Lord Randolph Churchill addressed this day week what is called
the Trowbridge " Habitation " of the Primrose League. He of course congratulated his audience on the extraordinary popularity of the Primrose League; but this part of his speech was hardly in very good keeping with the conclusion, when he dwelt on the great harvest of advantage which might be expected from a fusion with the Liberal Unionists, especially those Liberal Unionists who follow Mr. Chamberlain, between whom and his own party he could not discern any fundamental difference. Well, how will the Radicals like the alliance of the Primrose League ? And will the Primrose League, the bantling of dames and duchesses, take kindly to the rather sharp Radicalism characteristic of Birmingham ? We fear that the Primrose League will be found the greatest obstacle in Lord Randolph's path,—one of the great founders of the League though he be,— when he has to ask it to accept and popularise the coalition between himself and Mr. Chamberlain.
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