The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-08-18 00:00:00

Voratirount4 &gen.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1888.

NOTES OF THE WEEK.

Electioneering is now in fall swing throughout the
country, although fully three months must elapse
before the appeal to the new constituencies can be I
determined. In this county several of the boroughs
are already being canvassed and addreased by
aspirants to Parliamentary honours under the new
Reform Bill, but the candidates are for the most part
gentlemen who are familiar to the several consti-
tuencies. At Bridport, it is true, an unknown man
has appeared in the Conservative interest—Mr.
Augustus Goldamid, • barrister of the Home circuit.
He opposes Mr. T. A. Mitchell, a tried member of
27 years' standing, on the principle probably of
" nothing venture, nothing have," but it does seem
to us that Bridport is the last borough in the county
were • Conservative candidate has the remotest
chance of 'sects., for the majority of the constituency
are Liberals—not to say Radicals, and Mr. Mitchell,
by his long and intimate connection with the
borough, as well as by his many charities there, has
secured the support and approbation of a very large
number of the inhabitants Of course, novelty has
its attractions, and there may be a few of the old
electors who from mere desire for • change, will vote
for the now candidate; the Conservatives will, of
course, generally support him, though some are very
lukewarm in the matter; and probably • portion of the
" residumn" may be found voting for the constitu-
tional candidate; but, we believe there is no Usti-
hood of Mr. Goldsmid being returned, or even
making a good fight for the seat. Dorchester is
quiesoent ; there are vague rumours of oppositice,
but the people generally are so well pleased with
Colonel Stud that they have no wish for • contested
election with its many unpleasant accompaniments.
The Weymouth constituency is a curious one. It
has long been subject to the imputation of • fond.
non for " sugar," and it is notorious that the "soft
impeachment" is not altogether unfounded. The
collapse of the last cosiest on the eve of the poll-
ing day is believed to have made more rueful
countenances in Weymoth the next morning than
ever yet have been or shall be, for visions of untold
wealth, of duns satisfied, enjoymenta in store, and
all the bliss of easy gain, vanished like dew before
the morning sun and left not a trace behind. The
expectant voters were highly chagrined, but, we
believe, that the withdrawal of • candidate on each
aide on that occasion was the one thing that saved
the borough from disfranchisement. The two
parties are so evenly balanced that a contest is a
most exciting affair, the result of which cannot be
foretold, while the venality of a small number of
the electors greatly complicates the issue. Both the
present members seek remlection, and it appears to
be the desire of the great body of the electors that
they should be returned without • contest The
strength of the two parties is so much alike
that the choice of one member by each is a fair
division of the electoral piower, while the example of
Yarmouth affords a good reason to those anxious for
the fair fame of the borough whys welted should be
avoided if it may be done with fairness and honour.
At Poole Mr. Waring offen himself for re-election.
under adverse etroonntabeee, for the London and
south- Western Railway Company have_jiist passed a
resolution for the abandonment of the Bournemouth
railway, on the faith of which to a large extent the
bon. gentleman .eras elected. Under these circuup
nannoae, a requisition, Biped by men of all parties,
has been presented to Sir Ivor Guest, Bart., asking
hint to come forward as • candidate. If. has not
=lvan • reply, but it w=e likely that if he does
to the request thus made he may anticipate
being returned, for the general body of the voters,
smarting under disappointment touching the railway
scheme, are not likely to be very friendly 'thvoing
towards Mr. Waring. Hon, too, Mr. Saky again

promisee some diversion. In Wareham there are
three candidates—two Conservatives and • Liberal.
The second Conservative does not appear to have
met with much snocees on his canvass, and there
seems little doubt but that the struggle will
be ea heretofore between the sitting member,
Captain Ward; and Mr. Dna. Nothing
as occurred, that we aware of, to lessen ,
the popularity of the Calcraft family in Wareham
and the Isle of Purbeck, but much to the contrary,
and therefore we do not expect any change will be
made in the representation of that borough. Shaft...
bury will, of bourse, return Mr. Glyn, the Liberal
whip, without opposition. For the county repre-
sentation no contest is anticipated, so that Genet
will not add its quota to the evidence expected
from the triangular constituencies as to the merits
or demerits of the new system of voting applied to
them. An impartial review of the political situation
in Dorset leads us to the conclusion that so far as
this county 11 concerned there will be no change in
the politics or the persons of its representatives in
Parliatnent.

The grand issue in the approaching election will
be taken on the Irish Church question, and the
addresses of candidata are mainly occupied with
this subject. On the part of llinisterialista we are
promised that the 7 will strenuously maintain Church
and State, while in regard to the Irish branch of
the national Establishment, they avow a desire
for each reforms as may be found neoennyi
This is not, it must be confound, a very
definite programme, although we may fairly
interpret it to mom in most cases, • willingussol
to support such a reduction of the Irish establish-
ment as is recommended in the recently published
report of the Commission, viz., the absorption of four
dioceses in the remaining eight, afresh distribution
of the ecclesiastical revenues, the suppression of some
of the cathedral establishmenta, and the making of
better provision for the increasing population of the
large towns. But the Liberal aspirants to Parlia-
mentary honours may claim the merit of • decided
and vigorous policy, whatever else it may be.
" Mr. Gladstone and the disendowment and deer
tabliehment of the high church" is the leading article
of faith professed by candidates of the Opposition.
The electors will have to choices with whi.z. h of these
two parties they will ally themselves. Each one
must add the Influence of his vote for the amends
meat of the Irish church, or for it* total disestab-
And it is to be noted that though the
immediate issue is the existenoes or abolition of the
Irish Church,it involve, the imperial question of the
expediency of a state religion in the Kingdom.
This is admitted on all sides, and therefore, it
behoves us to approaeh the subject with calmness
and deliberation, not allowing ourselves to be moved
by party zeal or sectarian prejudice. Disestablish-
mein is proposed by Mr. Gladstone because Pro-
testantism is not the religion of the majority in that
country; but to this it is replied, are you then pre-
pared to adopt any form of religion or to to abolish
all religion as the masses of one portion of the
kingdom may decide, and raise the blasphemous
cry Vox popufi vo.c Dei I Surely, say the
defenders of the Irish Church, we must make truth
and not numbers our guide in adopting • national
religion; otherwise, we must be prepared to estab-
lish not only Popery in Ireland but Hindooism in
Bengal. And can we be so unfaithful to the Pro-
teetant truth our forefather', secured to a by the
sacrifice of their lives, to admit such • policy ?
The consequence, of disestablishing the Irish Church
are thus described by the Rev. W. P. Walsh, M.A.,
late Donation lecturer in the University of
Dublin :
"It would be a blunder as well as a crime. It would
not conciliate one enemy, it would not satisfy one
friend. The discontented in Ireland openly declare that
it is not the church they want to get rid of, but the
dominion of England. If you throw us overboard in
the vain hope of stilling the tempest, you will soon find
that it is not Jonah that is wanted, but the cargo and
the ship, and that the first iniquitous conceasion will
embolden to more desperate demands At the same
. . . . .