CONCLUSION. 143 



statesmau of the rank ol the Laird ol Belmont 

 Castle should have made them. They come, in- 

 deed, with a very bad grace from one "who is con- 

 stantly pointing out the supposed variation be- 

 tween Mr. Chamberlain's attitude of years ago 

 and of to-dav, and whose ou-n attitudes during 

 one and the self-same j'ear are grievous even for 

 well-wishers to behold ! After a lapse of years, 

 especially when the interA^al has been frauglit 

 with such busy experience as that which Mr. 

 Chamberlain obtained at the Colonial Office, a 

 man may reasonably be permitted to change his 

 views. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, how- 

 ever, can have no such excuse ; and the two 

 things referred to when taken together, and con- 

 sidered also in the light of the other facts in this 

 volume, go rather to show that there is need for 

 reform. 



Look at the attitude also of other Liberals of 

 eminence. Sir E. J. Reed, in the Times of 

 January 28th, 1904 said : " If we are refused free 

 trade almost everywhere — as we certainly are — 

 and are obliged to submit to regulated trade, why 

 should we not ourselves take an active, intelli- 

 gent, businesslike part in its regulation ? " Mr. 

 Asquith, however, the month before at Doncaster, 

 with holy enthusiasm remarked : " Let us stick 

 to our well-tried policy of free markets and an 

 open door." Clearh^ there is some dijTcrence be- 

 tween these two gentlemen, both ox whom are 

 supposed to be, and are, intelligent Liberals. 



Mr. Asquith, however, was somewhat pessi- 



