2 OCTOBER 1909, Page 17

In spite, however, of what we should have thought would

be obvious considerations, there is, we fear, every reason to believe that the House of-Lords will reject the Finance Bill, and that a Dissolution will take place in January. If this is the course of events, we shall not, in spite of our regret, hesitate for an instant to do all we can to prevent the return of the present Government. We remain what we have always been, Free-traders, but for the moment the queetion of Free- trade will, for us at any rate, have to be in abeyance, and every effort must be concentrated on fighting Socialism and the Socialistic schemes of the Government.