CONCLUSION. 141 



over to Mr. Cliamberlaiu's views ; and that otliers 

 are fast coming" over. 



Now we wish to say a few words regarding this 

 Liberal opposition. 



First of all, what are we to think of Lord liose- 

 bery? His lordship, within two or three days of 

 Mr. Chamberlain's first speech on preferential 

 tariff reform (May, 190o), went to and addressed 

 a Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, but at that 

 time he neither condemned the proposed reform 

 nor blessed it ; in a v\'ord, lie took a leaf out of 

 Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman's book, and " sat 

 on the fence." The reason, of course, was clear : 

 he neither knew how the public Avould take the 

 reform nor had he the courage himself to lead. 

 Later on, when he saw that the section of the 

 Liberal Party to which he does not belong was 

 banning it, he came into line with that section ; 

 and the most we have ever got from this Imperial 

 statesman since the reform was broached has been 

 to admit that agriculture is " crippled," and that 

 what the country needs is " repose." If agricul- 

 ture is " crippled," the country expects statesmen 

 of Lord Eoseberj-'s eminence to show why or 

 in what way it has been crippled, and what steps 

 can be taken to ameliorate the position. As to 

 "repose," we think His Eoyal Highness the 

 Prince of Wales, after his celebrated tour, more 

 nearly hit the mark when he told all of us to 

 " wake up." Mr. Chamberlain's is a noble re- 

 spouse ! 



We do not forget other remarks by Lord Rose- 



