THE MEN BEHIND THE GUN.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XVI, Issue 146, 15 April 1914, Page 1

THE MEN BEHIND THE GUN.

Mr J. A. Spender (editor*) t T,nd Sir F. C. Gould (cartoonist*) are the two men who have made the, Westminster Gazette, the leading: exponent of Liberal thought in Great Britain, and therefore it was in the fitness of tilings that they should be honoured, as happened recently, "by the political party whose fortunes they have so materially helped to make. Responding to the toast of his healthy Mr Spender said: "Ho had never in the years in which he had edited the paper been asked to lower its flag for any commercial reason, and in all moments of difficulty and an/xiety had been encouraged by the proprietors to put tli© good nam© and reputation of the paper before all other considerations. Thaye were many methods of political propaganda. Some- blasted the rocks hi front of them; others dissolved them wj.th vinegar; and others were content if they could let a little ftfcroam rdji cornstantly and wieiar them a|w<ay. Modiejsty prevented him from saying which method he himself employed. The great function of the Liberal party had been to be a mediator between two classes. When liberalism was crushed men were' face to' face with naked class politics. Liberalism was thei one guarantee' for peaceful progress and social reform."