The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1886-03-23 00:00:00

BLANDIPORD.
Great Libetal Dinner.

I THE POST3LiSTER•OESERAL AND THE
MEMBER FOR NORTH I)ORSET,
The Corn Exchange was packed on Friday night
by Liberals ase•mbled under the presidency of their
member, Mr. Edwin Portman, to dine together and
celebrate the Liberal victory which they have recently
achieved. It turned out fortunate that the announce.
ment Ind not been extend.' to any distance Loin the
town, as there were found sufficient per.ons in Bland
ford and the adjacent villages to completely occupy
all the dining room which the largest etructure in
th• town could afford. Upwards id 300 sat down at
font long bibles extending the central length of the
mom, tbe chairman's lent being conveniently placed,
not, as is too often the case, at the extrente end of
the mole, but midway, at one of the side.. The
dinner wax set punctually for half-past six, and when
Mr. Portman entered to the minute he was received
with loud "bravo.," the cheers being renewed • few
minutes afterwardtai4en. all things tieing ready, he
reentered with Wolverton. Amens this.,
present supporting the chairnsh we noticed—Dr. W.
G. Bacot, and Miser*. .1 Willisms•Bell, W. F.
Brennand, K 11. Smith, (ex•llayor of Bland.
ford), T. M. Park, J. Stewart, J. Watts, T George,
L H• Ituetrg, C. Cherry, If. Dudderidge, C. H.
Curti., .1. Lindsay, E. J. Kendall, E. libenboiough,
R. Brine, and W.J. Jackson.
Dinner OVer and thanks returned, OW CHAIRNAS
gave "The Queen" in capital terms, Mr. Portman
saying that during her reign Literals had been the
predominant (arty in tower, and that Liberalism bad
made greater stride, than in any other time of
British history. (Cheers.l
The National Anthem.
"The Print* and Princess of Wales and the rest of
the Royal Family" met with an equally cordial motile
tion, the propeer remarking that very few itill,lie
men wished harder than the Prince of Wale., as
many of the hardest work. of State society devolved
on him— in fact, hie life wait a perpetual round .4
hard work. Reference wee &ISO made to Ilk introit:it
vi.it. ti, IMrset, and Blendforil Mice knew the Prince
and Princes. very well, their visit. to Bryenston and
Crichel making them personally known here, the last and the call of ditty would be sufficient spicyoccasion when Illandford did high honour to the any seeming neglect on hie part to member. .d the
II it.triom visitor., drawing from the l'riuce ex premiums family' Since he last met them in that room lie kel
of thanks and high praise. (cheers.) H. expressed set in the House id Common+, but the work done
a loyal up.' that it may be many yearn hefore His not very startling, except the one great facto( tuatiii.;
Royal Highness would succeed to the throne, but out the Tory Government ; the rent being dry w..rt
when that time came he was convinonl he would be voting supplies on the estimates. Turning out Ow
cure to secure the hearty good will of the nation. Tory Government had been twisted into many ilt.o.
(Cheer.,.) —the Tory pollen bidding that the quest it in .d Ireland
" i:..1 hies. the Prince of Wales." wee the came of the defeat, but most folk, knew it
"Th.. .tnny, Navy, and Reserve Forces," was al., WAS on the land lineation of Jane Colling. the lan
given in excellent terms by the CnallotAN, who Government were turned out ; and very recensly the
referred to the many pieseetions in distant parts of Free Lance of the Tory >tarty (Lord 14.14"114 the world requiring protection f the army aim Churchill> lad adm i itted n the House they w. r'-
navy, and so they bad to look very much to the turned "tit on the agricultural question. On On
re.erve force,, should necmeity mini to defend their 'l""tion he had not forrnten his promises Of 14.1 g.".
hearth.,and homes. They bad been for ',limy year, to his constituents, but had voted and mire.) out the
in Illandford • strung and useful body of Vohiateaes I.iberal ideas they anticipated. The prewnt huge
and maim/0m ,meld eho hnaat or a aapjtal ars,,W,"a meeting .howed •great Liberal activity to he at mak
Yeomanry. di the Northern I/twitting' of Docent, mai he wi.hel
" Army and Navy," Menses. Dowitun; and publicly oingratulate the working men of th•tt
Dot& division on the hold front they made at the last
Serpteant I)mtnatt, H Company, D.R.V., reeponded election. He knew there ware many threat. and
a. a Dora,' vehmteer if Is years. service, referring inneh intimidation ueed during that time, end if the
to the importance of the Reserve force, • force which threatt., had been carried out many a man would hat,
had int-lived the early prejudices funned against it found his wife and children in • worse condition thin
by military men, and- wits now looked on as one of before the elenin", but they were undantlatedll the most important factors in the Empire for main. and cam, to the poll as their feelings d'
gausses of lance. The Dorset volimteers had been "u" &I",,_,_aPPlA.,nd all Parties for the ihreightf"r'ard
encamped with the regular forces at Aldershot and tray in which the election was "'Tied 'AI' to Lk* close.
elsewhere, and the unvarying opinion of critics, from tan) thing be would like to say to the working men
the Crown Prince of Germany to every brigade. resent. Many perhaps were mire advanced te
1111111jOr they had peeved tinder, was that the regiment lian' principles than other., but he would reiniod
we. one any general might be proud to have under them that al great reforms for the common go.)
1 his commend, and the speaker was proud of belonging were gained by steady, persistent work—they wer•
to such for the sake of the old county. Their company not brought about by revolutions or any violent Wean',
ulUt by far not thelemt important in the regiment, and but inure by means of the pees, which was rtcr
Blandford ought to be proud of it* volunteers. open to &Ramses to advocate their needs. And tin.
(Cheers) he was pleased to think we. the plan gnier.lll
Mr. T. M. PARR rfopo..d "The Bishop and adopted by working torn, for they might see by the
Clernr, of the Meer. and Minister of Dne
enomi• "1"4"11 TrelLiffersquare the other daY thattions. He said be felt soniewbst diffident in truly unemployed workmen met pescesblyewith • good
proiseing much a Mast, and expensed surprise that no intent, and went away ti, their homes theism,. But
minister wee present. Loking round and seeing the the enemies of the working roes, through their
position ministers were in, having to expound the joutnals, said Liberals were advocating Socialism by
truth in face of "theism and other agencies of allowing such meetings, when in fact the rioting wa
untruth now abounding, he hoped they would always caused by clime who could not be termed werkine
be able to do so, and to lead many to follow in tile men, nod hardly honest men. To show the advantage
steps of the great Master, for depend on it if there of the Frees and public discussion no any aeemntif was no religious teaching in our country, it would re- injustice, he pointed to the strides made lately in
lapse into • state of chaos andLookime granting allotments and small holdings to deterring
meg at Hio largo
- seeUbeurers, hod advocated this means of letting Med-
who wagged to pow or ottb-Wdmomiami.... H owners see the deoeseity et such allowance; and IN