New-York tribune., 1909-09-18
A REPLY TO R0SEBERY
SPEECH OF Mr.. ASQUITH
At BIRMINGHAM.
No Defiance to Lords. but an
attempt to Reassure the
Moderate Factions.
1Hy French Cable to The Tribune

Tondon, Sept. ia Girondist speech was
heard at Birmingham tonight rather than q
truculent harangue from another Robespierre or
Marat Lord Rosebery's reputation Of the new
liberalism revolutionary socialism had startled
che nation and had created q reaction AGAINST
The government among moderate men Of all par
ties It was necessary for the Prime Minister
10 counteract the effect OF that speech and to
reassure the middle class Of England This
he tried TO do without making formal reply
10 Lord Rosebery or seeming TO take a serious
view Of his Glasgow outbreak against demo-
cratic radicalism. What was heard at Bingley
Hall by ten thousand auditors was a plain,
plausible businesslike defence OF the budget
with objections 10 the land section mininized
and the new taxes justified as the essential
maintenance Of free trade and the introduction
Of social reforms. Neither there nor at the
second meeting at Curzon Hall was there any
thing like an historic pronouncement on the
constitutional crisis or the trend Of the liberal
policies.
The advanced Radicals had been hoping for
audacious challenge TO the Lords to throw
out tie budget and TO expose themselves TO an
agitation for the abolition OF their veto power
This faction is disappointed by the moderate and
reasonable appeal Of the Prime Minister to the
country TO stand fast by free trade as the cove
nant OF old liberalism and raise the requisite
revenue without taxing food, but distributing
burdens so that the working millions may bear
them most easily
II was not provocative speech which would
enhitter the landowners and goad the Loros
into hanging up the budget whether Lord I.ans-
downe and Mr.. Balfour wanted this done or
not II was stetesmanlike exposition OF the
economic and sgrarian side Of the budget re-
markable for lucidity of thought and dignity Of
utteranoe, and entirely free from a menace to
the landowners or the peers and from taint
Of demagogism.
While Mr.. Asquith was persuasive rather than
masterful and defiant, there were no signs Of
vacination. timidity or weakness He had
seventy Liberal members Of Parliment around
him. and he was invading the stronghold OF
Unionism. The sounding board above the tri-
hune hguratively brought the entire kingdom
within the range of the leaders voice He
spoke like a leader OF in1exible will with tone
n authority, and was strong enough TO resist
the temptation 10 give TO the vast assemblage
the battle cry Of Down with the Lords
Although he knew what it wanted to hear, he
made il plain that the Cabinet and party were
united in declaring that the necessities Of the
state should be met by an equitable distribution
of the burdens Of taxation in proportion to tho
capacities for bearing them and that the Com
in financial legislation
While he did not reveal Cabinet secrets or
attempt 70 forecast the procedure in the Lords
regarding the budget. he created the impression
that hostile action IN violation Of the precedents
of the last half Of the century would involve
general election with the abolition of the veto
power as the main issue. There was. however.
~ definite challenge 70 the Lords n 10 their
worst and invite their own destruction.
Mr Asquiths speeches were received with
great enthusiasm, notwithstanding the persis-
tent and ingenious efforts Of the suffragettes
70 interrupt them from the roof The
excitement was most intense when he declared
That the tremendous issue would be raised by
the rejection or amendment Of the budget and
thar the Liberal party would welcome the con-
fct
he chances of an early election have been
Strengthened By the Birmingham meetings It
Is not probable that il can take place before
January since the new registers cannot be ad-
Fanced in counties and provincial boroughs
where they do not appear in print from the
courts until Christmas