr Roberts's candidature was verv much or a sectarian character, and that he was a Calvinistic Methodist. It was said that the delegates' meeting for the selection of a candidate was a packed meeting of Calvinistic sts Methodists. There were forty-two delegates sent to the meeting, and out of those forty-two, thirty were not Calvinistic Methodists, and only twelve were (applause). If, therefore, not a single one of those twelve had voted, Mr Roberts would have been selected by a clear majority of twenty-one (applause). In conclusion, Mr Hooke said he hoped they would elect Mr Roberts, for if they did not the Flint, boroughs would be virtually disfranchised, as Mr Pennant would -vote against their present county member, Lord Richard Gros- venor. Mr John Pritchard having seconded the motion. Lord Richard Grosvenor, who was received with loud cheering, supported it. There were a few ladies present at the meeting, and his lordship remarked that he was glad to see them present, inasmuch as, though it was the gentleman who went to the poll..sometimes the lady had a good deal to say about the side on which the vote was given, so they must not only enlist the. voters themselves, but also those who voted for the voters sometimes, and told them which way they ought to vote. He congratulated the meeting that there were no side issues in this contest there was only one straightforward question. Are you a Liberal or are you a Conservative?" His lordship then went oil to speak of the foreign policy of the Government, and the question of increased taxa- tion, his speech on those points being nearly the same as that he made on Friday night at Flint. Speaking on the question of intemperance, lie said that was a question which also interested the people of the Flint boroughs. No one wished more than himself that, as far as pos- sible, a check should be put to intemperance (hear, hear). He knew that Mr Roberts had the same feeling. He did not know whether Mr Ro- berts was in favour of the Permissive Bill, but he was quite sure that he had every desire to legislate in the best possible manner to put down the curse to the country of drunkenness. The Duke of Westminster, his brother had been presiding nv-r a committee of the House of Lords which had been sitting on that subject. (Three cheers were given for the Duke of Westminster). The committee 1-tad.;iit for two sessions, and his brothet had been very busily engaged in drawing up the report, and it would be a most valuable report, as showing tl-e way in which legislative efforts could be directeu towards checking, he could honestly call it, the greatest curse of the country (applause). In con- clusion, he urged them tc support the candidature of Mr Roberts (applause). The resolution was carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr E. Price Jones, seconded by Mr Urias Bromley, a vote of thanks was passed to Lord Richard Grosvenor. A vote of thanks was also passed to the chair- man, on the motion of Lord R. Grosvenor, seconded by Mr Bellis, and the meeting termi- nated with three hearty cheers for the Liberal can- didate. WORKING MEN'S MEETING AT MOLD. On Monday evening, a largely-attended meeting of working men in favour of the candidature of Mr John Roberts, was held in the Market Hall, Mold. Mr Joseph Eyton presided, and in opening the proceedings, reminded the meeting of the fact that the Flint boroughs had been represented by the Liberals for above half a century, and he did not see any reason why they should turn their backs now upon the principles which they had always advocated. They had assembled that evening to advocate the cause of Liberalism in the person of Mr John Roberts, who, he hoped and fully believed, would be placed at the head of the poll on Friday. Messrs Edward ",Villiams, D. Owens, T. Edwards, J. Pritchard, A. Adams, and other gentlemen addressed the meeting, and a presentation in favour of Mr Roberts' candidature was passed amid great enthusiasm. MEETING AT CAERGWRLE. A very largely attended meeting was held at Caergwrle on Wednesday, at which Mr Roberts was present. He was met by a large number of the inhabitants, and drawn in his carriage to the National School, where a large number of the leading Liberal residents of the district supported him. Mr Charles Hughes, Wrexham, presided. Mr Roberts, in the course of a lengthy and eloquent speech, thanked those present for as- sembling in such large numbers to receive him. He subsequently referred to the various questions of the day, the foremost of which was the great Eastern problem. He and Mr Pennant agreed as to the urgent necessity of a settlement of the question, but differed entirely, both with regard to the manner in which the question had been treated by the Government in the past and the proposed settlement of the question (hear, hear). He (Mr Roberts) took his stand upon the prin- ciples enunciated by Mr Gladstone (applause). He did not believe in Lord Beaconsfield's policy, which, he thought, the Tory party did not understand themselves. He had no faith in Lord Beaconsfield, and, therefore, no faith in in his policy (applause). After referring to the movement originated by Mr Gladstone in favour of the Italians years ago, he said he believed that if Mr Gladstone's policy had been similarly followed in relation to the Eastern Question, it would nave resulted in a free people and free status established in Turkey without any unfortunate bloodshed (applause). It was for them to decide on Friday whom they would support—Mr C4iads tone or Lord Beaconsfield, and lie felt sure their sym- pathies and support would be with the fotmer (cheers). Alluding to the expenditure of the Con- servative Government, he liad heard many asser- tions on the subjeet. Mr Pennant had tried to explain some of them away, and had said that Mr Gladstone did not leave Sir Stafford Northcote a surplus of five millions, and that Sir Stafford had not squandered the money but the fact was that when the Tories came into power the income of the country was five millions more than the expen- diture for the coming year, when Sir Stafford Northcote would have been in a position to reduce taxation (hear, hear). Had Mr Gladstone been in power the reduction would have been a wiser one and a greater one (cheers). Mr Gladstone did not tell them how he would effect it, but they knew sufficient of him as a financier to know that iV would have been done if he said so (hear, hoar). A surplus created, a careful expenditure, and taxes remitted, were due to foresight and retrenchment of the Liberal admii. rtration—aud which had brought them into some odium with a certain class, and contributed a good deal to their defeat in 1874. Mr Roberts having quoted a number of figures relating to the reduction of, and increase of taxa- tion by Liberal and Conservative Governments from .1859 to 1876, proceeded to state that a Conservative Government was by far too expensive a Govern- ment for the working men of this country (cheers). Referring rn-xt to the extra tax on tobacco he observed that every pipe the working man now smoked would give them an experience of the beneficent effects of a paternal Government (ap- plause and laughter). With regard to the Cattle Bill, the ill-effects of the passing of that measure would be to increase the price of butcher's meat, and to drive good beef to Is 6d per lb. The work- ing man got little enough now, with wages low and meat high, and if this measure were passed in its entirety they would have to give t.p altogether. With reference to that question, therefore, who would they support—"Gladstone," and cheers)— the Liberals who had given them cheap bread and everything with regard to their necessities and comforts, or the Tories who were trying to make everything dearer for them than ever it was known before ? (several voices: "Gladstone," and renewed cheering). Alluding to the motion for the reduction of the county franchise, the speaker said it was a shame that, a man living in a £10 house in the country should have no vote, whilst the man in the town, who perhaps only paid a rent of .£2 could exercise the franchise their, hear). It was monstrous that. people in places like Caergwrle, Flint, and Holywell should have votes, and not those iia a place like Rhyl, simply because it did not happen,to be a borough (cheers). Therefore, as a Liberal, he would support Mr Tre- velyan's motion, and they as Liberals he knew would support him in so doing. Referring lu Mr Osborne Morgan's Burinls Bill, which provided that in the parish churchyards—which were the national graveyards the deceased might be bur- ied with such lites and by such persons as their friends might choose to officiate at the graveside (hear, hear), he might say that he thought it was only fit that the last offices of the dead and com- forts to the living should be administered by those whom they had been accustomed to respect and love and serve throughout their life-time* (ap- plause. Therefore, they (the Liberals) should demand Mr Osborne Morgan's bill in its entirety, and without the inefficient modifications proposed by Mr Pennant the other evening (cheers). Mr Roberts subsequently dealt with the measure for the modification of the game laws, and other mat- ters, which all affected the working classes, and concluded by expressing his great gratification.at the satisfactory result of the canvass which had been made on his behalf (hear, hear). The figures were really astounding, and were almost too good to be true, only that he knew the people of Caer- gwrle to be very good," and that the figures were no better than the inhabitants themselves (cheers). He was also highly gratified to see so many gentlemen determined that their xparty should gain, not only a victory, but a triumphant victory upon the present occasion (applause). He now left his case, and the case of the Liberal party in their hands, and in their hands he felt sure their principles were safe. Other speeches followed, and the meeting, which was most enthusiastic throughout, terminated with three cheers for Mr J. Roberts. RHUDbLAN. A great Liberal meeting was held on Saturday afternoon last, at the Black Lion Inn, Rhuddlan. Mr John Jones, of the Phoenix Iron works,presided, and there was a good, attendance. Mr Roberts, having addressed the meeting, on the motion of the Rev. Lewis Ellis, seconded by Mr E. K. Mus- pratt, and supported by the Rev. Duncan M'Gre- gor (iihyl), a resolution was unanimously passed declaring Mr Roberts so be a fit and proper person to represent the boroughs in Parliament. On the motion of Mr P. Mostyn Williams (Rhyl), seconded by Mr Councillor V. Williams (Liverpool), a special vote of thanks was passed to Mr E. K.. Muspratt for his valuable services to the Liberal cause in Liverpool, and more especially for the graceful manner in which lie had withdrawn from 's the contest for the representation of the Flint boroughs, and for the active support he wa" now giving Mr Roberts. Another great meeting was held at Rhuddlan last evening, at which several of the leaders of the Liberal party spoke. ST. ASAPH. Later on on Saturday, a meeting was held at St. Asaph, at the Railway Inn, which was largely attended, in support of the candidature of Mr Roberts. That gentleman was present accompanied by Messrs E. K. Muspratt, J. L. Muspratt. and Sidney Muspratt, Dr. Easterby, the Rev. Duncan Macgregor (Rhyl), the Rev. J. Wilihyns (Rhyl), the Rev. B. Hughes, the Rev. Lewis Ellis (St. Asaph), Messes J. E. Roberts (Rhvl), P. Mostyn Williams (Rhyl), T. Gold-Edwards, D. Vaughan. &c. Mr Roberts had a most enthusiastic reception, and there was a crowded meeting. Mr E. K. Muspratt was voted to the chair, on the motion of Dr. Easterby, who had been announced to preside. The Chairman said when he came to the meet- ing he had no idea that he should be asked to take the chair. However, as he had been requested to do so, he was very willing to support Mr Roberts now that he was the chosen Liberal candidate (applause). He would state to them very shortly a few of the reasons why they should choose air Roberts as the respresentative of the Flintshire boroughs. Mr Roberts was well known to them as a Liberal and also as a Welshman (ap- plause). His opponent (Mr Pennant) was also a gentleman well known to many of them, but un- fortunately he was on the wrong side in politics (hear, hear). Mr Pennant asked the electors to vote for him because he was a supporter of the present Government, and he said that the present Government had done a great deal for toke people (laughter). So far as he (the chairman) could gather, what the present Government intended to do this session was simply to increase taxation—(a Voice: Worse that that ")-and also to increase the price of meat. They had been four years in power, and they had shown what they could do. lIe did not know whether they were satisfied with what the Government had done—(a Voice Far from it")—he was not. They would most likely find that the income-tax would be trebled, and they had already increased the duty on tobacco. What was, however, worse than the increased taxation was that the Government, by their conduct during the progress of the Eastern Question, had kept the country on tender hooks, and we did not know whether we were going to have peace or war. That had been hanging like a cloud over the country and had increased the great depression of trade, under which they were already suffering (applause). Perhaps the worst thing of all was that it would, to a great extent, prevent the thorough settlement of the Eastern Question. He thought that every one would hold that a thorough settlement of that question could not. be brought about until the. Turkish Government was got ri(I of (applause). No matter how long the Turks might resist, the Christian populations of the Turkish provinces must eventually obtain self-government, and when they got that they might depend upon it that those people would take a high position in civilisation. They had now been under the terrible yoke of the Turks for 400 or 500 years, and the consequence was that, they had been impoverished. He hoped they would have peace and prosperity, and that there would. be peace and prosperity throughout Europe (applause). Mr J. L. Muspratt moved a resolution approving of the action taken by the Liberal party in the Flilltbire boroughs with a view of effecting union in their ranks, and thus enabling the electors to express their true political opinion. Mr John Roberts (Rhyl), in seconding the resolu- tion, said he was an old St. Asaph boy, and had seen many a fight in the boroughs. He had been a Liberal ever since he was a boy (laughter:. He thought it would be a disgrace to change the colour of the boroughs from yePow to blue. He saw several Conservatives at the meeting, and he was happy to compliment them on their peaceful behaviour (laughter). He saw those around him who had votes at the present election, but he had not a vote for the boroughs. It was, however, a pleasure to him to support the party with which he had been associated all his life. Many people said what was there in a name. 'There was every- thing in the name of John Roberts (laughter and applause); the name would carry him through (applause). The resolution having been carried, Mr Roberts, who was received with cheers, addressed the meeting. He said he was very much gratified at seeing such a large meeting, a he had been told that whenever he came to St. Asaph he should only meet with Conservatives, as the few Liberals that were in the place would be afraid to show to which side they belonged. He stood before them as the selected candidate of the Liberal party, and Mr Muspratt was present, to show that it was no patched-up truce, but that warm cordiality existed amongst the whole party. That being the case, they were pretty confident of the issue of the contest (applause). Mr Pennant had said that he was perfectly satisfied with his canvass; he (Mr Roberts) was perfectly satisfied with his (applause). He did not, however, wish to raise their hopes too high, because he wanted every effort to be made so as to secure such a majority that they would not again have to go through the arduous work which they were now going through on behalf of Liberal principles. Mr Roberts then proceeded vo state his views on the foreign policy of the Government, and was contrasting Liberal retrenchment withConservative extravagance, when ,ii a person called out, What about the skeleton army r" and there was a slight disturbance. It was stated that the person who made the inter- ruption was a Chester Tory, and there were cries of Turn him out." Mr Roberts requested that he should be allowed to remain, but. he was seized hold of and put out of the room. Mr Roberts said he was sorry they %ad had to turn anyone out. He then proceeded with his address, and, speaking with reference to the County Franchise Bill, he said that Mr J. E. Roberts, of Rhyl, ought to lie a voter in the Flint boroughs. Did they think it was fair that they m St. Asaph, who lived in a i house of £ 2 rent, should have a vote for the boroughs of Flint, while a man who lived in a £ 10 house, at Rhyl, should have no vote for borough or county (cries-of "Shame")? He next stated his! views on the Burials Bill and the Government Cattle Bill. In conclusion, he said that he had gmntcc1 the use of the Town Hall at Mold for Mr Pennant's meeting on the previous night. lie I wished to give them every fair play, aud he asked for the same in return. It was stated that the Town Hall was full, but no resolution was put to the meeting on behalf of Mr Pennant. There was no interruption, but they all knew the spirit of the people of Mold too well to ask them to approve of the candidature of a 'Uory (applause). On the motion of the Rev. B. Hughes, seconded by the Rev. D. Macgregor, and supported. by Mr P. Mostyn Williams, a resolution approving of the G .i-didature of Mr Roberts was carried. A vote t. £ thanks was passed to the chairman, on the motion of Dr. Easterby, seconded by Mr T. Gold-Edwards, after which three cheers were given to Mr Roberts. On leaving St. Asaph in his car- I riage, Mr Roberts wasdravn some distance by men who attached ropes to the vehicle.

GREAT DEMONSTRATION IN HOLY- WELL. SPEECH OF MR OSBORNE MORGAN, M.P. On W dnesday a monster meeting was held in Holywell in the interest of Sir John Roberts, and it was generally acknowledged that this w; the greatest meeting held, not only during this, but any former election in the county. The mass con- gregated at first in the Briti-h School, but it became so crammed that. aft t the address of Mr Osborne Morgan, the gathering had to adjosrn to the held adjoining. The chair was taken by Mr Enoch Lewis, of Mostyn, who was supported by a. great number of the leading Liberals of the parish. Mr Morgan entered the room shortly before eight o'clock, and was received with tremendous cheer- ing. "Without a.iy remarks from the Chairman, Mr Osborne Morgan, M.P., who was received with great cheering, said he had come there in two capacities-ficst of all, as a well-wisher of his friend, and he hoped in forty-eight hours to be able to call him his honourable friend—(applause) —Mr John Roberts. It was ten years almost to a day since he first saw Mr Roberts", aud that was on a very memorable occasion—the grand meeting which some of them might remember in the Amphitheatre at Liverpool,when they first launched- that great electioneering movement which emptied so many Welsh Conservative saddles (applause). Mr Roberts' speech en that occasion was one of the best he ever heard, and considering that among the speakers were Mr John Bright, Mr Henry Richard, and others, that was no small praise (applause). He (Mr Morgan) then said to himself, That is not the young man to be hid under a bushel;" and he had over and over again regretted that Wales had not 111 the House of Commons so able a representative and champion, a man who understood the art, so hard to many of them, of putting sound common sense into terse and vigorous language (applause). Mr John Roberts was a fearless Nonconformist— (hear, hear)—he was a thorough Wel.-liriaii-(Iaear, hear)—and last, but not least, he was a Liberal to the backbone (ap- plause). In fact he (Mr Morgan) knew of but one thing which the ingenuity of his opponents had been able to discover to his disadvantage, and that was that he lived a mile and a half outside one of these boroughs (laughter). He (Mr Morgan) came there not only as a well-wisher of Mr Roberts, but as a well-wisher of the Flintshire boroughs (hear, hear). He was afraid that they were all apt to exaggerate the interest, they felt in this election, but it was literally true th,t at this monjent the eyes of all England, and certainly of all Wales, were turned towards the Flintshire boroughs— (hear, hear)-ahd he ventured to prophecy that on Saturday morning nine men out of ten in England and 99 out of 100 in Wales would first of aP turn to the column of the newspapers that .woul i an- nounce in flaring colours the result or the Flint- shire election—majority for John Roberts, 1000 (great applause, and a Voice. "Seven hundred and fifty at least"). He might tdl them t ttat if h -had been ntcd once he had been asked twenty times in the House of Commons, "What are the Flintshire boroughs going to do r" and his answer had been, They are going to do what they have done for the last fifty years; they will do their duty, and- return a Liberal" (laughter and applause). He was not a little astonished, a week ago, knowing cl the interest that was felt in this election, to find from an account of a meeting that the question to be faught was not the foreign and domestic policy of the Government, not the question o# peace or war, but whether their candidate was to be or not their poor-law guardian (laughter). But he was bound to say Mr Pennant, did not reet his case r entirely upon that, and that he asked the electors- to send him to Parliament because he was in favour of her Majesty's Government, who by their firm- ness and decision averted war. Her Majesty's Government averted war! Why, for days and weeks and months the country was on the verge of war, and'it was all the Liberal party could do to prevent the Government rolling over (hear, hear). Had it not, indeed, been for the efforts of that prevent the Government rolling over (hear, hear). Had it not, indeed, been for the efforts of that great but much maligned man, Mr Gladstone— (loud applause)—we should have been at war. Where had been Mr Pennant all this time that he should have enunciated such a sentiment ? He (Mr Morgan) could not solve the riddle, until he found that Mr Pennant had been a thousand miles from home, somewhere where no intelligence penetrated excepting the columns of the Daily l'elegrapk (laughter). But it was* said, "See what the Government have done in this Congress." He would tell them what. they had done. They had managed to get the poor, dying, decrepid power called the Ottoman empire a line of fortresses, or, as the Pall Mall Gazvtte put it. to garrison a country as a poor bird garrisoned a trap (laughter). Did they suppose that this poor, dying decrepid power, pressed as she would bo by Bulgaria on the north and by Greece on the south, would be able to hold for five years ? No, not for five months (ap- plause). He (Mr Morgan) did not care for this, and Mr Roberts did not care but how about the Jingoes? (laughter and applause). How a^out the integrity and independence »f the Turkish empire?" How about the Guildhall speerVsP Why, if he were Lord Beaconsfield he would i o-ver venture to show his face amoug the itigoes :<ain (laughter and "hear, hear") He wou] i go straight off and hide his head in the Caucasian mystery (renewed laughter). Ail this, hov ever, was a matter for the future. lie saw that the Daily News said that the only thing that was quite certain about the Congress was that- it v< ould end in satisfying nobody; but the would, tell them another thing, and that was that by the time they had done bringing over the Indian troops and calling out the army reserves, we should have spent, if not 20 millions, very nearly that amount (hear, hear). That sum would have educated all the children of England and Wales put together. How many starving families would it have saved irom death; how many hospitals would it have endowed and how many churches and chapels would it have built? Let him, however, give them another instance. They had all heard of .the University of Wales. He and Mr Roberts had take v. a great interest in this institution; he did not know whether Mr Pennant had done the same tliiii, perhaps,, however, he would do so before next Friday (laughter). Wales had subscribed a very large sum to endow that university, and they thought naturally they had a right to a Government, grant, as colleges in England, Scotland, and Ireland had. They did not ask for much they only asked for about one two-hundredth part of a single ironclad. The Duke of Richmond recived them very courteously and kindly, and said that the Government' would be glad to see their way to accede to the request, and some of his (Mr Morgan's) friends were some. what elated by this, and asked him what be thought about it. He replied that he would tell them six month. hence and now within a week the Government were obliged to say that tlicy had spent so much in preparation for war that they were not able to give to Wales even £ 2000 a year for the endowment of the university. He hoped when they weut to the poll would bear hat in mind (hear, hear). Upon the question ol cxpen- diture Mr Morgan quoted from ■ he titaudnrti 10 show that the expenditure under the present (^overn- meut. was a million and a half ia excess of the pre- vious year s, and remarked that some five or six months ago he made a speech at Wrexham, in which he stated that if they would carry their mind back for 50 years they would find that in every case, without exception, the years when the Liberals were in power there were prosperity of trade, high wages, and general happiness (ap- plause). The years of Conservative administra- tion had been years of low Wages, stagnant trade, alld general depression. That was what he said t {Continued on Page 8.)