Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ...of Liberalism was to consider adhesion to Home Rule as the distinguishing mark of Liberalism, and not only adhesion to the principle of increasing the political power of the Irish people, but to Home Rule as it would be eventually proposed by the leader of the party. The Liberal creed having been set up in such a simple way with a profession of faith so easy of recognition, the notion of political orthodoxy penetrated the Liberal Organization from one end to the other, and with this notion its corollary of heterodoxy. All dissent on the Irish question was regarded within the Liberal Associations as a heresy in regard to which tolerance became cowardice and intolerance a virtue. This view was stated in almost so many words by the principal leaders of the Caucus, who proved far more intolerant than some of the official chiefs of the party, and were strongly opposed to all moderate and conciliatory language. Lord Rosebery, a member of Mr. Gladstone's last Cabinet and his future successor, was sharply rebuked by the President of the Caucus for having said that the Liberals would assume a grave responsibility if they let the split in the party become a permanent one. In the opinion of the President of the Liberal Federation, this "was not language that should be used " when one had a majority. Having proved by arithmetical calculation that the number of new Associations affiliated since the Home Rule crisis showed a clear gain of 25 per cent, he expressed indignant astonishment that any one should propose to them, as Lord Rosebery did, to "make a pontoon to bring over those members of the party who were standing on the other side of the gulf."1 The conclusion to which this language pointed was evidently 1 President's speech at the annual...
