The debate on the Address was continued on Monday. An
amendment condemning the partition of Bengal was moved by Mr. Herbert Roberts and supported by several Liberal Members. Mr. Morley in his reply declined to accept the view that the movement for partition had arisen from political motives on the one hand, or that the agitation against it was machine-made on the other. It must, however, be now regarded as a settled question, but he assured the House that the policy of the Govern- ment would be Liberal in the widest and non-party sense. Mr. Claude Hay, who moved an amendment regretting that no remedy for unemployment had been proposed in the King's Speech, made a personal attack on Mr. John Barns for taking £2,000 a year in order that he might not be a blackleg," and drew down on himself a well-merited rebuke from Mr. G-. H. Roberts. The Labour Members, he observed, were vitally interested in the unemployed question, but had no intention of allowing it to be made a peg on which to hang the Fiscal question. He thought it bad policy to exploit the misfortunes and sufferings of the masses in order to make possible a vindictive attack on a gentleman who, though coming from the labouring classes, had shown sufficient ability to secure a seat in the Cabinet. Mr. John Burns having made a spirited and effective reply, the amendment was negatived without a division, and the Address agreed to shortly after twelve.
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