Campbell-Bannerman delivered his anviously expected reply to Lord Rosebery's famous Chesterfield speech. On the whole it was conciliatory. Sir Henry declared that as regards the settlement to be aimed at in South Africa there is no substantial difference of opinion between himself and Lord Rosebery. He intimated that he had invited "Lord Rosebery—_ to resume ce-operation with the leaders of the Liberal Party, and that he regretted Lord Rosebery's reply, intimating that he preferred to maintain his independent position. It was evident, however, that Sir Henry, in spite of his suavity, found a good deal to resent in Lord Rosebery's speech; and it was significant that a strong anti-Rosebery feeling was manifested in the meeting, which was held to inaugurate the new London Liberal Federation. The ex-Premier's name was actually hooted, and leatfets in which abuse was showered upon him and the other Liberal Imperialist leaders—Mr. As-quite, Sir E. Grey, and Sir Henry Fowler—<awere scattered all over the hall. The organisers of the Federation, however, express their indignation at this, and' declare that it was the work of a handful of the Pro-Boers. It cannot, however, be said that the meeting augurs well for the Liberal Unity. It may be that some day in the not distant future Lord Rosebery will again be the Liberal leader, and that Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman will be among his faithful lieutenants; but it will not be till the war is over, and even then it is difficult to see how their views on the Home Rule question can be reconciled.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.