Lord Rosebery's much-expected speech was delivered on Monday at Chesterfield
in the carriage-shed of the Lanca- shire, Derbyshire, and East Coast Railway. Oratorically the speech, which lasted just two hours, was a very great success, and clearly showed that Lord Rosebery is one of the greatest masters of public speaking now alive. His only equal as a platform speaker is Mr. Chamberlain. Lord Rosebery's first point was to declare that the Liberal party must claim a clean slate. They must have a policy adapted to 1902, and not to 1892, they must not promise more than they can perform, and they must not act like fanatics. As for the Irish Alliance, that was over and done with. Lastly, Liberals must not dissociate themselves from "the new sentiment of the Empire which occupies the nation." If he were in office, said Lord Rosebery, his-watchword would be , efficiency. And first of all, efficiency must be secured in Parliament and the legisla- tive machine. Next, there must be efficiency in the War Office and other Departments, and also in our commercial life. Lord Rosebery went on to draw a strong picture of the danger incurred by the hatred which we inspired in Europe, and indica.ted the oratory of the Colonial Secretary as one of the chief causes of . that hatred. . He abould keep his invective for home consumPtion.
