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

PUBLIC MEETING OF LIBERALS.

SPWII Br MR. H. P. RTURGIR. M.P., THI Rif. T.
MRAVII, MR. J. IL RoniNs, RTC.

An enthusiastic meeting .4 Liberals wen held in
the Bunton Hotel .tasembly Rooms en Tuesday even.
ins, and was well attended. The chair wee tak.li by
Mr. H. Pet., of Fleet House. He wee supported by
Mr. If. I'. Sturgis, Ml'. for South Doreet, the Rev.
T. Neave, of 1/orchester. the Rev. F. Beckley, of
Upwey, the Rev. W. Lewiy„ Mr. Buck JP., Mr.
Howard Bowen, Mr. Fowler, Mr. Freeman, Mr.
Dennis, and Mr. Brown. Phere were also peasant in
the audience Messrs. J. K Bennett, Buck. Rollo,
Jeans, Denning. Byrnee, Russell, Otter (Broadway)
Burch, Brown, P.trnan,
The CHAIRMAN, ii hie opening remarks, first
alluded to the loss which the Liberal party of the
locality had suffered by the death of the late Alder.
man Lundie. He remembered that at the first meet.
insr at which he (the chairman) presided in July last,
Alderman bundie attended, and used very kindly
lampiage. He heard afterwards of the great respect
- which '` • and • ' hi,-

and he condemned not, as some of their opponents
condemned, their policy before they knew what that ;
police was. Mr. laadstene —(cheers)—was a good and '
earnest man, and was not unacquainted with the
wants of Ireland. (Renewed cheers.) Mr. Sturgis—
(great applanse)—nanie amongst them that night to
thank them for the aasi•dance they had rendered him
during the ekcti ))))) but he thought it wait those
present who might to thank Mr. Sturgis --deheersi—
owing to the honest and noble way in which he fought
the conteat. (Cheers.)
• • •-•

Mr. H. P. Sreeets, who WAS reoeived with
vociferous cheers. said that unless his supporters had
worked hard during the election they would not have
had such good results. (Hear, hear.) Alluding to
the death of the late Alderman Lundie, be decreed
that when he thought of the last time that Alderman
te
Its,) sustained. He had not known Alderman Lundie
tiheripd iheoairppernaerervedl on thewamt
mplatthef err., he
whokihnlrtlhneotot
long, but y-tlmg en.," gh to appreciate• his straight.
forwarl dro oder and his honest ProlmPle'r (Hears 1
hear.) P.assnig from that to ether anbjecte, he re•
marked they once snore bad Mr. (Ilatietrine Al I'rime
Minister ef England. (Hear. hese) He need not
tell hi. hearer. he considered this to be • matter for
great congratulation. en far ea the country was con-
corned. (Great applanse.) They knew • Liters'
Government WM always better than a Tory one-
-1 ileughter and applause) —and at present it WM most
1 important they should have an united Government id
' strong men, in place of the late weak and vacillating
iiterverneonTien.t.itir,(pH,e,fart,
satisfaction. (Cheers.) Every
prat was filled with
the right man in the right ace. (Hear, hear.)
ilioenok at
hhe"'CalinThetewy i"thrirldut not
This was not only true in respect to the Cabinet
itself, but was even more true in regard to the sob.
ordinate positions. These had been filled with
remarkable judgment, and with persone who would
give the greatest of satisfaction to the country.
Although Mr. Chamberlain had accepted &prat below
that to which he was properly entitled, he did nos
think he could have ha') • peen in which
he would do better work on behalf of the
country. (Applause.) They ought really to 111ee good
legislation in regard to local giwernment. and
SoPecielly in respect to land. (Hear, hear.) It was a
good thing for the country a Liberal Government was
in power. but from a party p hut of iew perhaps it
was a subject for mixed congratulation. He thought
she vacillation awl weakness of she Teri..., as shown
since they had been in office. wart much that it wild
have become even louse apparent, and that had they
been given a little
theineelves irretrievably (Roars of laughter old
applailee.) would like, from a party luuintof
vow, to have seen them come forward to deal with
Irish legislation. Had they given them another
month or two they weeld have get rid of them for 20
Teal% at least. (llhlah laughter and applsner.) Now,
however, they would go on saying what they wiedil
have done hail they remained. As to Mr. Glacbitene
he was bound to consider what was hest for the
country. (Applause.) That indomitable courage and
general honesty for which he was so famous would
enable him to carry out his duty. (Hem, hear.) He
did his best. He did that grandly and with income,
for he turned the Tories out. (Hear, hear.) It wart,
however, no good saying the position of the present
Government was a strong position. It mattered not
bow good might be the measures, or how strong
might be the men, for they could not have • govern-
merit with a strong position when it had not the
command of the whole of the House of Commons.
If they wanted a strong government they must have
an undonbtrel majority over every mction end fraction
of the House of Commons, and this they had not got
at the present time. In the electinn campaign Mr.
Gladstone urged the electore to return Imre Liberal
majorities in order that the Liberal Government
might have a free hand to deal with all the
matters, but unfortunately the constituencies did not
do an requested, and the consequence was their
present condition. When they were in a position
which 'Air. Gladstone deprecated and asked to have
avoided, he was bound, being is that position, to
make the best of things. Neither he nor any of
them who worked with him would for one moment
merinos their conacisece. simply for the purpose of
obtaining vote. on as to remain in power. (Cheers.)
They would inthold that which was right. If they
gave way at all it would he in respect t points which
were iminaterial. (Hear, hear.) lie hail alluded to
the late lovernment going out of power, and some of
Ilia hearers would remember that he had always had a
strong feeling with reelect to the extremely immoral
way in which they came into pear. (Hear, hear.)
Their entry into power last summer RAW Alle Of the
meet immoral acts in statesmanship, and that being
so, their exit was one of the weakest things he had
ever Seen iv bin life. (Hear, hear.) \Dien the ljneen'n
speech rain.' 1,10 he was perfectly asortinded at the
onliairin in it. First of all they were told inherit the
great depression in trade. and that the agricultural
districts were in • very unfortunate condition. He
read on, expecting to find A remedy, but it was net
there, fir all they found was the old story as to the
Royal Cuummiasi.in. Slarie 111,11,10 might tidier
in that. but he did wit. (Hoar. hear.) Ileefill
informatinn might in that way he collected, but as to
its benefitting the depremion in the country, M.
agriculture, he did nut believe it for one moment.
(Hear. hear.) Alluding to Ireland, he was if
opinion it was very easy to nee why they had inkier
in the speech, and certain statements afterward..
They had silence because the Conservative Cabinet
Was divided in respect to Ireland. (Atitilitese.)
Neverthelese the Tories wanted to make it appear
they were Venal mit of offior beelMrie if their defence
of the integrity nf the empire Alluding to Mr.
Jeerer Collings' scheme, he olarrved that every Liberal
was Mewl to vote for it. They were all keen to do
so, and dna he Ineked ripen as being a very Katie.
fareory thing. in the division there were upward. of
2'.') Liberals who yeted for it. (Hear, hear.) An to
lewd Hartington, he was perry his Inriehip we.. not
in this Government. A pie:mine episode in the
debate was the receptien which Mr. Arch received.
Fr.en the little he had seen of Mr. Arch he believed
him to lie a very serpilile man, and his reception was
very gratifying to both sides of the House. (Hear.
(uem) Althorigh there were a great many Wllige and
Ainderates who did not vote with them that did
wit mean three were opposed to the scheme brought
in by Air. Collings, beranse he knew .everal whe had
said they could not vote for it because they were in
the frame position As Lard Hartinaten —they were in
favair of the principle, bet they did net want to Ire
(would to any Bill which might subsequently hue
I win in ; whilst others who were in farina, of
Mr Ce)lings' principle voted against it er
walked out because they could net hole thinking
of Ireland all the time. The Terre* had said t het Mr.
Glarbeene had tasked for a majority in llntiPr that he
might crush the Irish. but it was simply that he ini-sht
have a free hand. The views, however, whil'h Mr.
Glarlabine held in restart to Trelarel were Over. which
he had always held --(cheers' -an an inaly•is iif
remarks awl actions in times (MA o Cheers.
H. hreught them forward new becaii.e the time had
home for him to de so. (11I•AT. hear.) There was no t
it tr huein a" nf
that4;l sett.; n med.. ke.";:ew.
1111 l nieatine with the Irish memhers tip to Friths,' of
lard week. (Applause.) He was not prepared to say
what had happened since then. The enlv eon 1111 l nica•
tine Mr. Gladatene had hid with them hid been open
—in his place in Parliaisenit. Hear, hear.) The
bartrain if the Tories with the Irishmen last
was a bargain, for herd R. Churchill stater! before
they came into power at all they had made isp their
minds they word,' we re-enact the dames id the
Crimes Act. They knew there were communication
an A matter of fact, and that was a bargain : but there
had been nothing on the Literal side which could be
called a bargain at all. With respect to hie own
opinion it remained unchanged. His (Mr. Sturgie)
had always said he was anxinua in give to Ireland
such self-government as was enniristent with the
integrity of the empire. (Hear. hear.) He would
not g 0 into details, but merely ask them to approach
the subject with unprejudiced minds, and it would
he seen that by granting certain conditions of local
self-government this would not nreamssii, matt, ths
disintegration of the empire—in fact, that instead
of weakening the empire it might strengthen it.
(Hear, hear.) Of course, they must have a guarantee
for the supremacyofthe Crawl' and the Imperial
Parliament, and see that there was dm protection foe
the loyal minority, that the landlord and ether
interests were not robbed, and that 'social order in
Ireland was also maintained. (Hear, hear.) He was
not in faveur of any very special coercive memoir.
fee Ireland. Nevertheless, if they could not manage
with ordinary law, they muse have recourse Co extra-
ordinary law. If necessary, they must have clause'
to say the Crimes Act must be re-enacted for the
whole of the country. These might not be used here,
but only in Ireland, and they wield get rid of that
enercien in Ireland which had been the bane of the
cerintry. Far hie own part he WAS prepared to wait
Hetil he heard what the scheme of the Government in
respect to Ireland might be. (Applere....) When
they. remembered who were connected with their
Cabinet they would modlect threw gentlemen worthl
not take part in anything likely to rink the oitpn.pptey
of the Crewe. (Amilause.) in °inclusion Air.
Stertris expressed an npinion that after Ireland the
qui thin of procedure in the Home moist next receive
attention. He also said he had every confidence in
Her Majesty's present ads jeers, and that he wield dr
all he could to support them in the Howse of
Commons. (Mitch cheering.)

Mr. .T. E. Waives 111,o:ed. —" That thi meeting
erpremen ite entire aatiefaction at the return of Mr.
Gladotone to p.wer, and hope. thtt he may have
wilidont and strength to carry to a papwa4tal imoo
hi pilicy in regurl to Ireland, and trn.ta tk it tha
mei...twee to be brought forward will lead to the bmit
intermit. id the friah people and the ftriti.h common.
wealth. The alliwion. which Mr. Roberta made to
the loca! habitation ig the Primnew League recently
ineugumted in the locality were of ouch a famtimpi
mud abb, nature m to evoke repeated roara of laugh-
ter.

'Jr. A. DituKir, who second,' the re...lotion,
eriticiw.l an article which appe.,reul in the
if the ',cerium day, awl aijil that altholorh aLil.eral
he rya"' the Sfurvbert hot he 'awayn putt it down a
more ',Winch Liberal than when he took it up.
I App

The reopillition wan wipported by Mr. FOWLIPA, and
carried amidst great etithosiave.
The Rev. T Nitre moved That the hearty
thank* of thin meeting lie given to Mr. 11. P. Storni*,
the member for Smith hornet, for the r ipport given
by him to Mr. Jewat amendment .in the lend
goestion." He hoped it woold go forth from that
meeting to Mr. Stencil that they wished him to mad
fully and cordially endorse the policy who+ Mr.
madame. had proclaimed restarting the
tin. (li-ar, hear.) They ha.l herird a great deal
(hiring the nest few week. concerning Irelan.j. awl
of Mr. tilailstene in reiipert to Ireland, bit
there war ono thing they had not heard Mr. 111 al
stone's owit view.. Hr been condemned
and condemn.' by tin. Try newvpaper. Ile
had alai been condemned by that 'dill sitronger Tory
paper, the Statnlnni. In viihninently referring Inn
the subject in the rra.letion, the rev. speaker mg.' if
there wise intl.. fpw.ti.oit tiv.retbrn another .loring tin
canipaign whic4 Mr. Stuntis put to the (omit ii. hi.
proirmiging, bin hearers wild agree with Film when
he Raid that it was in respect to alletmente for .gri
cultural latouurere. (Applause.) Having travelled

she grist deal the
titan
tthhee
braddlangesot
gowineth Moofur. a. tie
Three Acres "—(laughter)—nor yet the promise of "A
Cow" (much laughter)--but he tf.d admit that the
labourers' lot in life might be improved, and that,
with this chject in view, he would do what he could.
He believed firmly and omscientheisly it was the
strength of the Liberal party jri Doreheste- and
tagropicouttrealil:itruretAriw,phiaoure,tu)rnHei,l S
did ntoitirgdi,iinart the
Weymouth, but hi. strong conviction was that it was
the unfailing enthimiam and moral manhood and
courage of the agricultural population which made
the triumph for Mr. Sturgis on the election day.
(Hear, hear.) He asked the agricultural people how
they would lam fared had they been so unwise as to
have returned Mr. Sturgis s opponent? Would they
have been any nearer "the three acres and a cow"
then ! (Roars of langhter.) Mr. Sturgis was a
business man, and a very conscientious fellow. (Grett
applause.) He hail fulfilled to the very letter his
promisee. (Hear, hear.) All the efforts of the Tory
perm, and sometimes the coldness of the Liberal
press, I. vi not been able to put down Mr. Chamber•
lain. (Applause.) The agricultural p ipulation had
been "the wilt of Liberalism." (Applatise.) They
had been told the agricultural population represented
ignorance of the community, and that they must go
to such centre,' AA London for intelligence. (A
Voice: "We had a wimple lif it yesterday.")
(Roars of laughter.) lie repudiated any such state-
ment as that they were to Ise looked upon al the
ignorant scum of the community. (Hear, hear.) He
thought the agricultural population hail taken a lead
' in the past, and he &lei oinsidered its splendid thing
that Mr. Chamberlain had aceetsted what mums might
call a minor popition in the Isorethnient. (Hear,
hear.) He said along with Jomph Arch " Itring
back the people to the land"—(great applause) —and
he maintained that Mr. Arch's speech was one of the
finest in the debate. (Hear, hear.) It was full of
genuine wisdom, and sound thatinon•sense. (Ap-
plause.) He MA. sorry that Ireland blocked the way
in respect to legislation for our own country, but yet
he saw nothing else for it. His earnest desire and
nope was that Mr. Gladstone might pilot the old chip
through the breakers and heavy seas, and ultimately
coin" into A peaceful haven. (Great SRO& 1.e.)
Mm .1. Howaan•lOwcN, in ccii ling the resolo-
tion, delivered a to et aide speech, and was frequently
vociferoitsly thee I. He explained that when it
became known in London that South Dorset had gone
in (^soor if the Liberal. the cry wont " Well
done, Dorset." When he o insidered the 1111 l ral courage
of the agricultural labourers, and that where in wit of
them lived every coal id land for miles round
belonged to the Ommervativm, and that in spite of
the great infittenoes which were brolight to bear,
they 'went for the Liberal party," he thought that
many of the people who helped to win the battle of
Waterloo must have been Dorset poople. (Great
applause.) The policy of the Liberal party appeared
to be such that although one might wear broad-cloth
and the ichar fustian, the one might he as h and
as good • man as the other. (Hear, hear ) The
policy and wish of the Liberal party was to give the
maw. • chance of rising. (Applanise.) Mr. llowen
subsequently burlesqued the l'rimrose League in such
a way as to keep his audience in continuous roars of
laughter.
The resolution having been carried amidst great
enthusiasm. .

Mr. Srvacts suitably responded. Hs did not
think thanks were duo to him. It., never did any.
thing with greater pleasure thsn to vote for the
amendment. He hoped none of them wool,' be
taken in by the flippancy of the Primrose League.
Nevertheless he was the last man who would wish
the ladies to go into the other camp, because they
had ilone good for himself and oche.. Lib-tall too.
(Hear. hear.) In conclusion, he moved a vote of
thanks to the Chairman, which concluded the meet.
ing.