The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-06-08 00:00:00

i oral Cututtg exiitto.

DORCHESTER. TUESDAY. JUNE 8, 1980.

Dorchester must be considered a cheap little
borough to fight an election for, doubtless owing to its
compactness, for, in spite of the "Cost what it May"
determination, Mr. Burner was lucky enough to
i-ecure the seat and £144 over out of a thousand, while
the lion. Captain Greville's expenses were under half
a thousand, and those who value a gentleman by the
money he brings into a town, may perhaps rejoice
that the economical agency a the Captain did not
succeed. Compare this with the £2,656 odd paid by
the Conservative for Bournemouth-Christchurch,
which he lost after all, or even with the £2,394 of
successful Mr. Davey, and we shall not wonder at
Mr Brymer stating that alsiut eleven candidates were
ready to contest Dorchester, if only they had been
allowed. Really, with so small an amount as 0,000
In danger, it was not worth while to be angry about
disturbing the peace of the borough by a contest.

Cornwall-rowl has made itself a reputation in the
Town Council chamber at last, for Mr. Burnett
champions it, and tells how the non-drainage of the
estate is damaging the value of the property, so that
the houses begin to hang on hand. This is an argu-
ment that our corporatoni take to heart, and we may
expect shortly sonic measures of mitigation. The
Council must at least provide drains for fluids, and
other remedies may be adopted, pending the collective '
engineering and sanitary wisdom of the Local Govern.
went Board being able to make up its mind. Mean. '
time, it would not be amiss if the Cornwall estate :
people could send the Dorchester Board to Coventry,
according to the suggestion of the Town Clerk.
Seriously, there are two or three practicable plans
which the Dorchester Board could adopt, without
driving the Cornwall-road people to the offensive plan
of cesspools, and their consequences. It only needs
the supreme authority in sanitary matters, the
Government Board which gives orders and compels
the acceptance of burdens, to guide the "CrW,n
Sanitary Authority in this most serious undertaking.
But the Sanitary department does not take upon itself
to follow the State's example as to matters of religion ;
it will not "establish' one set of opinions. Yet it
would have far likelier prospects of success in the pan
suit of scientific truth and practical management
matter than by dealing with the inner subject of
religious faith.
Durngate-street is so thoroughly orthodox in its
religious meetings,—from the tVealeyans at the top to
the Y.M.C.A. across the road, then the excellent
gatherings at Alingtoa-hall, to say nothing of the
extinct and partly extinct assemblies further down,
and the very active church of Primitive Methodists at
the end of the street,—that we cannot help expecting
strong opinions to be advocated there and thence. But
It must not be forgotten that Admiral Howard, of
Effingham was a Romanist, yet he fought the Spanish
Armada, and that Queen Victoria has many loyal
subjects who are, at least nominally, members of the
Church of Rome.

Controversy rages around the Bradlaugh case; but
continuance thereof only gives undue importance to
what is best," severely let alone." The Parliamentary
Committee may, we hope, be trusted to vindicate the
reputation of the House, and we who are opposed to
agnosticism must lay ourselves out to be the means of
propagating a fruitful faith. Great as is the
repugnance we feel towards the hopekillingness of
agnosticism, it is almost equally shocking to read of
the presumption put on record by the Lower HOUS43
of Convocation, in Canon Wethinson's rider to their
amendment on the Burials Bill
- -

"That this HOMO specially dedres by this solemn
protest to deliver itself from any responsibility as to any
dishonour which may be done to Almighty God by the
Character of the worship which, in the event of the owing
of this Bill, may hereafter be offered in churchyarda"
The championship assumed by the assembly reminds
one of King Llzaiah when he seized the ark, and it is
instructive that the most exalted dignitary in holy
orders actually voted for the bill, thus we have the
spectacle of the (conventionally) lower orders of clergy
assuming the tone of the deepest solemnity in
opposition to a measure which is actually supported
by their acknowledged chief. Surely we are not to
suppose the Archbishop needs to be taught his first
duty even by canons, archdeacons, and deans.

Sultan Abdul seems getting sulky with Britain, and
postponed his reception of Mr. Geschen because be did
not like the programme of reforms. It may yet require
all the talent the diplomatists can muster to presvent
the Imperialist of Constantinople coalescing with the
Imperialist of the North. Fortunately at present
England is not likely, in such an alliance, to make a
third, unless the other two mend their ways and
concede to their people's freedom's rights.
It is satisfactory that the Republic of France is
believed to be on the side of Britain. But the
immense influence of despotic power an the Continent
makes it ever incumbent on British Liberals to stand
firmly by their principles at home and abroad, for
freedom's battle remains ever to be fought and fought

Discxxs.