The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-10-28

not WHIPPED
Retiring Premier Goes
Before British Pub
lie to Defend His
Policies
London, Oct. 25-Forlner Prime
Minister Lloyd George started off
his campaign in London today with
a fighting speech to an enthusiastic
meeting of the Coalition-Liberal
members of Parliament. throwing
down the gauntlet to the. Conserva-
tives whose attack upon the govern
ment, he declared. left no alterna-
tive but to spread the war" 4.
The little We1shman stood by his
Manchester speech Of last Satur-
day, reiterating his intention to sup
port any party or government pur-
suing a policy of peace economy
and steady progress, neither reyolu-
tionary nor reactionary.
eve are confronted" said Mr..
Lloyd George, with a very impor-
tant decision affecting not merely
the future Of those here and those
who support them in the country,
bu. a decision which affects the in
terest Of the country itself. That
is a more important matter for US
ALL
He counseled calmness and cour-
age, and asserted the interests of
the country must come first.
II have seen parties destroyed by
personal resentment, ;" continued the
former premier. "I have seen parties
rendered impotent by personal re-
sentiments. I have seen their judg-
ment DETECTED, and for that rea-
on they are not making the con-
tribution they ought to the we'll
being Of the people for whose pros
perity we are deeply concerned. We
will not make that mistake, what
ever happens. We will consider the
land to which we are deeply at
tached first. It's interests must be
deposited in our hearts, its inter-
ests must be the highest in our con-
cern-Great Britain first; any
party, even our own, second and
even last.
"Now, that is our policy. We have
stood for national unity. that is,
unity of all men, all. creeds. parties
and sections for the purpose, first
of all. of winning the war, and af-
terwards extricating the country
from its after-the-war difficulties" .
It was not their fault, declared
Mr.. Lloyd George to his hearers, if
party faction had arisen and
unity had been for the moment
broken. The war had been won and
the country was getting through its
troubles in peace gradually. and
throughout the world re-establish-
ment and successful graphing with
financial difficulties was being ac-
complished.
Our credit was being bulit ZIP
| in a way that amazed the whole
world" continued he. Trade was
beginning to turn unemployment
was going down. In fact success
was becoming SO manifest that
some people thought it time to
seize the profits" Factionalism had
been revived, and the success OF
the coalition had made some OF
the ablest, most experienced and
most honorable men in the con-
servative party say:
.sThis isn't Jannock.' (provin-
cial English for fair play.")
81 can understand" he added,
"a revolt Of under-secretaries
can also understand for the rea-
sons indicated why the wiser heads
of the party did not join in the
revolt.
.The present may look prosper
Gus or promising. The future is
dark and difficult and the wiser
men hesitated, were reluctant,
apart from the fact that as Lord
Balfour said. there are certain
things gentlemen don't do.
But what can not understand
is why the majority. party took
that line" said the former pre-
mier. laying emphasis upon those
words.
"It is vital that we should not
allow our view of the eastern
transactions to weigh against the
country's interests. This is the
thing that matters at the begin
ming, at the end, and all the time .
| He expressed doubt as to whether
the conservatives alone could de
fend the fabric the institutions and
the principals of the country for
which millions had faced death.
1--WE are here" he declared, Ito
| see how the situation which has
been brought about by indiscreet,
impulsive, thoughtless men shall
be so handled that Great Britain
shall not come to any harm by
their deed
Mr.. Lloyd George said he was
unable to explain the reasons for
| the breakdown-that he was per-