Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-07-31 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

WORK OF THE RADICAL UNION.  At • meeting of the executive committee of the Bridles' Union, at the offices, Corporation•strwit, Birmingham, s report has been approved which sets forth the work of the Union in connection with the general election. It says, the want of Radical eandidatea has been severely left. In many constituencies the Liberals could not be aiduced to vote for Whig or Conservative candidates, and were content to shew their disapproval of Mr. Gladstone's policy by abstaining altogether. The result of the appeal to the people has been eminently satisfactory to the Unionist party, and has amply justified the action of those Liberals who refused suddenly to reverse the policy which had been almost unanimously accepted at the general election of 1885. The total result is that 394 Unionists havebeen returned as against 275 Separatists, thus securing a majority of 119 in favour of the continued union of the three kingdoms. The defeat of the Government has been decisive, and the rejection of its policy has beea criahing. The proporal to establish a rival Parliament in Dublin, and the bribe to Irish landlords which was inseparably connected with it have alike been emphatically repudiated by the good sense and patriotism of the great majority of the people. The most important work achieved by the Unionist Liberals has been to relieve the Liberal Party, as s whole, from the reproach of indifference to the integrity of the Empire, and of sacrificing the bigheat national inter.st toe temporary party advantage. No other English leader is likely to undertake an enterprise in which Mr. Gladstone, with all his Parliamentary experience and personal popularity, has so conspicuously failed, and the solution of the Irish problem must be soughtf or on other lines. The Conservative party in Parliament, though greatly strengthened, will be in • annority of the whole House, and their continued tenure of office will depend in great measure on the action of the other sections of the House of Commons. The reunion of the Liberal party on the basis of some common Irish policy must be accomplished before they can hope to return to power, and the committee of the Radical Union believe that when the irritation and divisions caused by the dubious tactics and mistaken policy of the late Government have died away, the 'Liberal party will recognise in the programme of the association the essential conditions of any furAber extension of local self-government to the various portions of the United Kingdom. In the expectation of being able to assist in this result, the officers propoise. to direct their attention to the work of organising the Radical party.  The death is announced, in his 97th year, of Mr. Thomas Ward Jeston, of Henley-on-Thames, probably the oldest medical officer who has served in the Army Medical Department, he having been ourgeon of the 36th Regiment during the Peninsular War. John J. Hickie, • noted Fenian, identified both with the 1848 and 1865 movements, has just died in Dublin. He was entrusted with several important commissions by the leader of the Fenian conspiracy. In 1866 be was arrested along with his three brothers, and was sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. The Cunard steamer Bothnia, which arrived at Queenstown on Saturday, rep,rted that when in mid ocean the ship's chief baker, Edward Alloock, was observed to go on deck and walk to the forward part of the vessel, whence he disappeared. Whether be committed suicide or fell overboard accidentally was sot known.  The worth-Western express steamer Lily haa had a narrow escape from a collision during a dense fog an the puesg. from Dublin. When nearing the South Stack Light a large three-masted vessel was . observed close on the starboard bow. The engines were at once reversed, and by the promptitude of Captain Taylor and his crew a collision was averted. 'The vessel was observed by a large number of passengers, but the ccoluess and courage of the craw Dan4C.