The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-06-30 00:00:00

j3nriat &nig Exprtss.

TIMSDAY, JUNE 30, 1874.

NOTES OF THE WEEK.

After a week's reflection, Sir Ivor Guest,
Bart., has abandoned the formidable list of
charges he framed against the hon. member for
Poole and the electoral body generally, and for
the present Parliament the Hon. Evelyn Ashley
occupies in peace his position as representative
of the sorely-maligned borough. There were
sixteen counts in the indictment laid by the
hon, baronet, each one involving a legal offence
of a serious character. They were either made
factiously and in recklessness, or they were war-
ranted by facts capable of proof; and the with-
drawal of the petition places Sir Ivor in this
dilemma—either he brought grave charges
against the hon. member and his supporters
which he knew he could not substantiate, or he
has connived at practices which are disgraceful
,in theinselva and contrary to law. Whichever
I it be the hon. baronet has done Poole an ill turn
in holding it up to the world as a corrupt
borough ; and, doubtless, the electors will long
bear in reinembnuice the events of the year
1874, and spurn with resentment any future
wooing of the Knight of Canford. Poole is not
electorally an appanage to Sir Ivor's estate,
'although the inhabitants keenly feel his terri-
torial power within their borough ; and it
redounds greatly to their honour that they have
stood firm by their principles, unmoved by the
blandishments of the Canford interest, and
faithful ainongst constituencies when faithlessness
was popular. The recent proceedings, initiated
either secretly or avowedly by Sir Ivor Guest,
have shown such an utter dim-lard for the best
interests of Poole, and, indeed, of aught else
save the lordly pretensions of the house of
Canford, that we cannot but think the electors
will hold to their Liberal principles with the
greater tenacity when they consider the selfish
domination from which Mr. Waring and the
I hon. member for the borough have delivered
them.

Midsummer finds the country in fairly com-
fortable circumstances. The Conservative
Ministry has managed better than was expected
of it—the publicans, however, have not got all
they anticipated, the Civil servants say the
change of Ministry has shifted them from the
frying-pan to the tire, and the poor seamen so
gallantly championed by Mr. Plimsoll have
su‘veeded so nearly in defeating the Govern-
ment, that their case will surely command
redress. Meantime, Mr. Disraeli has cleverly
conveyed the impression that a Conservative
Ministry assures happiness to the country, and
audaciously appealed to history, saying,

- - - - --
"We have combined religious equality with, National
Church; we have maintained the authority of monarchial
and aristocratical institutions with a large distribution of
political power among the people; and we have made a
free exchange of commodities conaistent with the exist-
ence of a prosperous because an untaxed native industry."
But he did not say how the Conservative
party treated all thou great reforms as long as
resistance was possible. In commercial affairs
there is little to disturb our serenity. Trade is
fairly active, and the labour disputes are neither
many nor important, that of the agricultural
labourers alone excepted. But the farmers are
learning to rely on their own resources, and the
labourers will be compelled to shift for them-
selves in similar fashion. The Bank rate if
discount remains at two and-a-half per cent.,
and in the open market the rates are about a
quarter less.
The Primate's Bill to regulate public worship
has passed the House of Lords who had very
clear convictions that it was a necessity, and we
see every reason for expecting the House of
Commons to hold the same opinion. What then
are we to expect 1 Conformity, regularity, sub-
mission, peace 1 or a factious opposition which
will disturb and irritate until it raises grave
thoughts of disestablishinent. We fear there
will be touch contention and division. It is only
a question where the National Church shall
I draw its hard and fast line, but Ritualists and
Broad Churchmen may remember there aplenty
of scope and perfect liberty outside.
I The Licensing Bill, or rather the Intoxicating
Liquors Bill, as it reecho' the House of Lords,
• is "a thing of shreds and patches," and nukes
their Lordships make it read intelligibly, the
Act will give ' nse trouble when an attempt
is made to work it. Take, for example, the
clause—and a most important one it is—which
has reference to the hours of closing in connec-
tion with a "place." The interpretation clause
011 this subject is as follows :—" Populous place
means any area which, by reason of the number
and density of its population, not being less than
1,000, the County Licensing Committee may,
by order, determine to be a populous place."
What a strange definition clause ! "The
density of its population not being less than
1,000!" It is to be hoped that some of the law
Lords will put into clearer English such
a wretched jumble. Of course, it is
natural that the licensed victuallers should, in
spite of all its defects, give their qualified
approval to a measure which, undoubtedly,
relieves them front many restrictions, and there-
fore we can understand the opinion expressed
at the meeting of their Defence League at
Birmingham on Friday, that the Bill, though
not all that could be chaired, wu worth accept-
ing. But what may be very good for the
publicans may be very bad for the public.
We have resolved to protect slavery on the
West Coast of Africa in our dmmmninions, whilst
on the East Coast we bring pressure to bear upon
a foreign Power for the purpose of extinguishing
it. The statement seems almost incredible;
and yet there were found only forty-seven mem-
bers of the House of C is to vote against
the scheme. The Government proposals for the
re-organisation of the Gold Coast are in litany
respects highly judicious; but this recognition
of slavery is a terrible blot upon them. Grant
that there is only a mild form of " domestic
servitude" on the Coast—and we do not know
enough to grant it; yet the principle involved is
surely not one to be trilled with by an English
Government and an English people. It, there-
fore, gives us much satisfaction that Mr. Ashley
will to-night definitely raise the question in the
House of COMIUMIL