id a great people enter upon a period of trial
and choice with more sincere and disinterested desire to know the
truth and to do justice in their generation. I believe they will
succeed.

WINSTON S. CHURCHILL.

33 ECCLESTON SQUARE.
_October 26, 1909._

CONTENTS

PAGE

PREFACE vii

INTRODUCTION xiii

I

THE RECORD OF THE GOVERNMENT

THE CONCILIATION OF SOUTH AFRICA 3

THE TRANSVAAL CONSTITUTION 16

THE ORANGE FREE STATE CONSTITUTION 45

LIBERALISM AND SOCIALISM 67

IMPERIAL PREFERENCE--I. 85

IMPERIAL PREFERENCE--II. 106

THE HOUSE OF LORDS 124

THE DUNDEE ELECTION 147

II

SOCIAL ORGANISATION

THE MINES [EIGHT HOURS] BILL 173

UNEMPLOYMENT 189

THE SOCIAL FIELD 211

THE APPROACHING CONFLICT 225

THE ANTI-SWEATING BILL 239

LABOUR EXCHANGES AND UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE 253

III

THE BUDGET

THE BUDGET RESOLUTIONS 277

THE BUDGET AND NATIONAL INSURANCE 297

LAND AND INCOME TAXES IN THE BUDGET 318

THE BUDGET AND THE LORDS 344

THE SPIRIT OF THE BUDGET 357

THE BUDGET AND PROPERTY 384

THE CONSTITUTIONAL MENACE 405

INTRODUCTION

The series of speeches included in this volume ranges, in point of
time, from the earlier months of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman's
Government to the latest phase in the fortunes of Mr. Asquith's
succeeding Ministry, and forms an argumentative defence of the basis
of policy common to both Administrations. The addresses it contains
deal with nearly all the great political topics of the last four
years--with Free Trade, Colonial Preferences, the South African
settlement, the latest and probably the final charter of trade
unionism, the Miners'