The Poole Telegram. — 1880-03-19 (Poole, Dorset, England)

THE FREE AND INDEPENDENT ELECTORS OF THE BOROUGH OF CHRISTCHURCH.  , GENTLEMEN,—At the invitation of a large body of the Electors of this Borough, I , present myself before you as a candidate for the honour of representing you in Parliament in the Liberal L interest. The watchwords of the Liberal party in the past have been, and should be, and are„still, Peace, . I'. .'encluncrit, and Reform. t is on the Foreign Policy of the present Govern. sup 113 t their adherents chiefly rely in seeking the By , constituencies. Europe, the (A. -•:"4 action with the other Powers of less resistance, and 1.. Pncouraged Turkey to a useIn my judgment the part he h:. (11 f Russia. en tiaries at Berlin was opposed to the this c ,untry, and a reproach to a free pe-,of diplomacy of this country was employed not it. but to restrict the area of freedom and indepenat.n.„ both in Bulgaria and in Greece. The Government policy of " consolidating " and " regenerating " Turkey has not at present proved a success. We are, nevertheless, by the Anglo-Turkish Convention, placed under an obligation to maintain the Sultan's rule in his Asiatic dominions. In Afghanistan a war of aggression was forced on an independent state, in reckless defiance of the teachings of experience, and of the earnest warnings and remonstrances of the most eminent authorities on Indian affairs. The policy so adopted has proved a isastrous failure, and the Government cannot, or ill not, tell us what their present policy is. We now w. flu' ourselves, after the murder of our Envoy, in a lion in which we can go neither forwards nor backwart OS Is with safety or without discredit. • d Isclaim the imputation disingenuously attempted to be 'astened on the Liberal party, of desiring or aimt lie disintegration of the Empire. ing at I A for, tie.,n policy such as that of the present Governn not be pursued without increase to our financial ens. The large surplus bequeathed by Mr. e t bu can ra 's Gladstone Government has disappeared. The taxes have been increased, but the increased taxation has not sufficed to meet the increase in the annual expenditure of moi -e than ten millions. The ,consequence is a large increa ne in the public debt. In the mem. time lere is 8 stagnation of , domestic I am in favou r.of like extension of the ;borough franchise to counties. The principle t Mr. Morgans Burials Bill has.been approved by the i 'louse of Lords, and should be forthwith carried out b The present syste cni. cf. licensing publichouses is; in my opinion, unsatisfact, ry„ and open to serious objections. I am in favour of am trepared to support the princip of what is called Loc le trOption. I should also support i the principle of Sunda Ia of opinion that. y Closing. m uonSiderable reforms are needed 'incl. The Agricultural Holdwernment affords no adequate t„ The present costly and in the laws relating to h jugs Act of the present Crt rthig land should be replaced la secure mode if transfer. protection to the farmer. Nalition of floang in the cumbrous mode of transtei b yI anln simple,favo favourable inexpensive, itvhee, .1 y .of the reforms which, Army. ttention of Parliament. G *u is whether you prefer haveny jn dmg iennetnito,nde titgd, apathy at home, ednatafnecivt9nnela feraen policytleneno,fthlemils)esurienlbeforealir and publi cextraxagance ; or a pol. .v.V of orderly progress directed to the improvement of o ts.r institutions, and the increase of the happiness and pr, uperity of our own people on the lines which I have ii.vlicated of Peace. Retrenchment, and Reform.  I have the honour to be, gentlemen, Your obedient servant,