THE SPLIT IN THE LIBERAL PARTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11711, 22 July 1901, Page 5

THE SPLIT IN THE LIBERAL PARTY.

-' SENSATIONAL SPEECH BY . LORD ROSEBERY. A NEW PARTY SUGGESTED. THE ASQUITH BANQUET. By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. (Received July 20, 8.7 p.m.), London, July 19. Lord Rosebery, speaking at the City Liberal Club, described Mr. Labouchere's ■ meeting at the Queen's Hall as a "lunatic reform club." He said the proceedings were a piece of organised hypocrisy. ■;' / • (Received July 21, 4.40 p.m.) , ' London, July 20. Lord Rosebery, in his speech, justified the opportuneness of his letter to the City Liberal Club. The schism in the party, he said, was traceable far less to Irish than to Imperial questions, and dated from the murder 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 1 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.. The • Liberals believe Lord Rosebery contemplates establishing a Democratic Imperialist party. At the Asquith banquet Mr. Asquith made a comparatively tame speech, being still under the influence of a possible compromise. His remarks were chiefly restricted to generalisations. He declared that the Imperialists were • able to hold their own equally easily, inside or outside th* Liberal party, which recognised that the Empire was worth living and dying for. \ .