The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1885-11-24 00:00:00

PUBLIC MISTING
_OF. LIBRIUM AT

Alk-TL-A-ND.

RrICMCIIRS DT MR. H. r. lITURCIR Till MATOB Or

AND oTIIIIII4.
On Wednesday evening • public meeting of Liberals
wan held in the Wesleyan Schee,lroom, Easton,
Portland, in support of Mr. If. I'. Sturgis, the
Liberal candidate for the division. The room warn
crowded, and the greatest possible enthelaisnm and
unanimity prevailed. Captain W. Attwooll preeiderl.
Ito was immortal id, Mr. and Mrs. Sturgis, Mr. R.
N. Howard (Mayor of Weymouth), Mama. B.
Comben, E. J. Pearce, Robert Pearce, W. A.
Attwooll, It. Wallis, Kibblewhite. Captain White,
W. Richardson, .1. Otter, J. Flame, E. Way, J.
Elliott, Thomas Comben, W. Morris, J. Ingram, R.
Flame, R. Fall, W. J. Pearce, .1. Pearce, W. Read;
also about 30 of the pram officials, and various gen•
tlemen from Weymouth.
The CHAIRMAN observed that England, at the pre-
sent time, was without • Parliament, and in the
course of another throe weeks it would be the privilece
of the e electors to obtain • new Parliament, and it
would depend upon them whether they had • Liberal
Government or a Tory Government. (flew, hear.)
They did not like to count their chickens before they
were hatched, but he knew, and many of the Tories
admitted, that there would be a grand Liberal
majority. (Cheers.) They wanted the voters of Port-
land to help to swell that majority by returning Mr.
Sturgis as their representative. (Great applause.)
Every day the din of battle wan growing stronger, and
this would cootinue until about the Bth December,
when from Lands End to John a' Groats there would
rise up the shout of victory from the Liberals, who
knew they would have a very large majority. (Cheers.)
'rhe Liberal and the Conservative party-or, if they
liked it better, the Tory party-(hear, hear)-were led
by great men. They knew the loader of the Liberal
party was Mr. W. E. Gladstone. (Much applause.)
lie was "the man of the people:" a man who had
spent a long life for the benefit of his country and the
working classes of this country. (Cheers.) It. warn
the man who had helped to rear. the country to what
it was at the present time-(hrar, hear)--when
England was groat, noble, and free, and Mr. Glad-
stone was the man who had greatly helped to make
it so, (or they knew that ho had linen the political
ruler of the country for • very long period-at learnt
the past fifty years. (Renewed cheered His generals
were Mr. J. Chamberlain - (cheers) - Mr. 'John
Bright-(applaused-and Mr. Goeichen, for he would
put him in tme-(laughter(-and they would not be
without Mr. Fonder either. The Tories had Lord
It. Churchill-(himese, and cries of "Do not waste
time eland him ")-who was the noble son of the
house of Marlborough, and if they enquired about Nome
of his ancestor; it would be found they had been
amongat the moat expensive of "English paupers."
(Laughter.) As to Lewd Salisbury and Sir NI. Hick.
Beach their battle cry was that the Church SMrn in
danger, and that the Throne was in danger. Never-
theless Nonconformista were as loyal to the Throne
as were churchmen, but the Church was not in
danger, and the Throne was not in danger. It woe
merely an elect' cry. AA to Sir Stafford Northeow
he Vim a "nice Newt of a man '-(laughter)-beit they
had relegated him to the Ilona' of Lords, and he was
now Lord Iddesleigh. He told them that if the
Radical party said the Tories were anxione to tax
earn it was a stout thumping lie." (Laughter.)
He (the Chairman) said they did wish to d'i ae, for
there were many in the Tory party anxious to tax the
food of the jaseple. (Shamed He would give credit
to ford. Salialory and leldealeigh for being " free
traders." Ile aloe would give Ccelonel Hembree
credit for that which he aaiel about it-(Voices "
no," and laughter) -but tht Toreu, were divided mon
the matter. If the- Tery Government were returned
to oft:, tiwy weeild ..ndeavour to tax the heel of the
laselele. What could they tax if they did not tax the
meof the peeple ? The called themselvm "free
traders," but that wa, only another names fer protec.
then. If they did not tax the food if the people,
what amid they tax ? They could not tax raw
materials each as cotton, etc. They did not want the
Tories to go rite "'five again-(hear, hear)-lescause
they wished for the free trade which had helped to
make England what it in. (Applause.) They wanted
free trade in corn and land -not to give it to the
people, Ind Cu that they might be able to sell land in
various parte of the country (Hear,
hear.) Referring tee the Conservative meeting held
at Weymouth a week ago, the Chairman
observed that one of the speaker., in eulogising
Colonel Hamlet.", said " Why vote for Mr. Rturgia,
who is a stranger and an American ? vow her Colonel
Ilambro-a oeunty man " Mr. Sturgis, however, was
not an American. True it was he wax born in
America, but he was educated in England--(hear,
herer)-and had married an English lady. (Laughter
and applause.) He (the chairman) contended it was
mean, low, and vulgar in public ineetinga-(hear,
hear)--to say "lbo not vow for a into because he is
an American. (A Voice: He is all the better for that.
Laughter.) Sir Henry Edwards-(cheers)-..an a
stranger when he first lame to Weymouth, but he was
not a stranger for long, and was not one nnw. (Great
applause.) Sir Henry Edward. had represented
Weymouth in Parliament, and a more liberal hearted
man, both in mind, pocket, and politics there could
not be than Sir H. Ildwards-(cheers)--and the people
of Weymouth knew it. (Hear, hear.) The people of
Portland knew it, too. (Applause.) Mr. Sturgis
would be a most worthy successor to him. (Cheers.)
As to Mr. Thomas, the ex-Mayor of Weymouth-(A
Voice: "Jam tarts," and ironical laughwr)-he said
at a Tory meeting at Waltham, on the evening of the
11th inst., that as he was going to the meeting he had
to pass the 13tirdon Hotel, where a Liberal meeting
was held the same night, and that he "saw a rough
lot going in "so he walked on to the Conservative
meeting at Waltham, where he was gratified to see
such an enthusiastic meeting. It was by the merest
accident possible another " rough " was not present at
that meeting, but, alas, an he WM not, he could not
eipeak from experience, but lie had it on very good
authority, from the people of Portland and Wey-
mouth, that • more grand and enthusiastic political
mooting was never held in Weymouth. (Cheers.)
" A Rough" was what the Tories called the Liberal
working man. (Shame.) As to Colonel Hambro, did
hoover do any good whilst in Parliament? (Voices :
Colonel Hambro had been a tried man. He had
"No," and cries of "He voted ageless tho hollow.)
been weighed in the balances, and was found wanting.
(Vetoes "He was.")
Mr. R. N. HOWARD, Mayor of Weymouth, who was
enthusiastically received, said it was some years since
he had the honour of making anything approaching •
political speech, therefore he wished it tre be under.
stood he steed before them in the capacity of one
deeply interested in the welfare eef the island of Port.
land; and as ono whom' income depended to some
extent upon the stone trade of the ialand. As he had
hoard venom" rumours he felt it to le a duty he owed
Di his hearers and himself net Di remain silent longer
but to corn., forward to 'Teak with no uncertain voice,
and that was what ho 16011111 d., that evening.
( tear, hear.) Many of his hearers had recently had
votes given to them by the late Govern.
meet, and it was rumenred that certain
employers of labour, were attempting to use,
or would endeavour to use something like OoMptilaion
Di induce working men to rote according to their own
way of thinking insteewl of in accordance with the views
of the voters. (Voice.: "Sham.,.") His hearers
might spread it through the length and breadth of the
below!, them warn no foundation for such report.
(Cheer..) lii, was one of the director. of the firm of
Steward and Co. and n behalf of himmlf and the
other directors maid that they would each scorn to me
the alighted influence or compulsion-(hear, hear)-
on any man in their employ. (Melinda of applause.)
What he knew of other gentlemen who were
employers of lalaur in the island, led him
to feel quite satisfied they wmild not do
.0 either. Ulmer, hear.) If they did attempt it
it weuld be a gnaw aleaunlity on their part. People
who had anything very pmie ree' an their homes invar-
iably locked it up in a drawer or box, and took every
care of it, and the newly enfranchised, when they had
the votes given to them, the Government which gave
it them put it firmly in a heat—the box known an the
ballot box. (Much applause.) In illustration of the
great secrecy of the ballot, he immured his hearers that
having in times past acted as a presiding officer at
elections, had any person offered him CM to tell
which way anybody had voted it would have been an
impossibility for him le have done so. He solve,
quently alluded to the condition of affairs in the
country
.prior to the reform bill which Lord John
intrmlnach Raying that in this very county
they had poer rates equal to 12a. per head yearly,
whilst in mine aeinties there were en the peer rate
one in eight, er .me' in nine, ten, 'er eleven, and thee
Lilieml I :overnnwnt I (oriu fr .1111111ti.11 SO S.S.
how the distma could he eineliorated. The thine.
which Englishmen enjoyed at the tenement time had
been built upon a Liberal foundation., (Applause.)
.ta to lonl Randolph Churchill -(hiases) -in
February, DOM, lie maid the agricultural labouner WAS
totally unfit to have the franchim. Ile, however, did
not mention Portland quarrymen-(haughter)- or the
warders of the Convict Establishment. Neverthel
when he used the words "agricultural labourer" it
included a very large clam. Would lord Randolph
Churchill have given them the cute? (Geis. eso,e)
If they wished trade and commerce to prosper they

must each take • part an the election. (Hear, hear.)
His views were theme. If he saw a man who was not
in the" primed life" he knew that in order foe him
to have good health one part of his body must comes-
pow! with the other, and so it was with the affairs of
the country. (Applause.) Land was one thing,
capital another, and labour another ; but each '
depended upon the other, as did the hand on the body,
or the body on tho hand. (Hear, hear.) Land Was
quite libelee, without labour, and labour without land
was no good, whilst it was essential to each that there
should lie capital. (App'ause.) As to Mr. Sturgis
he came before them as • thorough business man zo
ask for their support. Ile (His aVorship) was quite
satisfied his hearers would give it him. (Applaicied
' On the day id the election they must not wait for tbe
carriages to come—(laughter) —nor yet foe the " be/
people" b. c ~,,, e and ask them to go to the poll. If
they did their duty to Cod in the matter they would
do as their consciences tobl them, whilst if they voted
, in such a way as hi do their duty hi their neighbours
they would vote for that which was best for the
country at large. (Cheers.)
Mr. H. P. Sztotata, wale was enthusiastically
received, said it was true he haul American bliod in
his veins, but he waa wit aThanted if it —(.1P14".e
in fact he flattered himself that lie pesvased some ef
the merits of both the old country and the now.
(Cheers.) Ho subsequenaly submitted the following
letter which he had received from Mr. S. I). \Faddy,
whom he had hoped would have been able to attend
the meeting that night:-
10th November, lintfi.
My dear Mr. Sturgis,—My roodlections Iv( Portland
are very pleasant, and iii could possibly come down
to speak for you I should do se, but thin is impossible,
as not only have I at the povient moment something
like • dozen public meetings at least in my own
borough, hut I have also to run down to the York
Asaizes to attend hi some cases there, ei that I cannot
find a night for you. I am very anxious for your
success. I have for a long time been convinced that
not only cavil liberty, which I highly prize, but
religious liberty. which is to me still dearer, aro in-
volved necewiarily in the sudiesa of Ole Liberal cause.
Whatever might Is, my into views and sympathies, as
• Nontaitiformist, I cannot but plummet the Liberal
cause. My own church had at
in the other direction, but I sin thankful to say that
for many years past this has been altered, and, with
oimparatively a few exoptions, of whom however
wieli to speak with sincere regret, the far greater hulk
of 1)11r people have learned to see that it is hi the
intonate of our church, as well as of the nation at
large, to support the Liberal party. For this reason,
amoiqrst others, I should have coins to help you if I
could, but I hope your succor will render it unneces-
nary for you to ask either for me, or any other ex-
traneous help.—Yours truly, S. Wanor.
H. P. Sturgis, Esq., Iliardon Hotel, Weymouth.
Oa the motion of sir. Itoeturr Pudica. seconded by
Mr. K. Cnnliri, and sitmorted by Mr. J ROLM, of
Weytnouth, • vote of confidence in Mr. Sturgis, and
ono pleding the voters hi use their ettermosi hi return
him by a very large majority, was unanimously carried,
amidst much cheering.
Mr. Swim responded, and • vote of thanks to the
Chairman terminated the proceedings.