THE SPLIT AMONG THE LIBERALS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 22 July 1901, Page 4

THE SPLIT AMONG THE LIBERALS.

[by ELECTRIC TELEGEAPH. —COPYEIGHT.]

[pee press association.]

London, July 20.

Lord Rosoberry, speaking at tbe City Liberal Club, described Mr Labouchore’s meeting at the Queen’s Hall as a lunatic reform club. He said that the proceedings were a piece of organised hypocrisy. Lord Roseberry in his speech justified the opportuness of his letter. He said that the schism was partly traceable far less to Irish than to Imperial questions and dated from the murder of Gordon. Could any party aspiring to the confidence of the people maintain an open mind on questions which stabbed at -the very heart of the Empire. It sound on the question of the Empire the Liberals Vould be able to proceed with domestic reform for which the country mbs ripe. He hoped for such party reform of a freed from entangling alliance purged fromanti-National elemei|i and comprising some of the Unionists. Meanwhile, owing to division, he still preferred to plough his furrow alone, but before he reached the end of the furrow he possibly would not be alone. The speech was received with enthusiastic cheers.

Both the letter and the speech made a tremendouS'sensation. The Liberals believe that Lord Rosebery contemplates establishing a Democratic Imperialist Party. The Asquith banquet was comparatively tame, the speech being still under the influence of a possible compromise and chiefly restricted to generalisations. He declared that the Imperialists were able to hold their own equally easily inside and outside the Liberal party, which recognised the Empire as worth living for and dying for.