LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL AND THE NATIONAL EXPENDITURE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2295, 26 March 1887, Page 2

LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL AND THE NATIONAL EXPENDITURE.

In reply to a Glasgow correspondent, who, in asking for an explanation with regard to a recent letter from Lord Randolph Churchill, expresses "unswerving confidence in his action, judgment and decision," the ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer writes :

— "If you come to examine the revenue and expenditure accounts for the last 20 years, I think it is possible that you may find that the management of the national finances between 18(i8 and 1874 was fairly good, between 1874 and ISBO was not quite so satisfactory, and between 1880 and 1885 was simply infamous. If this rather summary view of recent financial history is discovered to be on the whole not incorrect, the cause might, with some amount of reason, be assigned to Parliamentary demoralisation, which, in its turn, may be regarded as springing from—(l) The Irish difficulty, which may be said to have commenced in 18715; (2) ,unwise legislation; (3) unwise foreign policy. I am rejoiced, however, to learn from my correspondence, and from other sources, that this vastly important question of national expenditure is beginning to receive the serious attention of the masses of the people in all parts of the country."