Rev. Stainton's Political Life ~ Part 5

Rev. Stainton’ s prominence in Sheffield politics and his views on the outrages brought on dirty political tactics from opponents with the primary objective to defame him and deter him in his philanthropic work.

A Quid Pro. Quo.

To the Editor of the Sheffield Telegraph- 28 July 1868

Sir, – Some curiosity has been excited in Sheffield as to the motives of the Rev. Stainton’s prominence in political matters. I remember that shortly after the close of the commission and Mr. Stainton’s championship of those innocent Messrs. Broadhead and Crookes the reverend gentleman met a friend of mine in one of the streets of Sheffield, and showed my friend a cheque for £ 100 adding boastingly, “You see some people approve of what I am doing.” He, however, so held the cheque as to conceal the name upon it. I believe it is now pretty generally known from what quarter the £ 100 had proceeded, and it is natural perhaps that the rev. gentleman should prove the truth of the text that “The labourer is worthy of his hire.” One good turn deserves another. When I saw in a certain local print sundry letters of Mr. Stainton’ s going dead against Mr. Roebuck, I thought I knew most positively which side the editor was about to take. A friend of mine remarked to me that the journal in question would not cast off Mr. Roebuck, but I answered that I felt quite sure it would, and that the thing had already been determined upon. He inquired my reasons, and I at once referred him to the cry of “The lion’s provider.” 

This letter was responded to by the faithful followers of Rev. Stainton. The following letter addressed to the editor gives a befitting reply to the doubts raised towards Reverend Stainton’s motives.

The Rev. Mr. Stainton and Ourselves

We beg to call attention to the following correspondence:-

3 Hartshead, Sheffield 29^th August, 1868. Gentlemen,- In your paper, the Sheffield Daily Telegraph, of the 28^th July last, there appears a letter headed, “ A Quid pro Quo, ‘ signed “ No Cat’s Paw,’ which contains the following passage , alluding to the Rev. Robert Stainton:- 

Some curiosity has been excited in Sheffield as to the motives of the Rev. Stainton’s prominence in political matters. I remember that shortly after the close of the commission and Mr. Stainton’s championship of those innocent Messrs. Broadhead and Crookes the reverend gentleman met a friend of mine in one of the streets of Sheffield, and showed my friend a cheque for £ 100 adding boastingly, “You see some people approve of what I am doing.” He, however, so held the cheque as to conceal the name upon it. I believe it is now pretty generally known from what quarter the £ 100 had proceeded, and it is natural perhaps that the rev. gentleman should prove the truth of the text that “The labourer is worthy of his hire.”

The imputation therein contained has been renewed in the Telegraph from time to time, since the above mentioned date, in various and even more offensive forms.

You must be aware from statements publicly made by Mr. Stainton and otherwise that the true facts connected with the £100 in question are, that he did receive that sum from his chapel  from some one in town, but not in the form of a cheque, and applied it to the purpose for which it was given, and that the reference contained in the above quotation, and since then in various forms, amounts to an imputation of fraud or corruption on the part of Mr. Stainton totally without foundation, and is a gross libel upon his character, for the publication of which you are responsible, and which, as the matter has really nothing whatever to do with the coming election, cannot be excused under the plea of election excitement, although every allowance is made for that.

We are therefore instructed by Mr. Stainton to require that you publish in the Telegraph of Tuesday and Saturday next an ample apology to him, approved by us, for the wrong done to him by the imputations contained in your paper as we have mentioned, and an expression of your assurance that the money in question was paid to and duly applied by him on behalf of his chapel.       

We are, gentlemen, your obedient servants,

PYE SMITH AND SON.

Rev. R. Stainton’s Political Life ~ Part 6

Broomhall’s Primeval Philanthropist: Rev. Robert Stainton ~ Part 1