The Irish standard., 1901-12-28
An Impression Prevails That He Will Lead
the Liberals to Victory at
Coming Election.
Being an lmperialist He Does Not Want an
Alliance With the Party of
Irish Home Rule.

EX-Prime Minister Rosebcry, wear
led of ploughing that lonely furrow to
which in his last public speech he con-
speech at Chesterfield on the evening
of Dec. 1G his Willingness to place his
services at the disposal of his country
and cnunciatcd the policy which, in
his opinion, should be adopted for heal
ing the nations ills and uniting the
Liberal party. The speech awakened
unbounded enthusiasm.
The immense audience which pack
ell the great car shed of the Lanca-
shire a. Derby railroad, which was
converted for the evening into con-
cert hall, is estimated to have num-
bcred fully 5000, but far greater
number We're unable to gain entrance.
,Hhe weather was most inauspicious.
Snow from the storm of Dec. 12 lay
deep and fresh snow was falling, but
the eager Liberals were not deferred.
They came from all parts of the co,ln-
try by train and from the surround
ing districts in carriages ana carts.
After the main speech Lord Rose
berry attended an overflow meeting al
though his voice was so hoarsc that it
was with difficulty he made himself
audible. 1T may unhesitatingly be
said that the impression created
among his hearers was that Lord
Roscbery will again lead the Liberal
party and lead it to victory at the
next election. His views although
professcdly unframed on party lines
met the party aspirations so far as
they were represented mt the meeting.
His bold cutting off OF the Irish al
lance was greeted only with less ap-
prOval than his strong impcrialistic
views on the war. During his speech,
which occupied two hours, the attcn-
ton of his audience never tagged
while the enthusiasm grew as he pro-
cccded.
Besides Mr.. Asquith ana Sir I'D
ward Grey, about Il score of members
of parliament, Lord Rrnsscy and Lord
Burghclcrc supported Lord Roscbery
on the platform. Sir Henry Fowler,
formerly president of the local govern
mcnt board, and others wrote sympa-
thetically and regretted their absence
Lord ROScbery opened his speech
by appealing for patient hearing
even if his audience disagreed with
him. He said he had not come to
tackle their ears with clOGucnce and
rhetoric but to speak his mind, being
prepared to give some advice to the
Liberal party, which would, at any
rate, be dispnssionate and impartial.
There were three or four preliminary
facts to be remembered regarding the
party if the situation was to be looked
fairly and squarcly in the face. The
first was that the party had passed
through n long and painful sickness
and was only now approaching con-
valesccnce; second, it was now free
altogether of it's Irish alliance and it's
consequences. The Irish party had
repeatedly repudiatcd any alliance
with the party in terms that were al
most insulting, and as they had now
ranged themselves openly with the
enemies fighting the country in the
field, he did not suppose much cmbar-
rassmcnt was likely to arise from a
too intimate connection between the
two Qoud cheers; third, the Liberal
party had to gain or regain unity. He
did not pretend to say how that was
to be done; fourth, and most i'm
portant, they had to gain Or regain
the confidence of the country.
The speaker proceeded to deal out
his promised advice. He said it was
1G years since the party had been in
anything like power. Consequently it
was it's primary duty to clean it's slate
and consider most carefully what to
write thereon in the future. There
were many Of the party who would
not agree to this, for there is great
| deal Of Toryism in liberalism. There
were men in the party who sat still