The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-01-11 00:00:00

THE COUNTY ELECTION.

Tlle OANDIDATL9 AT BLANDFORD.
• LIVELT Immo.

Saturday last. Blandforil market-datr. the three Con-
servative einilidat, addressed the electors at the Crown
Ahout 70 or 00 wit &vire to the orlinarY proviled
by Mr. R thert Ryers. ft !fore the moist Mai over a large
number of farmers Anil a trieniturista hit asseintdel out-
side the Crown waitinz for the appearance of the tenant
farmer emulate. Mr. R ibert Fowler, *nil in answer to
the many eTiiiiries as to when that gentleman was going
to " preach, the worthy Ii ist pilitely informed the ex-
pectant multitude that at half-past four o'cloek
Fowler would meet them at the Corn-exchange. Thither
a pretty good assemblage repaired. and waited for Mr.
Fowler's appearing. But in the meantime, dinner being
over at the erg.% contrary to expectation, the other two
candidates, Mr. Charles Ilanibro and Mr. Rigby, rose to
address the fanners.
When Mr. Milano rose seine attempt was made by a
*few persons to cheer him, while on the other hand not
few hailml him with rather uncomplimentary injunctions
to "sit down." Ifit remarked he did not wish any ill-
feeling to exist between them, am he had told them before,
but no doubt they know him pretty well by this time :
• and they would also know, through the Ineditim of the
pines and by the announcement' be had made, what his
polifictwere.

Mr. DIORY alma spoke. lie was to them personally a
perfect stranger, hut the name he held hal long been
before the puldie, and there were not many present he
had no doubt, but knew something of his family connec-
tions. In asking their support he said he certainly
approved of the policy of the preqent finveanment, and
thought that if they he*towed on him their confbletee be
would endeavour t 4 advance the principles which he
advotate.l.

FOWLER, who WU received with loud cheering. also
sal I a few w.wda. •

....
Arr. MOTAGUR GUIDRY addressing them in the Liberal
interest, said he simply came there to hear and to look on
the "fun " going on amongst them, net to speak
(laughter). Ile would, however, advise them to take great
care what they were about, as it wee Conservative opposing
Conservative, or else they would yet find a Liberal slip-
ping in between them—there there was ouch a clamour
and shouting that Mr. finest after severed attempts to
maintain quiet, and repeated calls of order from the
chair, rat down, and, no doubt, witnessed the fun he had
come to peel:

Several other gentlemen attempted to amok. but the
peace of the meeting wss so disturbed by stamping of feet
and continuousyelling that they. were obliged to alt down
without being able to make their voices audible. On one
side of the room person, cello! not "Support Mr.
Hambro," while the moioritv of the meeting seemed in.
cline 1 towards Mr. Fowler. and it waa with mach
railtr peace could lie restored which was done lir Mr.
Fowler's interposing: and the health of the High-Sheriff
ot I) went, who SVIA preeent, wee 'lronic.
Sir W. WARRIMT. in responding, said what he would
like to two was • good i.ihesl coin, forward, awl let there
be2i bawl-to-hand fl-ht--fhesr. hner).

TErE one of Mr. lianibro'n tenant's, rose and said
"Geniis-slew I think Mr. Itolart F-' . very much out
of awe' tr,,‘ Wt.t again the signal for uproarious
clamouring, ... no," wan the cry on every hand.)
Mr. Tett contininal ntansfinz we if having wenething more
to say, bet "sit doe ti," "sit dawn." "hurrah for Mr.
Fowler" rang throughout the room until Mr. Tett, some-
what discomfited, did so)
The Cita/MCI then in order to rentere quietude, pro-
posed the "Health of Mr. Evert referring in eulogistic
terms to the repast with which they had been provided.
At the awn E'srehaze some 2iii) had amemblesh moist of
whom had travelled some slistanee te hear the "speechify-
ing." Mr. Fowler's entering the mom WAA the signal for
stamping awl loud cheering, which continued until that
gentleman hsol taken his stand upon the table at the end
of the Corn Exchange, where he addreasol them for
nearly an hour. He said he hoped he had not introdurad
himself before they had finished their huff nem. He did
not see before him those gentlemen who had questioned
hi, politico: they hasi vaninhol. But if they wanted to
know bin politien let them take up one of the county
papers, which would give them a long account of them.
lii, politic,' wore these -to see them really made, with
bitunelf, free and independent electors of our country.
How many times had they had to record their votes in
thin cennty for anybodyl If all thane matters were not
settled for them he now gave them the opportunity of
settling them for themselves. It was seldom they had
the opportunity under any eireunvitanees, for matters
were no generally well-arranged for them that they had no
tronble about them. The lower classes were pressing up
from below : they claim the franchise. Upon that
matter there Wan it oast deal to he said ; leit he hoped
the soieetion would not he dealt with and settled by some
half-dsig'n-(lear, hear). He hoped they would not eons
&ton him if hi, voice eould not be sufficiently heard
threighout the room, bet be had addrensad public
arreinhlien fur the ninth time, awl WM a little hoarse.
Hi, pffitien, he would tell them, were there-they were
railed Connervative-but his hearers could call them what
they liked -at any rite they were not Torten. He was not
alluding to any of them by name. Bet he called bin politic*
t nervat ive of story Liberal At31111).-(he Sr hear awl laugh.
tern call them LP oral. of a Goeservati ve etainti:
tett they were ottainly not Whigs. or Rolicaln or even
Freeleatern -all them were repremittel In the Howse of
Ceti/mows. In the Hoene Lorin they hail a House noted
for its high-blsol -the noble of the
!set, and those who
have rained thsennelven 'tilt posit in whieli they
stand. In the Howse of Co 1111 l tem they had reprosenta-
Liven of every clam ; bet of thin class the number they had
really was only one: they were ...died two w- three, but in
reality there eats only Imo who stood forward to hring
before the public those quo-diet,o which were nen-emery for
their goal-Gentlemen. that twin was an honent into:
3 man with whom be (Mr. Fowler) hasl worked, awl he
asked them to :illow him to work with again -(A Voice:
"So pet shal).") That man WAS the mail whom Norfolk
returned, and there nexer wan a mere worthy man scut up
to Parliament. lie (Mr. Feeler) hot now been aniongnt
them for nearly Of years, end lie linked them to give a little
I of their time to lark hitn up ; to come themselves to vote,
:int bring half-aolozen more up in their arins-(lanehter
awl he ir). He again referred di the gentlemen who had
spientionsol hi, politier, awl said he did not think they
woolsl let him be pet arid.% knowing what hin Isulitics
really wire--f" tint tet, we will have pea") Hi, polities
'sure th:lt the quentionn should be brought before the
Home which he believed were for the ',Odic benefit, and
he would also support those meastaren which would benefit
those classes to which he belonged-(hem, hear). He then
referred to the great question of Local Taxation. The
prenent Government, (sir the purpose of getting into
ovor, Fos 111 l ist•l • wroet h..of things. N..... they are
there why disl not they carry ont their promise,/ They
began di In it., and laid the (etiolation stone-he praised
them for that -hut why slid not they go on with the build-
ing t If the county of Dorset sent him up to help them
hininelf, the flovernment would he pricked up to the mark
--(hear, hear) The great spie.stion of local taxation was
one that had lieen used to -saddle them with very great
expenner for many years past, and he thought it war one
that should be seriously dealt with. He wanted to know
why the police force, which was for the national good.
should he charge.) to them. Why should not the money
to pay them cone out of the national purse-(A Voice:
"Alt, why shouldn't it n Were not our prisoners kept
for a national purpone I Suppose • prisoner Wan brought
up at Blanslford, and he (the speaker) should happen to
be in the position of the man who had to try him. His
offence was great, and it is the consideration of a moment
whether he should be sent for two or Eve years, if he
sent the man to two years' imprisonment it would be for
hint to help keep him there: hut if he wassent to Portland
for five yearn it wools) lie at the expense of the nation. It
was for the national gooshwhy should it not come out of the
national purse / It wan a question like a ladder ;it had
inany rungs to it. Whet wan local control I Ask any
guardian. Why it is local humbug. Ask any man who is
a guardian, awl lie wouldf tell you he founsl himself to be
merely a local toll-unpaid local tool-in the hands of a
paid London Government Board. And if they went ta do
anything-such as rake the salary of an officer or any
little thing, thew Inert receive the "rracious assent of
this great London Board "-(laughter). What !do we live
in England in the year 1076, awl not raise our voices
agaiiint such an abominable law an thin! For this purpose
he wilted them to go di the poll, record their totes, and
send him up to assist Ovine two or three who were there
already, who had the question at heart, lie would now
draw a lino between the Conservative Liberal and the
Liberal Connervative. Ile slid not know the difference
between the two. He would ask them whether, it there
wan no Liberal men, the Astricultund Holding, Bill would
have been panned in it-, present state. It had been paned
by men of one class because there was nobody there to
point out to them, or reprenent the class that had to be
provided for, lie himself ansintol in drawing up a Bill,
awl, hail the Government followed that Bill, they would
have pease) a very good one. If they sent him up there
he would not pledge himself a, to what he would do, hut
he would endenvour to represent their interests to the best
of his ability. Up at Dorchester they wanted him to nail
his flag to the !wart His flag was the interest of that
publie elms to whi lie belonged-(flear, hear). Where
hi, flag Was nailed, there for ever was Robert Fowler,
He had been known all over the county : for a great
number of yeara--(At thin juncture of the proceeslings the
gas WRt turned omit , awl the room was in darkness. Some
persons at the end of the room began to hoot and yell,
whilst others nearer the speaker cried "order !" Mr.
Fowler's nu/earners urged him to speak on, and said "no
matter about the light," hut this Mr. 'bawler declined to
do. He hasl paid for the room, he said, and if anyone
disturbed the proceeding. they must be ejected/.
A gentleman, however, forces) hi, way up to the front
and said, he was sorry, hut it was a mistake of the police
that the gas was turned out C)
Mr. FOWLER said he thought it was one of them men
who were desist of the light of the slay (hisses). He could
not vote to do away with the game laws. When a man
rented hi+ Ions), the produce of that laud belongs to him.
It in for him to feed bin own stock upon, awl not vermin
(a voice: " Ralibitn"). He would try to do anything to
encourage good feeling between landlord awl tenant. The
quention had been an a door between them for many years
pest, and if he eseild only soothe it down what a blessed
thing it would be; He wouldl my give the landlord any
sport oft legitimate kind, but they shoeld have nothing
to *lO with eating tenants up in r rascally manner--(hear,
hear). Csitild they suppose fur a moment that where good
feeling existed between landlord and tenant, the tenant
woul'l not like to nee his master enjoying himself over Ills
own land) He would not grudge him a fair slay's sport-
(no, no). And if that were the case there would be none of
that had feeling white' was now common. But in some
districts the tenant former Wai hardly toaster over his
own farm. Ile knew a MAC where a man could hardly set
hiss men ninwing without permission. Wass this the year
itrai -rupponol to he an enlightened age I Were he
returned as the representative of the county, he should
do everything in his power to prevent any ill feeling
between all vlanies, and he iihnulil ito everything in MR
power to prevent anything like illeitimate sport. He
thought they should he Va.) these little matters-(hear,
hear). Another little matter had come nailer bin notice in
the town; it AMA what might he called hoine politica. Ile
came there the other day and were told he would have a
wad deal of inipport from other damsel of men-frem
people he knew were not quite hi, Rolitic.n. He asked the
.a,,,iirt.nile,,ntinne.itiiit.h.:lnitkth.it.hlieeteet.wootnutirthayinb:lodisinif:fts.t.:l,...stentmeditectan.volsettio/Tthh:t
reason ,if thi* awl the answer wan I saw your waggon
call at the shops of the trasiesenen, lint the carriages go
to the station, and we We them bearing tonne goods from
the I'o-operative stern in Lonslon." Mahe speaker) was
one if those who liked to live I • mei( and let others live.
If they sent their orders to the great town Coaperative
those people in little towns might to Well put tip
their shutters and shut up their shorn. His politico were
live and let live -44 pike: Mn, Fowler, will you give UA
something of the Burial Art") (Mr. Fowler : All in good
time.) The speaker then referred to education. Ile
thought hitunelf that if the work Was allowed to go on as
it wan going-in a quiet way, the people would he
educated. It Wan. they no doulit knew, a great inconve-
nience to some. Ile emanated the pecuniary part, and
maul he now pail I:is. ter what he used to get done for half-
arcrown a week. He thought the people ought to have an
education in the essential rudiments-not, an elaborate
saturation, but an education such as would enable them
to carry their liseeln through the world in a respectable
manner-to read, write, and cipher. If they wanted more
then that they must educate themselves: they could not
expect it at the expense of the place With regard to the
(fame laws, it WM his opinion that if • mattes/lite the land
and if the lanstioni does not choose to enjoy sport him-
self the tenant ought di have the nest right - (hear, hear).
The speaker then touched upon foot-and mouth diseane.
• Monne with which the e iunty hui lately been terribly
at nember of his clan* in Parliament, but
half so much of the disease if the House of Commons had
awwtrolarisuhubpettole;rfli:,ftcilaliyiegrei
there shoulsl be a sufficient number-(hear, hear). De
diseane Woo brought into thin country, because vessels
which bring the ile.sltel from Ireland to England was lin pregeated with the fever whieh spread so rapidly. It arm.
nothing more nor 1044 thin fever. And it Wes just the
name as if they Put a chibl iotl 3 room were fever existed
awl the chill would be sore t-ike it. It was haat
beasts-1a voice: How about the Burials Bill I) He would
maknodt4wonpoullnytdhallinreco4inbelm"neunthmdehethur:ofi or
Atalleilditrimseawtihee.

vessel every time. Also, if the animals were fat slanehter
them directly they were disembarked ; and if
, they were poor, they would not bring the
' disease. He had Lost hundreds himself: probably the
Icompany before him had lost thousands. le believed the
cause that these things were not prevented, was that there
Iwere not more practical men in the Rouse—(hear, hear).
He asked them to sent him up awl assist the practical
men in this great question. He had been asked to pledge
himself to the present Government, as he would pledge
himself to be a Conservative. He should pledge himself
to nothing. He pledged hiinself to the present Govern-
ment in what he knew to be right. He opposed them
when they were wrong—(hear, hear). He believed the
foreign policy of the Government was all that could be
desired. If the (luvornment had missed the present
opportunity of having a high reel to their eastern posses-
, Mous, they would have missed a grand chance. Ile
I believed that was • proper and right thing which they
did, and he hoped Parliament would lay hold and keep
it, for their good and for their children's good. He was
asked in some parts of the country what hie religion was.
Everybody knew he was • Churchman, and a representa-
tive the Synod of Salisbury. He had never interfered
with any man living, as to whether he went to Church or
Chapel—(A. Voice: No, never). Ile should have done his
best he draw him to the Church, and if he please to go to
the Chapel he might do so. He then referred to the
question of the Burial's BilL It struck him that to settle
this question with his non-conformist brethren, an act
might be passed to enable them to take possession of a
small piece of land adjoining their chapel—(hear, hear).
He found there would be some, however, who would not
be satisfied with that. He only threw out hints. He
could feel for a man having sat under a Nonconformist
minister all his life, if he wishes' to be buried by • Non-
conformist minister, and he would say "Why net let the
body of that man he buried in his chapel." Let him he
taken to our Church and let the form of service be read
over liiin—(hear, hear). lie would like to open the
churchyard as simply • burying-ground for the parish.
Ile would not pledge himself now, but if they would send
him to Parliament he would give the question the very
but consideration. He was called upon to give his
opinion upon what they called the Permissive BilL He
would permit men to enjoy all the good things of this
life, if they did not abuse them. When the question was
put 'to him in connection with teetotalistu, he dare say
the !nen thought he was a drunkard (laughter).
He was born within live miles of the town, and
if any man ever saw him the worse for lieuor he
would give him .C 5 to-morrow —(" no, no. ') Ile
He would again tell them he was not a stranger. Why
everybody knew Robert Fowler, from the north of the
county to the south. Ile was asked somewhere where he
went to speak, who Mr. Hambro we.? He replied, and
the person said, "I never knew that man; does he live
In the county r He told him how, some years ago, the
Ilsinbros got the Abbey Milton property. This young
man was the eldest son, and now very likely he had
come into the property. He also told him for a time he
(Mr. Charles liambro) was the representative of Wey-
mouth. He came before the county of Dorset and laid he
had lost his seat for Weymouth because he tried to
support his perty. His (Mr. Fowler's) opinion was he
lost his seat because he did not "quite oven hi. rifht
eye "—(laughter). He asked them to return him to Parlia-
ment on principle alone. He had not asked a ~ingle men
for his vote, but he had many friends who were doing it.
He did not want there to be any mistake about him. He
concluded by asking them to give nn a few hours to work
for him, to come to the poll, and if sent up to the House
he would represent the whole county and all classes • he
did not wish to represent about SA manrclaeses as he 'had
fingers on his hand and nobody else. He wished them
happy new year, remarking he was tired almost of public
speaking, not having been used to It, and hoped they
would excuse him. Long and continued cheering arose
from the farmers, tr.r., as Mr. Fowler got down.
None of the other caddidates were present, hut their
agents worked briskly about amongst the farmers.