GREAT UNIONIST MEETING.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11750, 26 November 1903, Page 5

GREAT UNIONIST MEETING.

SPEECH BY THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE.

.Biweivetf N"ov>mW 25th, 11.44 p.m.) LONDON, November 25. I The Duke of Devonshire presided «t * ! crowded and enthusiastic Unionist Free Food League meeting at Queen's Hall. Admission was by ticket. . Sir M. Hicks-Beech > Lord George Hamilton, Mr C. T. Ritchie, aad Lard BeHoiir of Burleigh were present. . Sir M. did not spetk. Hβ eat on the Chairman's left and listened, not unmoved, to the Duke of Devonshire's blunt declaration thut whatever others might do he himself was not prepared to tender an expression of confidence in the Government policy, whereof he had no adequate knowledge, and about which he entertained some grave misgivings. A handful of ilr Chamberhun'i supporters hs<i secured seats, and the mention of Mr Chamberlain wat frequently greeted with rounds of applause mingled with * few groans and hisses, but the Duke's, tribute to Mr Chamberlain's high motives j in making his proposals evoked manifestations of the heartiest commendation.

The Duke urged that the fiscal question mutt sooner or later become a party question. 3iot ytti, «o thought the Liberals, and they quickTy availed themselves of the advantages of identifying themselves with the maintenance of the fiscal system ac it stand*. There tv nothing- the Opposition would iiis better than on election turning on the question of free imports versos protection, especially ii— food agaimrt tu*d

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food; bat it tw not yet certain they wmld have this Advantage. Mr Cbambcrlain's policy wee unsupported in its fall strength and scope by any other prominent statesman, but it was Mr Chamberkin'a, not the Government's policy, which wa* before the counter. The puWio would like aelear issue, and a dear issue w» presented by Mr Chamberlain. lbs Government's policy mast be more clearly defined. The country resembled a jury in a great complicated cause hearing counsel on both «ides, but not privileged to hear the summing up. He did not know where to look for that summing up. It was not open the results of enquiry that the Government's policy bad been framed. The speeches made at Sheffield and Bristol alone afforded the people the necessary material to form an opinion. They contained the most positive declaration Mr Balfour hod made tfi&t the Government sought a mandate to retaliate its mitigation of hostile tariffs. That might mean much or little. It could not be intended to confer discretionary powers to impose taxation without the express consent of Parliament. (Cheers.) The country cannot, and wall not, abandon a power, which is the foundation of all our libsrtke." (Cheers-)