6] ENGLISH HISTOBY. pm.
criticism of the Soudan policy of the present Government. He had criticised the Soudan expedition when originally planned, but the energy of our commanders had made it a stupendous success. He demurred somewhat to Mr. Chamberlain's defini- tion of a " little Englander," and suggested in its place, as the definition of a true imperialist, one " who believed in such expansion only as carried with it advantages not out of propor- tion to its obligations." In connection with the choice of a new leader of the party, he saw no necessity for putting forward a new programme. The Liberal party had two functions to perform — to civilise and to educate ; in other words to complete our political freedom, and to complete our national education.
Mr. Morley had an excellent opportunity of replying to his critics and opponents when addressing another section of his constituents at Montrose (Jan. 19) ; but he preferred to touch upon the several questions which dealt more directly with public welfare. In the matter of temperance reform he adhered to the views held by the Liberal Government in 1895, and expressed in the Local Option Bill brought forward at that time. The old- age pension question also needed a practical solution ; but he was not prepared to accept any scheme so far put forward. The Irish question presented no difficulties to him, for if the Irish maintained their demand for a national subordinate assembly the Liberals would not be justified in throwing it over, but must treat it as they did the demand for Catholic emancipation. He was, therefore, strongly in favour of retaining the Irish vote in the House of Commons, recognising the debt due to it by every Liberal Administration since 1832. He maintained his definition of the duties of true Liberals in the scramble for derelict countries. In the competition between nations we could only win by trade not by territory, and we could only beat our most dangerous competitors by increased economy and by increased economy of production. In conclusion he described the creed of the Jingo, as he understood that personage, as one by whom the following tenets were held dear : (1) Territory was territory, and all territory was worth acquiring ; (2) all territory — especially if anybody happened to want it — was worth paying any price for ; (3) this country possessed the purse of Fortunatus, bulging and overflowing with gold, and was free to fling millions here and there with the certainty that benignant fairies would by magic make them good ; (4) " do not show the slightest regard to the opinions of other nations, and you have no share whatever in the great collective responsibility of civilised people as joint guardians of the interests of peace ; " (5) the interests of the people of this country, classes or masses, advancement in all the arts of civilised life and well-being, their needs and their requirements, were completely and utterly a secondary and subordinate question.
It fell to Sir Edward Grey, one of the most brilliant and capable members of the last Liberal Government to reply to
