24 NOVEMBER 1900, Page 2

Lord Rosebery delivered on Friday week, as Lord Rector of

Glasgow University, a brilliant speech, which has subse- quently been distributed as a pamphlet. As a literary effort it was fully worthy of his reputation, and it will, we doubt not, convince a great many persons that a politician who can per- ceive so accurately and describe his perceptions so eloquently would, if accepted by all Liberals, make an effective ruler. For reasons stated elsewhere, we do not agree. If the ruler is but fit, we do not care much to what party he belongs„ believing that he must always move along fixed lines, but every word Lord Rosebery utters convinces us more and more that he is the "able editor," and not the daring pilot. The vague and often erroneous impression of the people would be the guiding star of his policy. Every one, however, should read his speech lin pamphlet form, as it was undoubtedly uttered to smooth his path to power, and will assist all who study it to weigh his qualifications. To us there seems to be in all its splendid sentences but one piece of advice, and that is to enter your children on the "modern" instead of the "classical" side of the public schools, and that we hold to be wrong. The main product of much that is called technical education is a fidgety conceit.