The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-01-18 00:00:00

MR. FOWLER AT PORTLAND.

Mr. Fowler. the tenant-fartner candidate, was at Portland
on Tuesday night last. His meeting was announced to he
hell at the Royal, but his supporters advised him the
room was not large enough, and consequently the Drill-
ball was engaged. This building is one of the worst
Imaginable for hearing purl-intern, and the speaker's utter-
ance must have failed to reaeh the whole of the audience
In their entirety. From 200 to 300 were present Mr.
Fowler woo received very patiently, and in MHOS parts of
his address was cheered, but. prohably, the bitter coldness
of the evening prevented any particular exhibition of
warmth of feeling.
Mr. 11. SCRIVF.S. who luvi occupied the chair upon the
occasion of the visit of Mr. Digby, presided in this instance
also. He sail he appeared before them in that capacity
not from his own choice. It was but the previous day
that he had been called upon to fill the chair at the
meeting of another candidate. At that time he had no
more idea of taking the chair than he had of going to St.
i Stephen's himself. But he did so on the principle of fair
play and no favour —(hear, bear). When he was asked to
preside again that night he said ho would not; but after
reflection he determited to do so, plainly stating that he
did not pledge himself to Mr. Fowler, Mr. Hatutwo, Mr.
Digby, or anyone else. Ile teal always intended from the
first, and he still did no, to hear what all the candidates
had to say, and then to form his own judgment as to who
I win the better man. _ .

Mr. Fowi.git ii;7; addressed the electors. As naturally
IL was a reflex of those which already appear in this
paper, we most curtail it. It., 811.1 in the course of it that
that was the first time in his life he had appeared in Port-
land : and he had cone down amongst them because he
believed them to be free and independent -(lmar, hear).
It was many years since they had hail the opportunity of
recording their votes in that county, awl the reason Sets
that the county had been held in thraldom. He was one
of theirselves ; and he was a man well known throughout
the country, having worked for hiiuself for many years,
and now prepared to work for them. He himself was
very fond of sailors, for he hall married a sailor's (laugh•
ter -(hear, hear). His wife's father was with Lord
Nelson when he fell at Trafalgar. He (Mr. Fowler)
was son.in-law to an Admiral, and his relative
bad worked himself into his position OA he hail
held his. Now, with regard to the present election, he
wished to show them how the matter was "cooked" for
them and to show them how they would not have been
able to record their votes if Robert Fowler had not come
forward to give them the chance. Ile held in his hand a
letter which had been sent by what was called the chair-
man of the Conservative committee, and it was worded
:liter this style, as far as we could hear of what Mr.
Fowler read it was "As we fear the unhappy division
which exists in the Conservative interest may lead to the
return of Mr. Fowler, without compromising Mr. flambee,
but a view to prevailing upon him to retire, we wish to
know if you will promise in the event of his doiog so not
to oppose him when next a Conservative vacancy occurs."
So that not only were they going to settle for them this
election but the next-(hear, bear). This was the 11th
time he had addressed the electors he then recapitulated
opinions, which will be found reported in another part of
the paper. The question of local taxation did not seem
to progress very fast, but if they only sent him to Parlia-
ment it would land • nasty prickling in its side if it did
not get on with it -(laughter). With regard to his
politics, he was not an old Tory nor was he a
It.vlical. Nothing of the kind. Its was • Conservative
with a Liberal strain -(some one here gave an affected
sneeze. Mr. Fowler, amid much laughter, told the
delinquent he could lend him a pocket-handkerchlef).
Having referred to Clare Sewell Read, and Mr. Plimsoll,
the latter of whom he thought like himself a little too
hotheaded on matters be had taken up, but promising to
give him his support In anything that would help to save
the lives of their precious seamen, he stated his religious
principles to be a member of the Church of England. -
(A Voice: No. Mr. Fowler: oh perhaps you know better
than I do-(much laughter).-But for all that he reveled
his Nonconformist brethren. In his village John Wesley
was born-perhaps not the founder of the sect-but a
brother who lost his gown for preaching what was called
false doctrine. The strong feeling which that occasioned
extended up to now, and the greater part of the people
were Wesleyan., but still they lived in peace. Now he
understood one of the questions in Portland was about the
stone quarries. He did not know much about it, hut he
would tell them this, that he had always gone upon the
system of live and let live' and if the Government said
the stone whieh was cut out by the transports was to be
put into competition with the private quarries of Portland.
then he said it was wrong, it ought not to be allowed, and
they must not do it-(applause). Private labour could not
be as cheap as that done at the national expense, hut
those men were put at Portland for a certain purpose,
and that purpose was not Is destroy his hearers or their
living-Nicer+) In this present contest he WWI not going
to send shout all the lawyers there were in the country.
Ile did not believe in them -(laughter). Ile believed in
the honest opinions of his electors, and he believed they
would carry him without any assistance from those legal
gentlemen. Its had no lawyers in his employ, nor pitt
canvassers-fhear, hear). His friends were doing all that
for him -(a laggli). Ant he believed the result would he
he should tied himself up there (pointing to the ceiling
arni.l great langhter)-the top of the poll-fcheers).
The 01.11101 o: then asked if any. gentleman would like
to ask Mr. Fowler a question.
An individual creat,l it laughter, by asking Mr.
Fowler, whether he was in favour of the liberation of the
Perris known as the elabeent.
. - .

-
Mr. Fowi.ga drew forth marked applause, by replying
he helimmil him to be reePin.: the iust reward of his ill-
doing. In an.wer to others he said he was in favour of
comoulsory vaiicination, and he was certainly sorry to
see the slave circidar had gone nut. Ile had no faith in
the Admiralty Hoard, and believed Sir %limey Lope* to
he a square peg in a round hole. Such a thing ea the los.
of the I'angoaril hail never occurred in Nelson's time,
nor In his wife', father', time, who died an AdmiraL
The meeting shortly after chloral.