A. more powerful, and at the same time fairer and
more sincere, criticism of the Budget cannot be imagined than that provided by Mr. Cox. Whether the Liberal "machine" will succeed in driving Mr. Cox out of Preston remains to be seen. At any rate, it is a good sign that be should have received so respectful and sympathetic a hearing from a meeting of six thousand persons. That is a proof that straight speaking and independence will always win respect in England. We may note that Mr. F. W. Chance, another Liberal Member, spoke quite as strongly against the Budget in addressing his constituents at Carlisle on Monday. His objections to the Land-taxes were (1) the singling out for special taxation of one particular form of property ; (2) the taxation of that property for purposes of annual expenditure on the basis of capital value ; (3) the great amount of uncertainty and speculation which these taxes involved. That is an admirably succinct enumeration of the objections to the Budget. In connexion with these Liberal protests, we desire heartily to associate ourselves with the very powerful appeal made in our issue of to-day to moderate Liberals by Lord Hugh Cecil.
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