The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1886-02-16 00:00:00

Complimentary Liberal Dinner

at D3rcheBter.

1
'A

Last night • woeking-mrs'a dinner was held at the
Nosthequare Assembly Rooms, to celebrate the ,
return of Mr. Sturgis as member for the division. !
There was a large company, numbering about 300
working.men (the great majority of whom were
voters.) The room wan pilyoecorated with festoona
and flags, the walls being adorned with 113Itle. of
eminent Liberal statesmen, while over the Chairman
sea a large picture of Mr. Gladstone. Mr. Sturgis
ea entering the room was enthusiastically received,
and throughout the proceedings' sera marked by
much geniality and warmth.
The Rim. T. Nears presided, on his right being
Mr. Sturgis, and on his left his energetic lieutenant,
Mr. Howard•llowen. At the top table there were
also present Rev. F. Vaughan, Mr. A. It. Lock, Mr.
Peard Jillard , Mr. W. Tilley, Mr. Thomas (Upwey),
Mr. P Pike. Mr Stickland, Mr. Groves, &c. The
company sat at four long tables, each of which was
presided at by • well•known Liberal, viz., Mr.
Jameson Ma. Herbert Groves, Mr. Hayman, and
liz Wrignt.
The dinner was provided by Mr. Selway (of the
llneeluriter Attn.) who catered admirably, and to the
complete satisfaction of the committee. Many
prominent Liberal, of the town kindly acted AA
waiters.
Grace was mid by the Rev. F. VAVGHAN.
The usual loyal toast. were duly .lisnittoti from
the chair, the Ctittrifes remarking they, as Liberals,
were friends of law &nil order, and preominently
friends of the Crown. (Cheers, and "God Save the
Queen.")
" The Prince and Princes. of Wales and the rest
of the Royal Family' followed, and was cordially
received.
Mr. A. licit, in a neat little speech, gave "Th.
Bishop. and Clergy of the Church nf Knglanil, and
Minister, of all Denominations." Mr. 'wick con.
traded that, despite the aasertions of 150 m.% th !y
were, an Liberal., as real Christiana as any other
body of men. (Cneert.) Mr. ink, in the emir, .4
his remarks, aloha very highly of the new Bishop.
Rev. F. VAelilfAM suitably replied. Sometime.;
they were blackballed and called political parsons,
hut he contended that they only aimed tenlvisiseis the
interests of their fellow men. (Applause.) That was
the general tone and teaching of the denomination to
which he belonged. Ile was not only a pers.!). hot
a citiwn, and he claimed his right to stand shouldor
to shoulder with his fellow men of lAprort to advance
the Liberal interest. (Cheers.)
" The Army, Nave, and Reserve Force*" was
propoed by Mr. W. Titter, and Sergeant Marx, if
the I wpd, replied, se the .sly Liberal non-commis-
aionoll officer in the Barrack., • distinction of which
he onto-reed himself proof. (Cheers.)
The CHSIRLAN then in wenn terms proposed the
health of the " Member for South IMmet." Sfr.
Nesse alluded to the late contest, one which had been
fought with integrity, istraightforeardness, and
purity—(applausso they 'II knew the manner in
which they won, which he ventured to say was only
an indication of the splendid majority which lie
would receive at the nest election. (leani cheers.)
Mr. Sturgis had now had sow little experience if
Parliamentary life, is and . -e would venture to say in
their name, and in the mann of the conatituency, that
h• entirely fulfilled their anticipatimm. (Applause.)
Mr. Nears alluded to Mr. /Borgia' deep interest in
the condition of the real popnlation. With regard
to the Irish difficulty, ho believed he would give •
loyal support to Mr. Gladstone, anti hoped he would
have the satisfaction of giving his side to moist Mr.
Gladstone towards a niumplinnt anlutinn of that
great question. (Cheers.)
The toast was remived with enthusiastic cheer., the
company rising and singing " For he'• • jolly good
fellow."
Mr. fill'enia spoke at sane length in reply,
flailing principally with 'missions of imperial
pslitios. Having es pressed his thanks for the ret-ep-
tiun of the beat, lie made • graceful Allusion
Si his first Aispearance it. that room, when he was
ealected ass candidate, end to the kindness which lie
hest met with since. With regard to Parliamentary
affairs, he •miired them it gave him the greatest
pleasure in the world to a.int iii turning mit the late
Government. lie denied that the ilivisnin was taken
on any other (Amends than that of Mr. Jr.-40
Coning. 81110.11.1.11.41 t 1%1114.11 lii• strongly oupported),
find maintained it had nothing whatever to do with
the Irish question. Moir, hem.) As to the latter
difficulty, they did ii. 4 in the least know what the
views of the Cabinet were, hut his personal I ponion
was that they should grout to the Mister Isl And the
very largest iiirswire of self gossincomit ronsi•tenl
with the nativity ..1 the Empire. i
At some length the pos•tlielite, I ths
situation. a el exprio....l the opinion thy would not
°hunt p.m, and otiler witleoit A further pa .rantee
with n•gard to the I MI. •hotilit likes to 0.4, a
large 1,..c...g out the Irish lanilletils.
(Alp' i 11...) Whatever might Itoppen, he believed
Alt. Gl...lstone's 5ch..111.• be one which every
true litheral would be ..,,••••iimen•ld• to support.
(Applause.) .tr. Sturgis. this subject, Domed
on to " home" matter., Avid urged tAI then, the iiiip..rt•
MSC, of organisation. They hail bad a slileni iii s ic•
tory, but he must say, speaking se if he were • raw..
horse, ha ionly succeeded in getting his nom just past
the past before the other borer. (Laughter and ap-
plause.) Lot them never forprt the importance id
organisation, so that they might he prepared for
another Itykt. and (or another or even more glorious
victory. ((said all-1 prolonged cheers.)
Mr. *maids said he had been asked to propose the
toast of "the South Doreet Liberal Association and
the late victory.' It amid not have been entrusted to
batter hands, m he could testify to Ow hard work
that had been done in the came of Liberalism. He
could not help being struck with the way in which
the labourers grasped at the vide when be went round
at the varlollll villages. (Hear, hear,)
Mr. Itteess, in nwponding, said he hardly knew
what to say toßin. reception they had given to the town
of the Dorchester Liberal Working Men's Anemia-
tien. It IFILS • very great pleasure to him to me so
many working men there that evening. Ono fact
this stench hint rery much was • letter that appeared
in the Teleprwaa inlie after to the election, whore
the writer said he was in Flees-street when the news
mrivedritherseultof South Dorsekand it was • plasinare
to hoer the crowd shout nut "Bravo, South Dorset
fie agreed with Mr. Sturgis when he said that it was
owing to the winking classes that this election had
been won. Mr. Near., awl Mr. Pike were the men
who went &Isn't the country instilling into the minute
n 1 the labourers this idea. hilvereliesu. Wnem,
h • had born be always fonnd such true friends as Mr.
Thomas and Mr. NL•dstera at all their meetings. It
!drink him very forcibly the way in which the
labourer' rebid. He knew of eosiic nieces whore the
dilliiemo of the 'squire and parson wens dead agnintt
them, hilt on the day of the election these mos voted
dead against the 'squire anti the farmer. He mild
wit help thinking that some if the men who blight at
Weirdo° mind have come from Month Itsmer. lle
h,sped they ...ethical,. now the battle hail ("light
soil win, a. they did when they compivre I N
that they had crushed the opponents far sorer I Loos]
cheers.) Tins Conwrvativea thought that hue wet ing
man wodd sell his conacience for his weekly
That wa• not the p dioy. In inc places thisy
were denied the use .4 schooltomma 1...r4.1*r it as.
said the ,'Sher party had lawn there, and it might di•.
tnrb he, villagers. (" Shaine.' ) The Co aerratties
have born very busy in Weymouth in fo. ming •
Primrose league. 'they meniol to have the wisdom
or a ItialllllllCk. The idea they woiked upon wet that
t'sy wmild mow and have a smoke with you. and if
that n„t convert you they would send ism/ of
their ladies., and if that failed then they lusd nothing
s.ene pi do but give " the beggar Owlighter,)
, But they weldsi have to Amok.. theinsehm the choir
of mahogany 'whirr thee Cull‘«rt,,,l the werking uivau
Infos Conservative. He asked theta to hewn/sof the
ladim. Colonel Houleii was now in a new osimiland.
He wee conning down on them with hi• new army -
vu.. the look.' brig...le; hot they wuuihd tell hint
they did not want any of the tomb... Wry 14 the Ito ty
who have to shelter themselves. behind petties..sts.
(Latiglite..l Nli. r4tilr4l.l was .1 Or
thAt it lirindwey the other day a christening
took place, awl when the clergrman :wk.( the done
of the cnild was ttilli J.,llllSiturgie." (Intuglifer.)
Et.% the balms now were becoming Wirral. lie
thanked them very much for drinking his health, wed
hoped they would retuni Mr. Sturgis at the inset
fosstins with • mush larger majority than the lass
(A ',planar.)
Mr. %.11.1,711AN she' returned thanks, and said he
bad lowa ouswthing of • 'wad,' at the commeilmmens
of their ieganimtion. At Middletown he was Mie
the 5.4 who introducol Mr. Stoves to the electors'.
Since then he lota brim called a wicked men. because
he lent his lialtle to the Lilwral party. and dabbled is
pdisics. lie reinsonlsersid when Mr. F,Awartt mar
Atrighton fie the first time. lie was • molest
str.sneer amongst the iseopl, hot they returned hits
'Of ti•• l•••• 1 .4 the poll, such M. prophesied flu'.
eldsoisgh Mr Sturgis' name wed( lo at the
.flh.e voting paler, he would lie reinrned at the head
Ite poll the &MON AS Mr. Faeces. nod he,
hrir ton. He maul d.or all !II power eticonrags
be mocking men in his dwtriet, but what they wasted

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