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——————»—————— RADICAL v. LABOUR.!

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—————— » —————— RADICAL v. LABOUR. For a considerable time it has been apparent to even the casual observer that the cleavage between the forces of Radicalism and Labour was widening. Mr. Churchill's attack upon the Labour party in the House of. Commons heralded the split, but many people were not disposed to attach much importance to the utterances of that volatile politician. Now, however, we have a pro- nouncement of much greater weight, from the Master of Elibank, the Scottish Whip for the Government, who makes it clear that the two parties who have run so far in double harness have arrived at the parting of the ways. It was no haphazard, irresponsible speech that the Master of Elibank delivered to his canny audience of Peebles Radicals on Saturday afternoon, for he took particular care to emphasise the fact that he spoke as Scottish Whip with a certain authority attaching to that position," also as one coming into daily contact with stern and strong workers in the Liberal party among the working classes, and with the rank and file of the Liberal party in the House of Commons." Having these excep- tional opportunities for observation, he stated that the Socialist party, by which he meant the Independent Labour group, had opened war on the Liberal party, and he was not very certain that it would not be necessary in the future for the Liberal party to embark upon a crusade against Socialism- The Master of Elibank confessed that at one Period he had been under the impression that there was room for union between the Liberal and the Labour ranks, indeed on one occasion he had supported a Labour can- didate in Lanarkshire, although he did not know at the time that the gentleman was a Socialist* but he now admitted that observa- tion of circumstances had convinced him that Liberals had now got to stand on their own legs. Liberalism, he said, had never thriven upon Socialism. Liberals, did not believe in the public ownership of the means of production, nor that Capital and Labour were necessarily antagonistic. They did not believe that it was the right of every man to obtain labour from the State, or that it was the duty of the State to give labour when there was not a demand for it." In conclusion, this candid friend proclaimed his belief that unless the Liberal party stood upon their own legs, their very vitals would be consumed, and they would fall between two stools, and disappear as an active force in British politics. This frank confession, although it will be bitter reading to many devoted adherents of the. Radical cause, cannot be denied the quality of honesty. The last General Election made it plain that the Labour party, or the Socialists, as the Master of Ehbank calls them, hitherto had not known their own strength. Up to then they had been walk- ing on crutches, by the help of the Radical party, but in the near future they too will insist upon standing very much on their own legs, to the discomfiture of the old- fashioned Radicals. Nobody knows better than the Socialist leaders that the present Ministry enjoy office on account of the sup- port of the Socialist party in the country, and that the moment they forfeit that confidence they are lost. The trial of strength between these two parties will be full of interest for the Unionists, who may thcu reasonably expect to receive their due- That many members of the Radical party are not prepared to go the whole hog of Socialism we are free to admit, and it is a mercy for the country that they are not, but when they come to stand up alone against the solid phalanx of Unionism on the one hand and the rampant forces of Socialism on the other, their position will not be enviable. No pity, however, need be wasted on them. They have made their own bed, they have coquetted with Labour and Socialism ad nauseam, and they must be left to fight their erstwhile allies single- handed. A

rOOH-LA W EXTRAVAGANCE.

I -CHESTER CATHEDRAL.

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ILOCAL & GENERAL NOTES.1 I…

ICHESTER SALMON PISHING. -_▲

WESLEYAN METHODISM.

¡GERMAN GYPSIES AT CHESTER.

HORSE KILLS ITS GROOM. A