PROBLEMS OF EMPIRE.
the prospects of peace, which were never brighter than at that moment; secondly, because I was convinced that to make Home Rule for Ireland alone one of the chief planks of the party platform was to renew an attempt which the experience of 1893 had proved to be futile, and a fatal mistake from a party point of view.
Mr. Chamberlain's Speech on May 15th, 1903. We now come to Mr. Chamberlain's speech of May 15th. What was the attitude of the Liberal leader when the question was first raised in the country? Lord Rosebery, speaking at Burnley, used the following words: 'We could not hastily reject without mature consideration any plan, offered on high authority and based on large experience, for really cementing and uniting the British Empire. Their Chamber of Commerce would have to consider that matter. Apart from the blast of party passion or personal prejudice, it would have to be considered whether there was any practical scheme possible for having a reciprocal tariff with the Colonies which would have the effect that was expected, and which would be workable. It would have to be considered whether the people of this country could be brought to agree to a system which would satisfy the British dependencies.' That was the proper attitude of mind with which to regard the great question put before the country by Mr. Chamberlain, but it did not commend itself to party managers. The temptation to make political capital out of that question was irresistible to a party so divided and so impotent as the Liberal Party had been for many years. Lord Rosebery's two principal lieutenants, Sir Edward Grey and Mr. Asquith, were already uncompromisingly com-
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