MARLBOROUGH’S LUNCHEON.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 185, 13 August 1901, Page 2

MARLBOROUGH’S LUNCHEON.

SPEECHES BY BALFOUR AND CHAMBERLAIN.

NO “ IMPERIALISM IN BRACKETS.”

THREAT TO REDUCE NUMBER OF IRISH MEMBERS.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, Aug. 12.

At Blenheim on Saturday tho Duke and Duchess of Marlborough gutertaiuod 300 Union representatives of the Kingdom at luncheon.

Mr Balfour, in a speech, dealt with anti-patriotic Opposition, with tho tactics of the Irish party, and tho indissoluble alliance of both wings of the Unionists. Mr Chamberlain, in a strong speech, declared that tho Liberal Imperialists would never extricate the remnant of tho Liberal party from tho pro-Boer aud Littlo Englander marsh. Lord Rosebery had lately recommended tho Imperial Liberal Association to call themselves Liboral Imperialists, but they put tho word Imperialists in brackets, implying that Imperialism was merely a political parenthesis. The unionists would have nothing to do with “Imperialism in brackets.” (Cheers.)

After declaring that tho behaviour of tho Nationalists during tho past session had rendered the reduction of tho present over-representation of Ireland an urgent matter, Mr Chamberlain eulogised tho steadfastness of tho democracy in dofenco of the whole Empire. “ Whon,” said Mr Chamberlain, “ Bannorman asks for poaco at any price, wo will answer, as Lincoln answered tho pessimist minority of copperheads in tho north, and history will justify us as it justified Lincoln.”