On Tuesday Mr. Arthur Elliot made an excellent speech 'at
Gateshead at a meeting held under the auspices of 'the North of England Free-Trade Association. If Mr. Chamberlain had faith in his owi proposals, why should he be afraid of the
House of Commons P He was sorry to say that the Prime Minister had, in the matter of endeavouring to avoid the dis- cussion of this subject in the House of Commons, aided and abetted Mr. Chamberlain. These tactics, Mr. Elliot continued, were altogether unworthy of those who were playing them. Free-traders must be on their guard, and if it was the case that the Prime Minister and Mr. Chamberlain were largely working together, then there was only one way for Unionist Free-traders, and that was to work against them by following their example and consolidating themselves against the Tariff Reformers. That is absolutely sound, as was, indeed, the whole, of Mr. Arthur ElliOt's speech. If only the Unionist Free-traders as a body would act and speak with Mr. Arthur Elliot's candour and directness, they would achieve far greater results. It is timidity that undoes politicians, not boldness.
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