The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1884-04-15 00:00:00

vooLa
THE COMING ELECTION.

"The lying spirit" of which the then Mr. Lowe
complained that it was abroad must have assuredly
found its way into this "ancient and loyal borough,"
The manumit that hate bccn afloat and accepted an a
great many cases with no inconsiderable amount of
credence have been, to say the least of it, some-
what startling. In several cases no doubt the wish
has been father to the thought, in others nothing but
a reckless disregard of the truth can have given rise
to them. Matters are now thoroughly settled on both
sides, and the issue lies plainly before the electors.
Up to a very recent datc the desire to make repara-
tion for scurvy treatment has led many eagerly to
accept almost as an accomplished fact any expression
of feeling that it might he possible to induce Mr.
Waring to come once again and thus enable the past
to be redeemed. Even so late as Tuesday people
were to be found who knew that an active Liberal
politician had received a telegram from Mr. Waring,
and had gone to town to consult with that gentleman
upon the state of feeling in the borough, whereas thc
fact was he had simply gone up to London for more
prosaic business connected i.ith the coal trade. It is
no secret that before Mr. Clarke appeared upon the
scene overtures were made to Mr. Waring, and his
emphatic reply was that " he'd see Poole d—
first." lb this determination he has resolutely ad-
hered, although Mr. Clarke, with a gallantry that
should commend itself to his party,
y, professed his
willingness, rather than to endanger the cause of
Liberalism, if it were considered advisable, to stand
aside. Mr. Waring was grateful to Mr. Clarke; but,
as we have stated, Poole has seen the last of that
gentleman in a political sense. Mr. Clarke has ac.
cordingly been considered the champion of the cause,
and throughout he has expressed his willingness and
readiness to break a lance with Toryism. He arrived
in Poole on Monday afternoon, having reached Eng.
land from Rome on the previous Saturday. Mr.
Clarke is looking extremely well, appears in the best
of health and spirits, and is sanguine as to the result.
On Tuesday evening a committee meeting of the
Liberals was held at the Liberal Hall, and then a
vote of confidence in Mr. Clarke was cordially and
unanimously carried. _ .

The Conservative committee met on Friday, when
we believe a large number of names were submitted
for consideration. Some six Of seven of these were
chosen, but it was generally understood the prefer-
ence was given to a Mr. Harris, a corn merchant, of
Mark-lane, taid to be a good speaker, of which the
public have not as yet had an opportunity of judging,
and a staunch opponent of local option. This selec-
tion was ratified at a meeting of the Conservative
party on Tuesday evening, when a vote of confidence
was passed in him.
• •

So the matter stands at ;resent. The issue before
the electors is a very simple one. Putting aside all
considerations as to the respective merits of the two
gentlemen, what each voter has to ask himself is—
Shall I support the party of Progress and Reform, a
party which by its glorious majority of Momby night
showed its fixed determination to lift up the masses
and give them a right to govern themselves, or shad
I be content to see power and the good things of this
his remain in the grasp of a selfish and dcsiaith. few?
That is the sole and simple question. lithe electors
are desirous of having a share in the advancement of
the welfare of the country, Mr. Clarke should win in
a canter ; if they are content to remain political serfs,
attached to the Gutford estate, why, then, they will
give their suffrages to the Mark-lane corn merchant.

To-Day (Thursday.)
Both candidates are now, to use a vulgarism, " all
over the shop." Shaking of hands, enquiries after
health, and the best of wishes, are as common as in
days cone by were portraits printed in gold of H. M.
the Queen.
It 6 admitted by both sides that it will be a hard
fight, but there is not the shgbie.t doubt that the
Non. Sec. of the Liberal Club will see his Utopian
dream of a pure election almost realised. The general
feeling throughout the town is that it will be a relief
when the poll is declared, although, at the same time,
there is not as yet even a quarter of the excitement
which the November contest called forth.
As to the final result those who are "in the swim"
on either side decline to give "odds."