The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-09-15 00:00:00

TO THE INDEPENDENT ELECTORS OF THE
BOROUGH OF WEYMOCTH AND
MELOOMBE REOLt

G
THE time is fast approaching when the
bououmble trust you so kindly reposed in toe, by
returning me as your Representative to the House of
Commons, will be Again place,' in your hands. I hope
that my conduct while there has been such as to meet
your approval, and to obtain for me a renewal of your
eonfidence, by permitting cc to have the honour of
representieg you in the new PArliament.
Prom the time I entered the House of COO7OlOllll
have honestly and consistently followed out the
principles I professed when I first sought your suffrage;
and that will, I trust, be a guarantee for my future
bourse. I was returned by you to support Liberal
principles in that assembly. I have always done so.
My votes, given on all the great public questions which
have been before the Legislature, will bear witness to
my fidelity to thaw principles.
The great question of Ref..rm has absorbed much of
the time and attention of the House, and the Act
last station, moulded, to it was &huge extent,
paused
e Liberal party, has secured • considerable access
of popular power, with a oorreeponding increase to the
strength of the Constitution. Souse of the objection-
able features of the Bill, however, still remain to be
improved in the futon, Parliament, when I trust the
vexation cod trouble occasioned to the Compound
lionselioldtr, will he removed, and Electors protected
from intimidation by the roar by Ballot
I have voted for the abolition of Compulsory Chun*
Rates, and rejoice that this fruitful of discord no
longer caste; and I anticipate with confidence that
unity will be found where religious strife barn beton
existed.

lOUrOO

I have voted for the A‘solition of the Lash in the
Army, • punishment wtoch I believe degrades and
brutalises without any r.,f"rmatory influence : I trust
that this, together with Ole additional interest shewn in
our soldiers, will raise the inoral tone of our army and
place that branch of our public defence ins yet higher
state of efficiency.
The condition of Ireland is a 'object of the grayest
consideration. The chronic discontent of the people
has mused exceptional nieuores to be taken for the
public safety, and all thoughtful minds have been con-
sidering how ta meet the evil. One fruitful source of
discontent being a Protestant Church establishment,
with the population mostly Roman Catholic, ths
present Government pr posed to give them religious
equality by " the Roman Catholie priest-
hood, and establishing • Vniversity for that body alone;
bet this has been abandonee, and an appeal is now
made to 16-establish the existing Ch4rob, instead of
endowing all ethers. I feel the time has arrived when
this should be done, not simply because • source of
irritation would he removed from the ROIIIIUI Catholic
population, but because I feel that for the interests of
religion, the Protestant Church should appear before
that people without the strong trejudiose fostered in
their rnicils against her truths, by the position of
antagonism in which she is made to appear to them.
The Members of the Protestant Church of Ireland
are numerically small in comparison with the Roman
Catholic population, yet they represent the bulk of the
property in that country ; and I believe they have too
much love for their Church to allow it to decry for
want of support, especially when we me those who
have but little property, with credit to themselves,
sastaiting their religious institutions. To think other-
wise would be • libel on them and a scandal to our
faith; and by her die-establishments I believe, instead
of there being no increase in the number of her members
for years in propurtion to the population, she would
receive an impetus for usefulness which would soon
manifest itself.

The nubject of Education must of necessity seriously
occupy the attention of the new Parliament It is one
of the most imperative of our boreal duties, and though
grave difficulties may surround the method of its
extension, yet I hope the time is net far distant, when
every child born in this kingdom shall possess, at least,
the rudiments of education, without any violation of
Its religious principles.
The finances of our country will challenge closer
scrutiny than they have yet received, and everything
which a true economy might suggest be carried into
practice. Our army end navy mast be kept in thorough
efficiency, but recent ieformetion thews that the public
money is wasted teen extent unimegined by those who
have not given attention to the subject. The time I
believe is not remote, when under the auspices of
another Government, the affairs of our country will be
both honourably and economically conducted.
I hoped to have seen you before thin, bet am un-
fortunately detained in London by severe indisposition.
At the earliest moment ruy physician thinks I may
travel, I shall do myself the pleasure of coming amongst
you. I remain,
Your most obedient and faithful Servant,
HENRY EDWARDS.
Dated Aaguet 3rd, 1868.
53, Berkeleycquare, London.