The National Liberal Federation has been holding its annual conference
at Portsmouth during the past week. The meetings began on Monday, but on that day little was done but discuss an absurd scheme for examining election agents. Imagine the papers. Question What form of words would you advise for the use of a candidate anxious to pledge himself to the Temperance party without losing the support of the liquor interest ? ' On Tuesday, the Federation discussed the House of Lords, and Mr. Acland made a strenuous speech of the " how-dare-you " kind. From it, however, as from all the other speeches against the Lords, was absent the tone of reality. How can you effectively coerce a body like the Lords when you have not the slightest intention of advocating aboli- tion ? On Wednesday, the Federation declared that "no reforms are more urgent" than those connected with Regis- tration, "One man, one vote," and the holding of all elections on one day. This was significant, as it points to the fact that Registration will be the first charge on the next Session. How will the Welsh like that ? The Federatioa next passed a forcible, feeble resolution against the Lords, but with no word about abolition. After that, came resolutions in regard to the necessity for London Land and Temperance reform. The proceedings, which throughout were extraordinarily tame, clearly indicate the amount of substance there is in the agitation against the Lords.
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