Mr. Smith was very strong on the merits of Lord
Salisbury's foreign policy, and told his audience that England does not raise, and probably cannot with advantage raise, more than one-third of the food of the people of this country, and must buy all the other two-thirds with her foreign commerce. If we cannot protect our foreign commerce, and let the world know that we will protect it, the English people must suffer even in relation to the cost at which they get their food ; and it was this which made an addition to the Navy, a fortification of our coaling-stations, an addition to the number of our fast cruisers, and a firm attitude towards Powers willing, like Portugal, to encroach on the rights of our people abroad, so essential even to the well-being of the country. Mr. Smith was earnest in his praise of Mr. Goschen, and enthusiastic in his admiration of Mr. Balfour, and, on the whole, made a very modest as well as a very moderate speech, taking no credit to himself for a firmness for which he deserves much credit, but giving all the praise to the Prime Minister and his two great colleagues.
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