SIR CHARLES DILKE AND HIS CONSTITUENTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1287, 13 July 1886, Page 2

SIR CHARLES DILKE AND HIS CONSTITUENTS.

On May 3 d a crowded meeting of Liberal Hectors of Chelsea assembled In Preece's Riding School, Fulm-nroad, at the invitation of Sir Charles Dilke, to hear a statement from him with regard to his onduct in the case of “ Crawford v

Orawford and Dilke." The riding school, which is computed to bold 2200 persons, was very nearly full, and the audience accorded Sir Charles and Lady Dilke an

enthusiastic reception upon their appearance on the platform. The chair was taken by Mr Brass, a member of the Council rf the Chelsea Liberal Association, who had, in the earlier part of the year, mged that it «m -sir Charles Dilke'a doty to make a public statement with regard to the charges that had been brought against him. Sir Chir'ea dike who was received with renewed cheering commenced by referring to the blow that had fallen opou him in July last year, when the accusations were first ma'ta, and which bad caused him suffering almost beyond the limit of human endurance, aggravated tenfold by hia position In the political world. Lcfe became unbearable to him. and he wonld gladly have relinquished hia existence couH, ha have left a name unsullied by slander. Ho was. however, sustained by the affections of many friends and especially by the trust of her who was sitting by bis aide, (Great cheering ) Be wonld willingly have retired from Parliament if his supporters in Chelsea had consented to fais doing so, and ha had offered to pay the whole cost of the ehction if they wonld accept hia resignation. His wishes ware, how« ever, overruled. When he first heard of the Crawford case, he suggested that a private inquiry should be held, the result of which, if not satisfactory to both parties, should be no bat to • further legal action, and volunteered every assistance In promoting the strictest investigations. (Cheers.) This was refused ; but it was surely adjust after that to charge him wl h shrinking from investigation. Before the case came on for hearing he was advised by a >me of hia friends to let it proceed in i the ordinary way. and not to volunteer his evidence. Others took the contrary view, aid as they disagreed ha determined to use his own judgment, and went to the C.urt prepa.ed to glte a public denial to the charge .Eventually his friends all agreed that he ' ught not to interfere, and he yielded to their wishes They expressed the opinion that the case against him had utterly collapsed—(cheers)—a view that was supported by the statement of the petitioner’s council and also by the learned Ju ige, who not only struck out his (Sir 0. Dilko’s) nams far the case but gave him his costs. The latter fact was important, because it tended to imply that he had been shown to have committed no act in connection with tbs case of a doubtful or suspicious character. (Hear, h ar.) A portion of the public, however, did notacc?pt this view of the result, and said he ought, nevertheless, to have insisted on answering the charge, while others said he had allowed an innocent woman to be found guilty. This was the moat cruel of all, and yet it was absurd, because Mrs Crawford con'd at any moment have cleared herself by simply confessing that her statement was untrue. With regard to tbs state of the law, that was no concern of his, he waa not responsible for It, and he onght not to punisfcol for it. The termination of the salt, instead of bringing him reiie f , as he bad hoped, was the beginning of a relentless persecution, especially on the part of a section of the Press, not he believed from improper motives, bat in the defence of public morals. (No, no, and derisive cries.) Sir Charles went on to say that he again laid before his supporters his desire to retire, because he knew that he had lost weight and influence in the borough. (A Voice : You will get It back; you will have the Irish next time ; and laughter.) Both he and his wif had suffered deeply, but he pledged his honor to them that night that the charge against him was untrue. (Cheers and waving of hats) Although it might be long before the truth prevailed, and although bis life might be worn away in the attempt, he felt that it would be a cowardly preference of present ease to duty if he flinched from the endeavor to prove it. (Here Sir Charles Dilke was unable to proceed for a few moments from emotion.) Hie doty to his wife and to his constituents, as well as to himself, was to fight the battle. Having referred to the attacks that had been made on the association as not representative of Liberal feeling. Sir Charles Dilke proceeded to state that he had urged the Queen’s Proctor to intervene, had ordered the fullest and amplest assistance he eonld render to prevent the divorce being granted ; stating also, that he was prepared to deny on oath the charges that bed been made against him, ard also to bear tba whole lof the costs. Eventually, on April 20, the Queen’s Proctor informed hiip that he had entered an appearance in the salt, -He therefore now looked forward confidently to the opportunity of stating on oath hia assertion that he waa entirely innocent of those disgraceful charges, and the day would come when everyone would know that he was free from that matter. (Prolonged applause.) The following resolution waa carried unanimously “That this mass meeting of Liberal electors of Chelsea having heard Sir Charles Dilke’s statement heartily accepts his denial of the charges with which he has been assailed, and assure 3 him of their continued confidence ” Sir Charles Dike, in acknowledgment said the unanimous expression of their approval “ exceeded his wildest dreams.” A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings.