We have dealt elsewhere with the country and the Budget,
but may note here that on Thursday afternoon the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer made strong speeches at a political luncheon on their determination to carry the Budget at all costs. At the same time, a Budget League has been formed with the object of conducting an agitation throughout the country in support of the Govern- ment's proposals. No doubt the Budget League will be able to hold a large number of what will be called successful meetings, but the House of Lords will be wise not to pay much attention to these machine-made gatherings. Agitations which are of real importance do not require to be organised from central offices in Whitehall, but spring up of themselves, and of such a movement in support of the Budget proposals we see no sign. After all, this is hardly to be wondered at, for " the man in the street," strange as it may seem to Radical politicians, still regards the addition of some ten to twelve millions of taxation as a sad necessity rather than a subject for political enthusiasm.
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