The much-talked-of meeting of the Liberal party took place on
Tuesday at the Reform Club, Sir Henry Campbell-Banner- man in the chair. In regard to the strife within the party he declared that they were divided, not on account of real and essential differences, but because of the operation of certain personal antagonisms which for the last half-dozen years had disturbed and paralysed the Liberal party in Parliament. "In the interests of those antagonisms grounds of difference are eagerly sought out, the importance of smaller differences is exaggerated, and energies which ought to be political have been personal. Our friends in the country know little or nothing of this. They are discouraged, and they are mysti- fied. If you go among them—this is my experience when- ever I go among them—they say What on earth is the matter that you people in the House of Commons cannot agree; why are you incapable of harmonious co-operation ? ' " The party would never prosper, said Sir Henry Campbell- Bannerman, until these cabals were put down, and he appealed to all to lend their help in. extinguishing them. He could do so with all the more confidence because these cabals had never been directed against him personally.
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