By Isle of Wight Observer
Cheering “for Clifford” seems to have caused quite a rumpus, which led to the report below in the Isle of Wight Observer published on 11th April, 1857.
The Liberal Party’s Charles Cavendish Clifford had just been declared MP for Isle of Wight, having won 730 votes against Conservative Thomas Willis Fleming’s 610. Charles Clifford served as MP until 1865. He then lost the seat but stood in a by-election in November 1870 to become MP for the borough of Newport and held it until 1885 – when the seat was abolished.
He lived at Westfield House (now Westfield Park House) near Ryde.
THREE CHEERS FOR CLIFFORD.
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It is a well-known fact that sometimes little words have great charms, and act on the mind in many and in very opposite ways. During the late county election the above words have not been without their charm among the Liberals (not Liberal-Conservatives), the sound rang through the town as though every tongue had joined in the chorus; but on Saturday night it was proved that it had a different effect on our Conservative inhabitants. It so happened that, about half-past 11, two youths had just left business in Church-street, one came to the street to bid adieu to his comrade who slept out, and added to the good night, three cheers for Clifford, in a jocular and natural way, to which the other responded. The words were scarcely uttered, when two men (ought they to be so called?). who were passing, thinking the remark was intended for them (which was far from the case), stopped, when one said to the other “You tackle the big one, and I will the little once.” The two youths were at once seized, their clothes almost pulled from their backs, and their heads beat against the wall in the most brutal manner, till some police coming up, the men desisted from their work and ordered the police to take the youths in charge, as they had insulted them; but not having done so, the remark made one to the other, the police would have nothing to do with it, so the matter dropped for the time, but it is sincerely to be hoped that such proceedings will not pass unnoticed. The circumstance has caused some little stir, and considerable indignation, and we sincerely regret that it should have occurred.
It will be many days before the bruises are healed, being by no means slight. We may safely say that throughout the election, when hundreds of men and boys were almost mad with excitement, nonsuch another case of ill-will occurred; good feeling was the general characteristic among both parties during the election.