Lord Rosebery was most careful to emphasise thepoint that these
were individual opinions, which did not pledge a single human being in or outside of the Philharmonic Hall, but as they have been largely endorsed by representative organs of "Central" Liberal opinion, it is as well that there should be no slurring over of the precise language used. While we felt bound to show that the Chesterfield declaration on Home-rule admitted of adhesion to the heresy, we frankly and gladly own that the Liverpool prcmunciamiento entirely dispels that doubt. In future we are glad to think that we may rank Lord Rose- bery as a Unionist and opponent of Home-rule. It is clear that no real Home-ruler can now support him, and by this speech, quite as much as by his letter separating himself from the official Liberal leader, he stands forth in complete opposi- tion to Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, who distinctly avows himself a Home-ruler. After this, to be in both camps will surely prove "a straddle" which even the most machine-made of politicians will not be able to compass.
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