The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1880-04-02 (Blandford, 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 i of representing you n Parliament in the Liberal interest. The watchwords of the Liberal party in the past have been, and should be, and are still, Peace, _Retrenchment, and Reform. It is on the Foreign Policy of the present Government that their adherents chiefly rely in seeking the support of the constituencies. By declining united action with the other Powers of Europe, the Government encouraged Turkey to a useless resistance, and played into the hands of Russia. In my judgment the part played by our plenipotentiaries at Berlin was opposed to the best traditions of this country, and a reproach to a free people. The diplomacy of this country was employed not to enlarge but to restrict the area of freedom and independence, 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 disastrous failure, and the Government cannot, or will not, tell us what their present policy is. We now find ourselves, after the murder of our Envoy, in a position in which we can go neither forwards nor backwards with safety or without discredit. I disclaim the imputation disingenuously attempted to be fastened on the Liberal party, of desiring or aiming at the disintegration of the Empire. A foreign policy such as that of the present Government cannot be pursued without increase to our financial burdens. The large surplus bequeathed by Mr. Gladstone's Government has disappeared. The taxes have been increased, but the increased taxation has not sufficed to meet the increase in the annual expenditure of snore than ten millions. The consequence is a large increase in the public debt. In the meantime there is a stagnation of domestic legislation. I am in favour of the extension of the borough franchise to counties. The principle of Mr. Morgan's Burials Bill has been approved by the House of Lords, and should be forthwith carried out by legislation. The present system of licensing publichouses is, in my opinion, unsatisfactory, and open to serious objections. I am in favour of and prepared to support the principle of what is called Local Option. I should also support the principle of Sunday Closing. I am of opinion that considerable reforms are needed in the laws relating to land. The Agricultural Holdings Act of the present Government affords no adequate protection to the farmers. The present costly and cumbrous mode of transterring land should be replaced by a simple, inexpensive, and secure mode of transfer. I am favourable to the abolition of flogging in the Army. I have mentioned a few only of the reforms which, in my judgment, demand the attention of Parliament. Gentlemen, the issue before you is whether you prefer a policy of Imperialism abroad, apathy at home, and publi cextravagance ; or a policy of orderly progress directed to the improvement of our institutions, and the increase of the happiness and prosperity of our own people on the lines which I have indicated of Peace, Retrenclunent, and Reform.  I have the honour to be, gentlemen, Your obedient servant,