Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman addressed a Liberal meeting at Maidstone on
Wednesday, and made some good points. The Prime Minister, he pointed out, had recently delivered a homily on the dangers of baste, but meanwhile the author of the proposed changes was pressing forward. But the most important passage in Sir Henry Campbell- Bannerman's speech, in view of his official position, was that in which he dealt with the question of co-operation with the Free-trade Unionists. Liberals, he declared, would gladly accept such co-operation, and would facilitate by every means in their power the efforts of Free-trade Unionists in combating the false doctrines which threatened the best interests of our country. Such co-operation, however, must not interfere with the right of Liberals to amend the Education Act, or to preserve unimpaired the full discretion of Magistrates to deal with the licensing question. " On these and other questions the action of Liberals brooked no compromise, but this was perfectly consistent with loyal assistance given to, and accepted from, all who shared their strong views of the disaster which a departure from the policy of freedom would bring on the prosperity of British trade." Home-rule may, of course, be one of the "other questions" on which, in Sir Henry's view, no compromise was possible ; but it is at least significant that he abstained from specific mention of it.
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