On Thursday, Lord Rosebery spoke at a breakfast at the
Grand Hotel, and replied to an article in tha Birmingham
Post which pointed out that in 1884 and 1885 the measures
which the Newcastle Programme endorsed were not advocated as steps taken for the purpose of converting England to a Home-rule policy, but were advocated purely for their own sake. To this Lord Rosebery replied that he is not aware that these measures of Disestablishment, Registration, Re- form of the Land-laws, and so forth, are now advocated solely for the purpose of wrapping up Home-rule in a form that will be palatable to the English Liberals, but are desired for their own sakes. That is of course true; if they were not desired for their own sakes, they would not have the effect of rendering any other measure more palatable to the English Liberals. But, however that may be, Mr. Chamberlain is bound to think of the political result to this country of supporting Lord Rosebery's Govern- ment, and he would be very culpable if only because he approves some of their measures, he used his influence to improve their chance of carrying Home-rule. And that is precisely what he would do if he broke with the Conservatives, who are the best barrier against Home-rule, only for the sake of carrying one or two Gladstonian measures.
Previous page
