22 FEBRUARY 1902, Page 3

• On Friday the Tiril.48 published a letter from Lord

Rose- bell, in answer to this speech in which he finally breaks with Sir. Henry Campbell-Bannerman. Sir Henry had asked whether he (Lord Rosebery) spoke from the interior of his (Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman's) political tabernacle or from some vantage ground outside. He has a right to a reply, and shall have it without a moment's delay. "Speaking pontifically within his 'tabernacle' last night, he anathematised my declarations on the clean slate' and Home-rule. It is ob- vious that our views on the war and its methods are not less discordant. I remain, therefore, outside his tabernacle, but not, I think, in solitude. Let me add one word more at this moment of definite separation. No one appreciates more heartily than I do the honest and well-intentioned devotion of Sir Henry to the Liberal party, and what he 'conceives to be its interest. I %ay wioh that I pm314 haN5 sharecl his Ubenrs and supported his policy?' No one ean aomplain that this is not a plain and straightforward way of meeting the issue, and we congratulate Lord Rosebery on having spoken out at last. But he must not rest on his oars,—or rather on his spade. He must follow up his separation from Sir Henry Campbell-Ban- nerman by boldly demanding the leadership of the party. Of course he may fail to obtain it, but even if he does he will be no worse off than he is now.. He is too big a man to remain an outside critic. As he will not become a Liberal Unionist, he must either lead the Liberal party or a party of his own,—or else retire from public life.