The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-04-20 00:00:00

THE DORCHESTER ELECTION RIOTS
To IAo Editor.

Sir,—" Anon" it is evident has rushed into print jest a
little too hastily. Had he read your leader just after and
upon the election he would have found therein • tan-
dem:motion of that violence and rowdyism which boik
pugs* must equally regret. Your correspondent seems
to ignore one important fact, and that is that there is
always in the political mob • tumultuous element which
will manifest its objectionable characteristics whatever
preventative may be resorted to. The Liberals are no
more to blame for the riotous proceedings here than the
Conservatives are for those at Shaftesbury, Newport,
Bristol, Cardiff, and elsewhere. Both parties dislike the
mob; as • rule it contains but • small proportion of
voter,, and its approval is often more injurious than its
antastoniam. It is, however, a strong poi:limn, and when
once it cries "Liberal" or "Conservative" it Memos as
=manageable as • bull in • chin shop. That either side
I. to blame for the disorder no unprejudiced person I
believe will contend; but that much indignation was
caused by the coodect both a the Conservative candidate
and some of his most prominent supporters cannot be
denied. I know for • fact, and it was also mentioned
in your columns, that the former canvassed
with the mairtsmee of the landlord. There are several
cams "landlordism " which I could mention, the con.
sequences of which one Dorchester tradesmen very'
narrowly escaped. lam only sorry the fellow did not get
his deserts in the bores-pond. Then. again, the announce
meat of false returns during the contest. from the Con-
servative committee-mom window, was calculated to
exasperate the mob in the highest degree. No weeder
the windows of this place were broken. It is surprising
to me that nothing more serious occurred. Then, again,
had we not ladies (I) threatening the disocatinuance of
their charities in the of the objects of them support-
ing the Liberal candidate I Before anyone attempts even
Weresorieffor to blame the Liberals of Dachester let the
d logs of their open, nts be examined, and then perhaps
the Tories will discover that just now "silence is the
sanctuary of prudence."
Your iditorial foottiole leave* me very little to say. It
ii amusing to bear that " it is not difficult to conceive a
type of honest Liberalism." I wonder what qualities the
adjective is here me int t Include. lilt be not too much
t ask " Anon," perhaps he will afford me the information.
I should also like to be informed, as many of your corre
spondents have lately asked, what Toryism has gracious!,
done for the working climes I What he. it ever done for
political and religious liberty and equality? has it ever
In its history been anything but the conservator of the
powers and privileges of one case and the epponeat to the
progress and just claims of the other?
I should also like to know what is meant by "England's
protection against being led away and disarganised by the
inflames on OonserviWam of personal Mese, calumny and
vilification r is it meant England's protection against
Tory criticism? As illustration of what "Anon" refers to
would be most acceptable.
is for "the sober and eastagef working men," (of course
the working men moats "contented" "Reiland be thank-
ful" erns to be • great injunction in the Tory dealogue)
being • too manly and lost to take for granted all that is
sow lbsm of their depressed condition, and are not willing
to believe their object in Ufe should be to sink all society
to their own level," all I can say is that this kind of
working man would be • poster marvel than
the istallipset Conaervative working man, of
whom we used to hear so mech. " Anon"
knows little practically about the working
belong to thew They must never be contented until they
have relieved themselves from some of the heavy burdens
which now prise so heavily upon them. They must
on to attain a higher and purer mental and
:"Xictlicre, they must look more carefully to the educa-
tion of their children, they mast overcome many of their
own vices and prejudicm The *anal law of nature Is
progression, and if true to themselves they must follow it.
They cannot, in fact, ever stand still; the time is past
for that. They must be moving, not to level others, but
to elevate themselves.

PLXBKIAN.