The Radical leaders are beginning to see that division cannot
help Liberals to victory, and are returning towards that Oppor- tunism which is, after all, one of the signs of statesmanship. Mr. Chamberlain, for instance, made a speech at Glasgow on Tuesday of unusual moderation. He laughed needlessly at the Whigs and Moderates, as "armchair politicians," but he pleaded for union within the party. Upon Disestablishment, for instance, although himself a strong advocate both for Dis- establishment and Disendowment, being desirous to devote the wealth of the Church to education and the help of the poor, he was unwilling to make of these proposals test questions for the candidates ; and he "admitted the probability, he had almost said the certainty," that they would not be part of the business of the next Parliament. And while strongly repeating his propositions that "politics is the science of human happiness," that poverty is the great foe of human happiness, and that poverty can be relieved by allowing local Councils to expropriate land for the poor, he admits that his special proposals are ten- tative, and may be illusory. All he is anxious for is that the party should work towards his ends, which, so long as the means used are morally just, all Liberals are unanimous in wishing to do. It is not justice, however, "to take from land- lords their position "—that is, in fact, their land—in order to benefit the poor, unless all poor are benefited, and all with a surplus are taxed or inconvenienced alike. Mr. Chamberlain reaffirmed strongly his view upon the policy of abolishing fees for edneation as essential to the fall instruction of the people.
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