Mr. Balfour made a short speech on Thursday at Hadding-
ton in support of Mr. Hall Blyth, the Unionist candidate for East Lothian. He began by defining the causes for which Unionists stood,—security of commercial enterprise, the maintenance of our Fleet, on which our existence as a nation was founded, the drawing together of all parts of the Empire, the maintenance of the Union, and the introduction of such changes into our fiscal system as embodied principles com- mending themselves to every civilised community but our own. On the other hand, the present Government encouraged Socialism, which undermined security of enterprise, broke their pledges about the Navy, discouraged the Colonies, revived the Home-rule controversy, and were committed to the maintenance of an obsolete fiscal system. Mr. Balfour was careful to say that neither now nor at any time would he tell his countrymen that Tariff Reform would solve the problem of unemployment. But at any rate the unemployment of the really competent workman must be diminished by any rational system. In conclusion, without wishing to indulge in rash prophecies, Mr. Balfour declared that the Unionist Party never had a worthier cause to defend and had never been in better heart, better organised, or more determined to win. Mr. Balfour made no reference to the reform of the House of Lords, but as he had only recently left his bed, and was still incapable of a sustained effort, we do not lay stress on an omission which we sincerely trust will be remedied at an early opportunity. 1
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