TCDE-Team at 14:58, 18 August 2016

2016-08-18T14:58:39Z

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''To the Electors of Central Edinburgh'' is a letter written by [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] first published in [[The Edinburgh Evening Dispatch]] on 25 september 1900.

== To the Electors of Central Edinburgh ==

Gentlemen, — In asking you for your votes and your help in my
Candidature, I do not come before you as a stranger. I was born in
Edinburgh. I spent my boyhood there. I was educated at the
University, and I graduated there. I owe much to the old City, and
my proudest ambition would be that I should have the honour of
representing its Citizens in Parliament.

The circumstances of this election are exceptional. All other
questions are overshadowed by that prolonged and terrible war
which has called for such national sacrifices, and plunged so many
of us into mourning. Now at last we have won our way through
many struggles to success and we will prove whether the wisdom
of our people can secure that which the valour of our soldiers has
gained, or whether at this last hour a great political mistake is to
impair the results of our victory. That is the issue before the
Electors.

At the outset of this war, I took upon myself the task of writing a
history of it. This compelled me to examine the evidence with care,
and I became deeply convinced of the Justice and Necessity of the
struggle. There came a time of stress when each felt called upon to
do what he could to help. I found myself in South Africa. My
duties led me both to Bloemfontein and to Pretoria. I heard from
their own lips the views of British loyalists, of Africanders, of Boers
of every shade of opinion, of British officers, and of British officials.
I returned with strong convictions as to the situation. The chief Of
these is that a final and satisfactory settlement can only be hoped
for by strong national support for the Government, which has
amid many difficult carried the war to a successful conclusion.
Any appearance of vacillation or change of purpose must
encourage our enemies, dishearten our own people, and alienate
the great Colonies which have stood by us so loyally in the
struggle. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have given their
gold and their blood to the Cause. Will you not give your votes and
your work? The soldiers have done their part. It is our turn to do
ours. It is not possible that in a struggle where Scottish troops have
fought so heroically, the Electors of the Central Division of the
Scottish Capital will be lukewarm or hostile.

Gentlemen, many have made sacrifices of home, of comfort, of
life itself, in this war. I ask you also to make one. It is to sacrifice
the other questions which may be dear to you in the face of this
great question, which is essential and urgent. For the sake of your
special interest in any one domestic subject, be it Temperance or
Education or religion, do not give a vote which may weaken your
country in the one paramount problem which has to be solved.
How can you place the settlement of this question in the hands of a
party, half of whom blame the Government for not having made
war more vigorously, while the other half attack it for having made
war at all?

My views upon Social questions will always be in favour of
freedom, tolerance, and progress, following the lines marked out
in the past by the great Whig party which was so long associated
with Edinburgh. If I am returned upon a question of patriotism, I
shall feel pledged to oppose all narrow or reactionary legislation,
and to keep the interests of all my Constituents before my mind.

Hoping that you will vote upon broad national grounds, unprejudiced by other issues,

I am, GENTLEMEN,

Your obedient Servant,

A. CONAN DOYLE

Dunard, Grange Loan, Edinburgh, Sept. 24, 1900

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* [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle:Complete Works|Back to Complete Works]]
* [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle|Back to Conan Doyle]]

To the Electors of Central Edinburgh - Revision history

TCDE-Team at 14:58, 18 August 2016