Mr. Chamberlain repeated his views as to free education, but
he formally and definitely announced that he saw no pro- spect of dealing with the question of Establishment in the coming Parliament. He is always clear, to do him justice, but on this subject he was clearer even than usual. "Lord Salisbury knows merfectly well that the Liberal Party is not committed as is Tarty to any attack -upon-the Established Church, and thereuare, no doubt, many liberals, of whom I am not one, but there are, no doubt, many good Liberals who are as firmly attached to the maintenance of the connection between the Church and State as Lord Salisbury himself ; and there is no one, whether he be a Radical or a Tory, a Churchman or a Dis- senter, who believes that there is any chance whatever that this great question will receive its final settlement in the Parliament which is about to assemble." Those words should be carefully remembered, for they will enable the friends of the Church, should any Disestablishing resolution be moved in the next Parliament, to say distinctly that no mandate had been given at these elections, the most advanced leader having struck Dis- establishment for the time out of the planks of the platform.
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