Mr. Goschen spoke again on Thursday, both at Manchester and
at Ashton-under-Lyne. In Manchester, in replying to am address from the bimetallists, he was very cautious, admitting the great injury done by the depreciation of silver, but pointing out the difficulties of the situation without in any way com- mitting himself. Later in the day, in replying to an address from the Liberal Unionists, he made a strong appeal to the neutral party in politics to give the Government their moral support. He thought that the silent politicians who abstain as much as they can from party conflicts, should in the present situation do what is in their power to prevent a precipitate decision against the Union. In the evening he made a long speech in the skating-rink at Ashton-under-Lyne, in which he maintained that the Colonial representatives who visited England for the Jubilee, would certainly have supported the Union by a considerable majority, and that the non-political Americans sympathise frequently with the Unionists, though the exigencies of party politics make it so necessary to bid for the Irish vote. Farther, he made this criticism on the Home- rulers' plea that what they desire is a " union of hearts,"—that a union of hearts between those who are doing their best to defy the law, and those who think that the sacredness of law is the very bond of national union, cannot be very true. Even Home- rulers should say in effect to the Irish leaders, in Mr. Goachen's opinion,—' Obey the law first, and not till then will we consider how far we can trust you.'
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