The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1879-11-04 00:00:00

POLITICAL ADDRESSES IN THE WEST.

The Hon. W. H. B. Portman at Bridport showed be
sympathised with the Instincts of nearly all the
country, from the Conservative Government who
condemned the South African war, but were not
consistent enough to remove Sir Bartle, to the
commonest lover of peace and humanity, in exposing
the wrong. Mr. Portman, perhaps se far se his power
extended, hammed on the threatened awful struggle
between England and Rums, of which we can only
repeat that if it must come sooner or later, we desire
It should be later, that we may be better prepared.
But it was in hie exporsue of the Government's
liberality with other people's money that Mr. Portman
was happiest, for he showed that while the Govern-
ment have perpetrated the sham of relieving local
taxation by paying it from the imperial levies on the
some people, it had used the power thus gained not
only to centralise, but to spend more.
Mr. Ralli's speech at Bridport was oomprehenaire,
and he not only framed a damaging indictment against
the Government, but indicated what the Liberals may
be od4ed to attempt. Perhaps the most unonm-
foitable thought which occurs on the reading of both
of the Bridport speeches, is the decided actlMy o
Ross* and Mitts which do not tad to abs to
future mot.

One danger seems almost nu-observed, even by the
liberals. It is that the grip of power is being tbrhtened
by the Government at sucoeseive staged. Old rifle
volunteers are being dismissed, except those approved
by the commanding officers, who are in general devoted
to the present Government; the police are getting
educated to consider themselves Government men, the
pols are seised, regulation. are issued preventing the
inspection of the public, and to check information
leaking ~ut. Of course the direction of the army, and
the occupation of points of vantage, must remain with
the Government; and we are unable to see what
sufficient guarantee is in the hands of the nation that
the Government can be forced to keep the law, should
they choose to disobey. The signs of high-handedness
and Imperialism are sufficiently abundant at home, to
make us anxious for the future liberties of the people,
and desire to see the power pass into hands where it
can be trusted. How could the Imperialists of the
Beaconsfield Government deal with the " imperial "
and imperious policy of the South African War-maker,
so like their own? And how can oligarchs, English or
Hebrew, deal with the aggressions of oligarchy abroad?
There may be tsll4ahlclng and irritating speeches like
my Lord B.lmbury's, there Tay even be a spiteful
rivalry, resulting in the taxation of the peoples and
slaughter of the armies of both countries, and the
exaltation and pensioning of the privileged classes. Or
there may be secret connivance, as there always must
be sympathy not always secret. But never can the
power and good influence of a free people be willingly
, and permanently advanced, under the present rule.
The Duke of Somerset, the "candid friend" of the
Liberal party, who never misses an opportunity to say
a good word about the Tories, made a characteristic
speech at the Warminster agricultural dinner. His
grace was, as usual, very severe upon Mr. Gladstone,
who had settled the Irish Church "in • wa7,l"toM
made a muddle of the Irish land question. He
admitted that the ex-Premier was a good Chancellor of
the Exchequer, but said he warn • bad Prime Minister,
because he was too enthusiastic. He would not say
anything whatever against Lord Beaconsfield, for any-
body who knew anything of him knew that he wanted
nothing in the world, and all he wished was to leave
him • name behind honourable in history. That was
his desire, and nothing else; for he could have no other
reason, as he had no one to leave anything to ; therefore
what he did was done with the beet intentions. But
men might make blunders. For instance, it was a
blunder to send an envoy to Cabul, and it was a blunder
to take Cyprus. However, having taken the Wand,
we must do with it what we shall have to do with
Cabul—keep it. The hearers were informed that if
they wanted to know what the Liberal party was about
they must read the speeches of some of the rank and
file, because the party wee very apt, like • fish, to be
propelled by its tail.