The Dover Chronicle, Sat 22nd May, 1880
The election of a member to replace Mr. Hugessen is over, and the result is the return of Mr. Crompton Roberts by the large majority of 440 votes. The excitement which prevailed throughout the constituency during the polling day, was unprecedented in the electioneering annals of Deal.
For the Deal and Sandwich constituency the following candidates were nominated on Saturday : Sir Julian Goldsmid, Bart. (Liberal), proposed by Mr. Edmund Brown, J.P., Deal, and seconded by Captain Edward Monrilyan, Royal Navy, Deal; Charles Crompton Roberts (Conservative), proposed by Mr. Frank Baker, Mayor of Sandwich, and seconded by Dr. Frederick Hulke, Deal. The contest took place on Tuesday.
The result was declared to be as follows : Roberts, 1,145 Goldsmid, 705 Conservative majority 440
The votes were in the following proportion :
Sandwich: 259 (C), 197 (L)
Walmer: 186 (C), 89 (L)
Deal 700: (C), 419 (L)
Total: 1145 (C), 705 (L)
(From our own Correspondent).
As early as six a.m. both sides astir, evidently resolved not to lose one particle of advantage within their reach. At eight o’clock the booming of local cannon along Walmer beach announced that the polling had commenced, and simultaneously, almost, carriages upon which the red and blue colours were conspicuous were seen moving rapidly towards the polling station.
There was no delay in the voting; indeed, the first vote was recorded precisely at eight o’clock. the voter in the case having to catch the early morning train from Deal.
From the appearance of the luggers, not only on Deal but Walmer Beach, the political feeling of the boatmen was more evenly balanced in this than any previous election. Blue flags floated from their masts as of yore, but the Conservative colours mustered with a conspicuousness favourable to the results which followed in the evening.
Not only was the Conservative feeling apparent in the nautical element, but the public-houses, with comparatively few exceptions, gave expression to It. The bills, which called upon the constituents to vote for this or that candidate were in the case of Mr. Crompton-Roberts much more frequently presented to view than those of the Liberal candidate. “Mr. Crompton-Roberts’s Committee-rooms ” were words in nearly every public window, and in the windows of many private houses also a small neat card, hanging from the sash, invited the passer-by to ” Vote for Mr. Crompton-Roberts ” flew across the road in various thoroughfares.
In High Street, Deal, a large Conservative banner spanned the road from the New Inn to Mr. Pittock’s outfitting establishment, bearing the words.” Queen and Constitution ” ; whilst across the street higher up flags expressive of the Liberal cause were stretched from house to house. Banners and flags were also carried round the town from the shoulders of those who followed the bands of music which each side had provided for the day.
These flags, from the action of wind and warfare, showed decided signs of being the worse for wear as the day closed towards evening. One imposing banner that issued forth in the morning bearing in dignified words the motto ” Goldsmid and Progress,” perambulated the streets in the latter part of the day with its text transformed into “Gold and Prog,” and its dignity very much reduced to tatters.
Another waving flag, which asked everybody to “Vote for Goldsmid” in the morning, was noticed in the evening with the curtailed device, “Vote for Smid.” These were, however, only part of the good tempered characteristics which kept the day so free from rows and party broils.
The polling was carried on at the Lower Park Schools for Walmer, and at the Guildhall, St. George’s Central Schools, and St. Leonard’s Schools for Deal. The estimate takers at each of these stations by observing the voters as they went in and came out gave early encouragement to the hopes of the Conservatives. Those who would bet were ready to declare the state of the Walmer polling to be three to one in favour of the Tory element, and about the same figure at Deal.
The alarm taken with respect to the voting of the teetotal section was not without reason, for it is certain that a strong portion of the Temperance party remained unpolled up to a late hour of the afternoon. This was, we believe, owing to the inability of the candidates to satisfy people on the local option question.
At Sandwich the polling was carried on with much the degree of excitement as at Deal. The poll there closed at four, and at six, on receipt of the papers from the other stations, the counting began in the Guildhall.
Mr. Crompton-Roberts, accompanied by several of his supporters, arrived at that hour and amid much cheering from the crowd, through which he had to press his way, entered the hall. Sir Julian Goldsmid had already arrived.
As the counting, which took nearly two hours, went on speculation was rife as to the probable results, but no one expected the large majority which the declaration, at about five minutes to eight, made known. When the poll was declared the successful candidate made a brief address of thanks, and was subsequently, on his arrival at Deal, cheered most vociferously. Later in the evening he addressed a crowd outside his house, on the Prince of Wales Terrace.