Mexborough and South Yorkshire Times November 6 1885

Conservative Meeting at Conisborough
Disorderly Proceedings

A meeting in support of the candidature of the Honourable A.E. Gathorne Hardy, the Conservative candidate for the Doncaster division called held on Monday at the Board schools, Conisborough.

Dr Hill’s occupied the chair, and was supported by the reverent J.G. Wood, the Rev W.W. Ware: Mr G Walker;, Major Hoole;, Maj Johnson; Mr Beckett Nicholson, Wath; Mr G Nicholson, Conisborough; Mr John Blyth, Conisborough; Mr T Colley, Conisborough, Mr W Cordeaux, Hooton Roberts; Mr Greaves Armthorpe; Mr Millwall, Clifton; Mr WH Chambers etc.

Letters expressing their regret at being unable to attend be received from Lord Scarborough and Capt the Hon. C. Fitzwilliam, the Conservative candidate for the Hallamshire division.

The Chairman opened the proceedings by saying that the audience would have an opportunity of proving their pleasure see Mr Hardy for the second time by the fair impartial, and courteous manner which he felt sure they would listen to him. There are been a great deal of talk lately about the disestablishment and the disendowment of the Church of England. He would ask those who were so anxious to bring about that national calamity what a disestablished Church had done for Ireland. They knew very well that that an applicant had not known a single day of national peace or prosperity since the hour when, like a thief in the night, Mr Gladstone edict went forth that the Church of Ireland should be disestablished. (Applause.)

They had seen that assassination, bloodshed, murder and rapine and run their cruel course through the land, and those who knew Ireland best would tell them that they feared nothing short of a revolution or a Civil War would bring peace and tranquillity back to the Sister Isle.

A higher authority than that of man taught that England told the unparalleled prosperity to the Church of England. He would ask those enemies of their God, those enemies of their country, fain would rob them of their sacred heritage what there would be to prevent England from falling as low as ever Babylon fell if in an evil hour she should forsake and forget her religion and God? (Applause)

the name of Mr Clarkson will be handed down to posterity as that of a man possessing marvellous intellectual power, spotless purity of character, untainted personal honour and surpassing eloquence, but unfortunately name of Mr Gladstone will also be handed down as that of a minister the most eccentric, the most inconsistent, the most impulsive – (cries of “No”) – the most dangerous trees country in the most destructive of the century in which he lived. (Loud applause and a Voice: “it’ll not goa dahn.”)

He would leave Mr Gladstone enveloped in the fog which seem to have surrounded him waiting patiently until the clouds roll by, and turn to the subject of their respect did candidate, Mr Gathorne Hardy. (Cheers and booing.) He hoped they would be able to welcome him as an hon member of the august assembly that rules over an empire, which for the vastness of its resources, the boundless extent of its dominance, the valour and the bravery of its armies, the mighty and majestic of its power, was without its equal in the world. (Applause.) You are sure they would all unite in open that in the coming struggle England will be found to do duty, are found to do that which was right and true to herself, true to her people, and to tour Church, and that before the year 1886 will be many days all they will find that she had returned to her old love, and that a wise, generous and honourable Conservative policy should once again guide and govern the destinies of the nation. (A Voice: “We’ve had enough and cheers.”)

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The honourable A.E. Gathorne Hardy, who was well-received arising, said:

Mr Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, I am quite sure that notwithstanding a certain amount of good-humoured interruption I hear at the back, there is not a man here, be he Radical or Conservative, who has not come determined to listen to what I have to say, to weigh my arguments fairly, to consider them, and then if they think, as I dare say a good many of you at the back, that my opponents are better than mine, why then to hold up their hands against me, and do their best to vote me down. (Hear, hear) because do not imagine gentlemen that I have the least objection to that. In the first place, the question of the election is not to be decided in this room, but at the poll. (A Voice: “It’ll help it a lot though.”)

Gentlemen, I am not the least afraid of you. I am perfectly aware that the distinguishing characteristic of the Yorkshire audiences is fair play. I have had it almost wherever I have been, in all the 40 and more meetings which I have addressed in different parts of this constituency, and although I see a certain number packed with great inconvenience to themselves at that end of the room I’m quite certain that they, as well as everyone else, will hear me fairly, listen to me good-humouredly, and go away as good friends with me as they are with anyone else when they listen to what I have to say to them. (Applause.)

Now gentlemen, I do not wonder myself that they should be in a good humour because I am in a particularly good humour myself this evening. I find every day that the prospects of the Conservative party are improving, not only here but everywhere else. (Applause.) I find that where, as formerly, my opponent was disposed to keep me was outsole, now is discounting his defeat in advance, and he says he hopes if he is beaten he won’t find that the energy he has expended in this campaign is wasted in the future.

I find it is so all over England, I am not the least surprised that it is so, because I believe that the strength of the Radical party lies in the ignorance of the Radical voter. (Great interruption.)

Gentlemen, there is nothing personal in my remark. What I mean is this”. (A Voice:” It is a personal remark,” and another, “We are Christians, we are not dogs.”

I have not the least doubt that the gentleman is a Christian, but he may be an ignorant one for all that, and I hope that when he has heard what I’ve got to say – (interruption, during which a short, stout man in the body of the audience attempted to address the meeting.)

Gentlemen, remember this, that it is very easy if you please to howl me down. I do not believe it is the desire of this fast meeting, whether it be Liberal or Conservative, that I should not have a fair hearing. (Renewed interruption, the man previously referred to again getting on his feet, amid loud cries of “Turn him out.” The chairman of remonstrated with the audience, Mr Hardy resumed.)

I am perfectly certain, as far as that goes that the last man who would wish to see me have an unfair hearing would be my opponent. I’ve everywhere advised my supporters to hear everything he has to say with perfect fairness, and know that it is his desire that I should be heard with equal fairness on my part. It is impossible for you to weigh my arguments until you have heard them. If you desire not to hear me, of course it is very easy for you to shout me down and here or elsewhere I am certain that I think, with one exception, every man in this room, desires that I should be heard fairly, frankly and patiently. (Hear, hear)

Gentleman I was saying when I was interrupted that I believe Conservative prospects are improving every day, and the reason why it is so, I went on to say was I believe that if we properly instructed these voters who we are – because that was what I meant – as we are doing our best to do, given the reasons for the faith that is in as to the best of our ability, I believe our cause is just one, I believe our arguments are the right ones, and that those intelligent workingmen, who are here to listen to me will go away this evening in a very different mood to that in which some of them have come here. (A Voice: “You have changed your opinion very sharp.”)

Gentlemen, I am told that I have changed my opinion very sharply. Let me ask whether I am the only person who has changed. The little time ago when Mr Gladstone issued his manifesto it was answered by the second manifesto of Mr Chamberlain, in which he disclose certain points which are not met with in the former manifesto, and said he for his part was going to press them upon the country, and that he would not take part in any government which do not include his new points as well as the old ones.

Now what is the case gentlemen. You are in speaking of Lord Hartington and Mr Goschen as Rip Van Winkle and the Skeleton out the Fees, now you finding cowering under a again the “old umbrella,” only to glad to find a corner from which he can escape the cold water pouring down his back, pretended to look as if he liked it. (Laughter)

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I have heard it said, for instance, that we, the Conservative party, are swallowing our principles for the sake of office or for catching a few paltry votes. (Hear, hear) I accept that cheer, but at the same time I contradict it. There is not one single point of that program which I for my part and not thoroughly ready to accept in its integrity.

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At the beginning of this contest you know there were great many baits held out to the agricultural labourer, and they supposed, I don’t know how, because all the Liberal party are now anxious to prove that it was no promise of theirs which led them to suppose it, the they did somehow supposed that in some way a large distributor of land was to be made in their favour, and they were to have this, if not with the proverbial 3 acres and a cow, at least with something very like it. (A Voice: “It’s time we had it.”)

Gentlemen, I find now that the labourers are not merely finding out the mistake which they have been led into, but they are also discovering that if they had had 3 acres and a cow it would have been little or no use to them. (A Voice: “I should like the chance of it.”)

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I can remember that almost my last time in the House of Commons I was kept there until four in the morning. I was asleep outside, and the policeman came up afterwards, when the House had retired, and told me that the House had gone away when I was waiting for the division. (A Voice: “Shame.”)

Some gentlemen says “Shame.” All that I can say is that if the gentleman who said “shame” was to examine the lobbies of the House of Commons, whether on the Conservative or Liberal side, on a late night, you will find that there were many more people asleep there than there are in the berth of a ship, and that they were seeking refuge from the ceaseless flow of talk within awaiting to give their vote, as the interests of the country demanded. (A Voice: “What! Fast asleep,” and laughter.”)

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When you think that out of a population of 63,000 in the Doncaster division of the West Riding of Yorkshire you have a list of voters amounted to 13,200 at this moment, I cannot but think that is but a very little step between you and manhood suffrage

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We have a program, not a dead programme but one of living progress, one which I am proud to support. We have leaders whom we are proud to follow. Our forces are reunited army, our foes are a broken rabble, and in November we shall go forward to victory. (Cheers)

On the motion Mr Godfrey Walker, seconded by Maj Johnson, and supported by the Revs WW Ware and J.G.W00d, Mr Nicholson and Major Hoole, the Conservative candidate for the Rotherham division, a vote of confidence in Mr Hardy was placed before the meeting and carried in the words of the Chairman “by a large majority.”

A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings