On Saturday last, the Cobden Club held its annual meeting,
under the presidency of Mr. T. B. Potter, at the National Liberal Club, Sir Wilfrid Lawson, Mr. Esslemont, Sir George Campbell, and Mr. Searle-Hayne being the only persons pre- sent who had any claim, however small, to be reckoned as statesmen of eminence. When we contrast these names with those of the men who a few years ago used to assemble to do honour to the memory of Richard Cobden and the principles he advocated, it is impossible not to feel a sense of profound disappointment. We have no wish to say anything against the political sincerity or intellectual capacity of those who attended Saturday's dinner, but it would be absurd to pretend that it is satisfactory to find Sir Wilfrid Lawson and Sir George Campbell the foremost figures at the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Club's foundation. Mr. T. B. Potter's speech, the Secretary's report, and the speech of Mr. Medley, contained much that was in itself sensible enough, but, unfortunately, very little to show that the Club is really alive. In Sir Louis Mallet the country lost, we fear, the last faithful exponent of Cobden's attitude towards the State. Cobden's was not the final word on human society, but it was always useful to have his point of view put clearly before the world.
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