THE RISING TIDE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 232, 28 September 1908, Page 4

THE RISING TIDE.

The crashing defeat of the Liberals at ] Newcastle confirms the strong impression produced by numerous by-elections dur- j kig the past two years that the Conserva-tive-Unionist party U rapidly regaining its lost ground at Home. It is not likely that there ever will be another purely Tory Government in England. But if events continue to drift along the course they have recently taken, the ejection of the Liberals from office need not be relegated to an immeasurably distant future. The causes suggested by the rival candidates tor this latest Unionist victory are in no way inconsistent wit'i each other. The Liberal ascribes bis defeat to the

Licensing Bill; and there is no doubt that Mr. Asquith's bold and honest attempt to en'orce the will of the people

in regard to the conduct of the liquor trade has arrayed against the Liberals ! one of the strongest financial and political interests in the country. On the other hand, the new member believes that he owes his seat to the popularity of Tariff Reform among the workers as j affording possible help for the uneni- ! ployed. And it is impossible to deny that the efforts made by the Unionists for Imperial Reciprocity and Protection have produced a deep impression upon the wage-earning classes at Home. The industrial distress which is now exhibit-*! iug itself throughout Europe and America seems to be worse in England than elsewhere, and the Tariff Reformers have

judiciously concentrated their energies on the task of appealing to the workers to support a policy that, as proved in the experience of other countries, may

■ raise their wages and increase the work ! 1 for them to do without unduly raising : 1 the cost of living against them. In spite jof the deeply-rooted British prejudice in I I favour of Cobdenism, recent elections i i-.ave shown clearly that Tariff Reform is j making headway. But we are inclined I to think that considering tile immense I financial resources, at the command of I "the trade" at Home, and the violent j 1 antagonism displayed by the liquor in- I terest to Mr. Asquith, the downfall of *he Liberals, if and when it happens, will Ibe due at least as much to the Licensing I Lill as to the assaults of the Tariff B-eiormers upon the sacred doctrines of Free Trade.