25 SEPTEMBER 1909, Page 1

Mr. Asquith's speech was followed by that fror Kr.

which took place on Wednesday evening, also at cue Bing,ley Hall, Birmingham. We have dealt elsets*,re with its mean- ing, and with the meaning of Mr. Okaiitberlain's message, but must here attempt to summarise both,. The salient passage of Mr. Chamberlain's lethr :et the Stri} worded appeal to the House of Lords to. reject the Bit get. The people of Birmingham, he sea's, will sliort aneattempt to get the "present controve'fy referred.the people, who in the last resort ought to itXecide betw :-.us and the Govern- ment. I hope the Hou4e of Lords wilt see their way to force a General Election, amid I do not doubt in this case what the answer will be." ityr. Chamberlain next declares that the

Budget is avowedly intended to destroy the Tariff Reform movement. " The Budget will supply us with money, but at the same time will deprive us of work, and I think it is work even more than money of which we stand in need." Mr. Chamberlain, showing his old controversial power, seizes next upon the point in Mr. Asquith's speech which is specially helpful to the propagation of the Chamberlain policy. " Mr. Asquith admits that Tariff Reform is the only alternative. It is therefore between the Budget and Tariff Reform that you have to choose."