It was announced on Thursday that Lord Rosebery and his
followers had formed an organisation to be called "The Liberal League." The president is to be Lord Rosebery, and the vice-presidents Mr. Asquith, Sir Henry -Fowler, and Sir Edward Grey. The objects of the League are stated in an official communique, which runs as follows :—" It has been decided by those who adhere to the Chesterfield policy that they have no intention of severing themselves from the Liberal party, bnt, on the contrary, intend to act with the rest of the Liberal Opposition on the lines of that policy." As we have pointed out elsewhere, this is a somewhat per- plexing conclusion after Lord Rosebery's letter last week about "definite separation." We presume that it means that Lord Rosebery and his followers think that they can capture the Liberal party if only they refuse to be read out of it and insist on sticking to the ship, which, as they might say, to prevent worse disaster they have run on to a mud-bank. Whether the Liberal Leaguers, or New Primrose Leaguers as they have been dubbed, will succeed in their endeavour it is, of course, impossible to say, but we hold their chance to be a good one if only Lerd Rosebery does not in the future, as in the past, show infirmity of purpose.
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