Mr. Bright is far less hopeful of speedy reunion in
the Liberal ranks than Lord Rosebery. He understands better how deep and how incurable is the divergence of opinion about Ireland. He was asked by the Birmingham Liberal Association to be present at a meeting next week to present an address to Mr. Schnadhorst, who is leaving Birmingham for a wider sphere of operations in London. He replied, however :—" I should, I doubt not, be expected to speak without reference to the unhappy circumstances which have caused the removal of Mr. Schnadhorst from Birmingham to London, and without dwelling upon the unfortunate schism in the Liberal Party. I do not wish to attack my former friends and to cast blame where I think grevions error has been committed. I can only hope the present clouds may be dispelled, and that our former harmony may be restored. To promote this, I think silence for the time is better than speaking, and I therefore prefer to be absent from any public meeting where criticism might be expected from me." Mr. Bright sees facts as they are, and considering his well- known opinions, and Mr. Schnadhorst's position as general " whip " for the English party of Home-role, the invitation to him was, to say the least of it, courageous.
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