The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-01-25 00:00:00

MR. FOWLER AT DORCHESTER.

Mr. Fowler made his first appearance at a public meet-
ing—since the preliminary one—in the county town on
Saturday last. He dined at the Antelope and spoke at
the Town Hall. The hall was crowded, and there was no
mistaking the fact that Mr. Fowler's supporters were in
the majority. It was rather a lively affair, although not
equal to Weymouth.

We have given Mr. Fowlers opinions already ht rocas°,
as we have Mr. Digby's. and we do not intend in either
case to weary our reader.; by a repetition of them.
Mr. FOWLER was introduced by Mr. Lock. Alluding to
the Slave Circular he said he was sorry and ashamed to
say that a circular of that kind had been distributed
among thetit—(checrs). If the returns which had been
made to kiln, were anything like correct, they were
sufficient to show he would lie at the top of the poll.
This is an opportunity which if they did not accept they
would never have again. Now he wanted to know why
he should be held up as having pushed himself forward.
11. had never done anything of the kind. He merely
catue before them as a matter of ditty and principle
(hear, hear). It was no ambition of his own. He eared
nothing about it. But there wia; the principle, which he
did care about, end which he had had in view a consider-
able time.

.t Toicg : Whit are your ~ i!! eiples
Mr. Fowege: You hold your tongue. Torn that fellow
out Turn hint out. I tell you whet it ir, me friend.
wherever I have been interrupted at my meeting.% I have
always had friends enough to turn out tho loin who did
a. -(hear, hear). I don't want to do anything Id the kind:
I ant very pleased to see any one here, but you ought to
know that when a room is hired for any purpose it is not
for other people to nuke 4 114,k0 and interruption. If
any body wants to wok Inc a question, let hitn speak
eliortly his own idCALS, and I shall be glad to hear him.
But interruptiou for intuiruptione ask.) I esti% stand-
(applause).
Continuing hi. addrerr ; Ile had been badgered a great
deal u to what were 1,1. politics. Ile should like to
know what were the politics of hi. opponent.% When be
itaid he intended to canoe.) the county— (Interruption).
Believe me, nip friends, I want no row here, but if you
make a row, out out you go in a tn te-(lafighter, elute
which some one "crowed.") Ott with him, out with him.
[Arconlingly a warm supporter of Mr. Fowler collared the
delinquent by the throat, awl very sail had him out.
Every one dtood ~o their seats to SSC the incident, but
order war soon restored. We are told the young MAR
ejected hod • narrow ercape of going over the hal wire tut.
-Now. I think that a sufficient example to show that we
don't stand interruption. You may depend upon it every
fellow that interrupts me does me a lot of good. I'll
guarantee to nay %het fellow war brought up here and
that you won't find his name on the county list- (no, not
her Whenever I have been interrupted it had been by
some clerk to the Liwyers or some fellow, of that descrip-
tion who have been employed againet
laughter). Now this exhibition of feeling lie hoped was
enough to show everybody that It was necessary on that
occasion that they should tehave thenteelves as respect-
men and gentleitien-(hear, hear). If they exereided
their privilege acconliug to their own conscience, and not
aeconling to that of other men he lied every confi-
dence in the result. Sir Janice Elphinstone -he
knew the name because he (Mr. Fowler) put in a good
word for him the ether day, when he happened to he
at Portemouth-,161 down at Bridport that he (Mr.
Fowler) delivered hineelf of ri.lirldoud ideas, (Mr. Fowler
then alluded to a letter he had read from Sir .1441e5,
ilmoittimig hi, mistake as to Mr. Fowleee utterances).
What right had he to set up ',Maier for hint Wet to 1,1334 S
the crowd beneath his nose --(hear, hear, and applame).
Ile fetid Koch a thing was entirely leeteeth a man -
teppleuee). What wouldn't he 41,01 l to if he would do
that I Referring to the Pn.er, Mr. eowl ir sR,I formerly
the emelty need to be dictate.' to by it Whig and a Tory
piper cmii, although that old Whig and old Tory fancied
; they were the power.; that he he could tell hint he had
! little papero thet velidd repreeent I -(hear, heart
Ile could only tell them-prof...in.( bi he reveetAtile
I,lllam-that he WAS ashamed 10 See some of the thing*
which had appear.' in their print.- (hear, lienr, and
cheer.). In the one paper besets MAO to hold politics
which he had never hell, and in the other he was sort of
snubbed-(nmu:lt laiteliter). But ho would tell them the
electors were not going to have any .4 Viet All he asked
for was fair play, and no favour. and he wadi take no
lees-(cheerr). Ile was :viked to pin his coleure b, one
man, but lie would not do it-(.11 supporter: I
hope if Robert Fowler ever gets curierl he
will never have a pollork put on him).-
That wed rather a small meeting taking the average of
those lie hail attended. His opponent wanted a twee
army, but if he wee captein of the Dorchester Bede
Volunteere he would have every young fellow in the town
in his curie;: and if they were an united people they
might air, without a large army. eia he did not agree
with his opponent ot, that point -(interruption). Don't
you make too MUM togs.. ; take a hint iny friend-(hear,
hear, and laughter). Pet the fellow eat. [ dare nay he's
no elector at all-(A reipporter : Don't you mind that).
Oh I don't need it At all. I hove been up long enou.gli to
Ile limed to it -(hear, hear). I 411.1(11,1 !VIVI,, that fell .w -
(the interruption WAI still euntifine.l)-to have a little
more of the Penniesive Bill- (roam of laughter)--and ttse
the thing, of the world with proprietry-a Voico: line
about the Vertniesive Bill), lie did not want any Per-
missive Bill, he would edueete the people to tare and not
abuse the good things of life, and then they would not
hare noiry fellows like that ono at the door-(much
This WAS his :Lith mooting, and he 114.1 Wen
well received at every one. Ile trurted to the coneeiencee
of the people. not to the law)'ers. If be were alba iipon
to give thew. hle time it woeld feat eonsideral,le expense,
but if he was willing Se nit, Mot he hoped they would meet
MIS by giving him a little of their dine et the poll day-
(hear, hear). One of the county papers had found fault
with hint berme* as well ar Wag a tenant rainier he was
abet a tuabiter ; and wanted to know how it was if they
wanted a tenant farmer they did not have a tenant far-
mer alone. Now a tenant farmer alone would never he
in the position. Wai there a man who from his profitn
on farming could ever think of such • thing. Then again
a letter had lseen handed to him, written by a gentleman
who Rail he wanted no cheer legislation. Ile did not
want any class legislation, but notwithstanding that he
had a desire that every ekes ehould Is, represented, and
with two or three member.) c iiiipetent to point out
the waned and neressities of that cLuir-(cheere). T 1.,,
gentleman who wrote that letter had hi. clue reprewented,
inasmuch as he was a elergentan of the Church of Eng-
land. Ile was a tamer's roe, and ltio father WAS a good
friend of hie (Mr. Fowler). a bey waked tngether, and
notwithstanding what hie sou said, he irelieve4 if he were
living he would be among hie supporters below. ftut now
because his eon found himself in the Church, he fancied
he was Fope of Roure-(inuch hiughter). Ile was the
unworthy son of a beautiful and line father. lie hoped
he would take that and digest it, and that it would do
him good -(retiewed laughter). Sixpence a week gave
their fathers AS goal an education so could be got now for
tal gables* a year. In his 'ley he had worked a little with
S.C.. ). at Bletelfonl. and he ha I pentad out to the great
laieldweert that when they leek their cottages they
should put tbeee Unlearn., for what WAS the u.se of
teaching islucati in tilt achool.room if they taught
immorality in the hednum-(lteit. hear). Those were his
politico 20 years ago, and they were his politics :low. In
conclusion he asked them to compare that meeting with
the meeting of his opponent at Ducheiter. Where was
bet The voice of the people would decide that question.
The Rev. T. NEAVE put a question, but in the cheering
which ensued, it war impo..ible to know Be purport.
After three cheers had been given for Mr. Fowler mingled
with biases, the meeting broke up.
Tr-reference L. our correspondencecolumn will show the
nature of Mr. Iseayer eidery