Wednesday's sitting was opened by a speech from Lord Salisbury
which was remarkable even in a week of good speeches, and on a day made memorable by one of the most eloquent, witty, and fascinating speeches that Lord Rosebery has ever made. Lord Rosebery began by arguing that circumstances might arise which would justify the House of Lords in rejecting a Budget. "To abnormal measures abnormal methods of defence may be offered." He went on ta confirm his former criticism of the present Bill, which had " already done incalculable mischief," and amused the House by expressing his belief " that all the great ships that go westward across the Atlantic are at this moment carrying bonds and stocks in ballast" He none the less intended to abstain from voting. Had the Referendum existed, he would have voted for it now; but " General Elections were not conducted in a palace of truth," and he feared " the result of an appeal to the country on an unreformed Second Chamber mixed up with the promises of the Budget." Lord Rosebery ended his speech by pointing out the dangers of a single-Chamber Constitution, which was what some members of the Government desired, and which by rejecting the Bill they might themselves be helping to establish. The real policy for those who were opposed to the Budget was to allow the country a six months' experience of its evils. Lord Milner, who spoke later in the evening, gave a detailed criticism of the measure, and suggested that in a single year " it was a simple impossi- bility efficiently to bring about the enactment of all these complicated taxes."
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