Mr. Goschen made a brilliant speech at Sheffield on Wed-
nesday in the Albert Hall, which was crowded with nearly four thousand persons. He described how the sentimental faddists played into the hands of Mr. Labouchere and his deliberate obstructionists, and congratulated the Government and himself that the obstruction had been least serious in relation to the most important measures of the Government. They had successfully passed the Bill for the completion of the Conversion of the National Debt, and had read a third time the National Defence Bill, in spite of the Utopian argu- ments of those who believe that Europe is under the influence of men of the stamp of Sir Wilfrid Lawson. He himself had given his hearty support to the National Defence Bill because, though it deprived him of the chance of remitting taxation and compelled him to impose fresh taxes, he fully believed this new expenditure to be necessary in order to secure this country against attack. Why, six months after the President of the United States had given a favourable hearing to the friends of peace and international arbitration, Congress voted ten millions sterling for an increase of the Navy of the United States, and that in spite of the fact that the United States of America are far removed from the area of European conflict, and are in no danger from any neighbour of their own.
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