23 NOVEMBER 1901, Page 2

Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman made a speech to a Devonshire audience

on Tuesday night, with a portion of which we find ourselves in complete sympathy. We allude to his very sensible remarks on the outcry for doing away with party government and party politicians, and the substi- tution of a business Government and business men. As be points out, the idea is by no means a new one. It was heard of at- the close of the Crimean War. But he asks why, when Parliamentary government has given us fifty years of un- exampled prosperity, should we abandon it because this or any other set of Ministers should seem to be inept. But Parliamentary government involves party government. Next, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman very properly insisted that Lord Rosebery's proposal for a business Ministry, in effect involves the abrogation of our free Constitution, and the un- democratising of our institution's. All that is excellent sense, atal shows the speaker in a far more favourable light than he has of /ate allowed himself to appear in.