The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-04-05 00:00:00

THE BALLOT.

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The Liberal Association held its fifth monthly
general meeting at the Foresters' Hall on Tueaday
night, a hen there was as usual a capital attendance.
The President, J. P. F. Gundry, Esq., of Bridport and
Sidling Court, occupied the chair, supported by the
Mayor (C. Edmunds, Esq.), W. Colfos, EN.
Alderman A. Reynolds, Alderman W. Swain. Alder-
man Beach, Captain Martin, T. Male (Hon. Sec.) itc.
The Chairman rtad the following letters arising out
of a resolution passed at the last meeting :-
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•
"London, February 18, 181.
"Dear Mr. Gundry,—l stud. have :rest pleasureii. Mae.
Ins the reso ution that you have f. rwarded me on behalf
of the Bridport Llbera dissociation, before Mr. Giad•tooe.
It is marvelous and satiate-to yto see the reat numbers
of simi sr moo utious which have been forwarded to Mr.
Gladstone from every part of be com.try."
"I aro, dear sir, yours isithfuliv.
"RICHARD GROAVENOR.'
. . . .

"10, D0w;114.-ar;et,--V—Vhileii-il.
Gladstone desires me to thank you or your
letter of the 11th Inot , and for the resolution passed by
the Bridport Liberal Association, of which you sent a
copy. It has given him much p easu•e to receive the
aesurance of thirr confidence in the In h Policy of list
Majesty'. Government.
"I am sir, your obedient servant,
" Houca SE11101:11.

"I P. F. Otorowr. KA."
The atter, wer heartily ree •ved, an after a few
epprepriste remarks Mr. Sundry called upon Mr. Beech
for his paper on the "Ballot.'
Mr. laffia BRACII was heartily cheered on rising, Anil
at once proceeded to give his paper, which was of a most
interesting description. The following is a brief
ntemsee:—Mr. Bead, prefaced his remarks with a
satirical poem by Tom Moore, published in WWI, in
reference to the ballot-box, which. Imving been the
subject for satire in one generation. Lot beeome the
deliberate and recognised practice in the next.
Main object of the Ballot Bill was secret voting. It
aimed at the prowerution od pen.. .nation. awl undertook
In Oafish the public nomination of eaudidatcs
ho-
speeches at the hustings. 'Elie Cona•rvatives strongly
resisted the Bill; and the praetice of talking against ti .... •
delayed its prorr....s. :tit.' it did not remelt the Lords
aatii August Inth, when it was rejected by the Peers oil
the ground that there was not time for its due eonsioh•ra -
lion. In the beginning of thi• next session it was
intr•Aisee•l to amend laws of pro... Ann. at elect hms,an,f
included the introduction of secri•t voting. I Atinnitely
it passed both Houses. the Lords pros.. .sing to adopt it
,to cc esperhoent until the en.' of Ingo. !hiring the
reeaent 1..0511 as. working of the Art will be eonsitlered.
The day for personal government wan gone, although a
frex.l2l Priltie Minister had done his beat to bring it
beck again. NoialiaNy it still existed, but in name
only. It had given place toe stronger, a healthier, and
more Liberal fonn of Governtiwut. the divine right of
kings laving yielded to the diviner right ••( the p.n.ple,
whose representatives made the laws cud were re-
sponsible is* the due performaun• of the trust committed
to them. Thus the eleetor brought with lam a power
which, in the aggratate..h.tennined on what lines the
Gneeranreat of die ...entry should pneve•L After
&Mail g the 1111:110k' alio'. ••1 all elefiltr, Met refilling
to the privileges conferred bv the Reform Bill •if Dna,
jk.a.h proceeded to allude lit the prineiples on
which our elect, ea I j•rinei pies al Id rest. He contended
that there should Is• manhood suffrage. on the grown!
that the law. were made for the entire community. and
every man shoul•I lave a voice in making laws to which
In IWO 51.1.1 olsslienee. Ile also adv•aated that ty„
sugrage should be extended to W•din.U—it .•Inla. as yet
Ihaeieg no representative in Parliament, and contended
that as women mental power would bear a very fair
eonitetriesea with and that as the intelleet was, or
should I.e. 11‘.. motive power ifl tillalifying the votrr,
women should also Is• enfranehisml. Iteferring to the
resposaibility meting upon voters. the 'meeker said the
Volt- was :1 tt11,4, moo Ilw becallaC it was a right.
At the eleetion of 1874,ag 2.1 of the largest boroughs in
Great Britain.llw•iggngete 111111161.1' of electors was Ica
than t vro•t lards of those On tin j ristler, and in 114140, in
the 21 largest, the another polled %;its 1111.14.-four/1,,, ~f
Oat*. on tbs. register. 'llas Mort. filVolliable result Was
probably an,h. tle• fact that the ballot Witit
known to la• a proteetion f.• the voter. But, aid
Mr. 1111101, Oar.. quettiiint arises. Was this
thing. which. to said, was a right, it privilege,
a trust, and it 4111 Y or rather almllll.l it he, a
marketable couniu•siity I A thing to be hotight and sold
under any rir..llllv4ani...K. Every right-minded ts•r,..n.
he felt sure, would say wits. a thourawl times
hn. Tiwn• was bat ow. way 1.. deal with imwnsibilitv
valin• such am be displayed ln bold bia Vole—anti ;
that way was to give him no vote. ketarniug to the
eoneideration of the mode in which the sister should
re, hi,t vote, he showed that after • trial of many years
the old 'Tamil of open voting was pronounced—to aise I
the leaa—stischievous. If a man voted at all in. ahonCi '
vote as hie intelligenee and eon•elenee dins.ted.
The protection 4I the ballot, said Mr. Beach. was •fier
all by few. A conshocnt political life hail a
voter moo' eronrineteg than the foams ••f any I 11111 l an
voice. Had the Ballet Hill during its trial ace 06641
all Ila. result• anticipated P They could not speak eon-
tidently on ont. point. Vl7_. the yawning of bribery. Th..
Bill n-as a vigorous and single-nritoisd attempt to dual
in an usurping 1110111ler with Is gross mai increasing evil.
A loud applause grseted Mr. lieseh id the conclusion
rif his interesting paper, when Mr. MAITERVACIN muoted
swine historical facts relative to the subject, which
tangled of the manner in which rwamt members for
Ilrieport had interested themselves Is the subjeet.
hfr Matterfece remarked that the dna hail lawn
when lkidport was known through its nwinber--aad
St was now; but with a difference. (I.ned Isugiune.)
The (.11A1nMIAN now to thank Mr. Iteaeh fir his
waluable paper:, it had been listened to with profound
attention and into**. interest. He thought these even-
ings passed most pleasantly, and were full of wholesome
isetenctien.
Mr. tflugnint moved a vote of thanks to the speakers,
which was carried with aeclarnafinn.
A ~hoes ,fitwoogoo j‘dnad in by various
members'. and, in aniiwer to a queetioa. Al•l••rman
ItitYttousa assured them 4 the entire 11411%,)" isy woling
by ballot.
The 1711Al1alliAN then read a leiter lie had rveeired!
Imo: a Liberal genth•man of the eouyty with regard to
the subject of marriage with a deceased Wile'rt sister,,
with a wtsb that be (tlie elairman) would bring it
before rho meeting. The resolution was as fuliowe :
Thatlasing regard to the fact that a large majority
of the yenta.. of the l'uited Kingdom and the British
.Goloniee icing in favour of the legalization of marriage
with a dm-muted wife's sister, and the adnasaiim that
ouch marriages ase not repugnant to Scripture, while,
Sun the other hand, the yrohibition of them Is eriNIIICtiVO
of great hardship and to the increasing evils arising
sod of constant evasions of the Jaw, which receive the
unit %airtime ue full approval of soajzty,ihia mouwiation
leilll,ollell holm. that the extaing prohibition
will he speedily repealed, and that Her Majesty's
Government will afford the neeessary facilities her the
dissenssion of any measure lacing this 014.44 in view
which may be Introduced in this session of Parlianient."'
Mr. W. COLTME, LA., seconded tie. motion, and it
was supported by Illr. BItCH, Mr. CoLfrin had felt
strongly on the subject for mime years, and he /bought
it recommended Itself to all Liherela, (14,ra.)
Mr. iliac,' thought there was alieriptund argument
iii ;avour of it.
The motion being put was carried anaohaegaly, and
ISt. at:ND said be would see it forwarded through
ILY
the proper channel to the Prime Mlnlater,
A hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman coseluelesi
the rneelleg.