THE LIBERAL SPLIT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 162, 22 July 1901, Page 5

THE LIBERAL SPLIT.

ROSEBERY'S ATTITUDE

ASQUITH BANQUET A COLOURLESS GATHERING

LONDON," July 19

Lord Hosebery, speakiug at the City Liberal Club, described Mr Labouehere's meeting at the Queen's Hall as a "lunatic reform club." He said the proceedings were a piece of organised hypocrisy.

Lord Rosebery, in his speech, justified the opportuneness of his letter to the City Liberal Club. Tbe schism in the party, he said, was traceable far less to Irish than to Imperial questions, and dated from the murclQf of General Gordon. Could any party, he asked, aspiring to the confidence of the people, maintain an open mind on a question which stabbed at the very heart of the Empire? If they were sound on questions affecting the Empire the Liberals would be able to proceed with domestic reform for which the country was ripe. He hoped for such a party of reform freed from entangling alliances, purged from all anti-national elements, and comprising some of the Unionists. Meanwhile, owing to divisions, he still preferred to plough his furrow alone, but before he reached the end of the furrow he possibly might not be alone. The speech was received with enthusiastic cheers. Both the letter and the speech have created a tremendous sensation. Tbe Liberals believe Lord Rosebery contemplates establishing a Democratic Imperialist party. At the Asquith banquet Mr Asquith made a comparatively tame speech, being siill under the influence of a possible compromise. His remarks were chiefly restricted to generalisations. He declared that the Imperialists were able to bold their own equally easily, inside or outside the Liberal party, which recognised that the Empire was worth living and dying for.