Well, that long process of debate, of argument, of concession, of compromise, of conciliation will very soon come to an end.  When the Budget leaves the House of Commons the time of discussion, so far as we are concerned, will have come to an end.  It will leave the House of Commons in a final form, and no amendment by the House of Lords will be entertained by us.  I have heard it often said, and I have read it more often still, that there are some members of the Cabinet who want to see the Budget rejected, and I have even been shocked to find myself mentioned as one of these Machiavellian intriguers.  To those who say we want to see the Budget rejected I reply, That is not true.  As Party men we cannot be blind to the great tactical advantages which such an event would confer upon us.  We cannot pretend that our feelings in such an event would be feelings of melancholy; but we have our work to do.  Politics is not a game.  It is an earnest business.  We have our work to do.  We have large, complex schemes of social organisation and financial reform on which we have consumed our efforts, and which we desire to see, at the shortest possible date, brought to conception and maturity.  We do not want to see the finances of the country plunged into inextricable confusion, and hideous loss inflicted on the mass of the people and the taxpayers.  For my part, I say without hesitation I do not at all wish to see British politics enter upon a violent, storm-shaken, and revolutionary phase.  I am glad, at any rate, if they are to enter upon that phase, it shall be on the responsibility of others.

Our intentions are straightforward.  We seek no conflict; we fear no conflict.  We shall make no overtures to the House of Lords; we shall accept no compromise.  We are not called upon to offer them any dignified means of escape from a situation into which they have been betrayed by the recklessness of some of their supporters.  They have no right whatever to interfere in financial business directly or indirectly at any time.  That is all we have to say, and for the rest we have a powerful organisation, we have a united Party, we have a resolute Prime Minister, we have a splendid cause.

I do not think we need at this stage speculate upon the result of a battle which has not yet been, and which may never be at this juncture fought.  I have seen enough of the ups and downs of real war to know how foolish forecasts of that character often are.  But when an army has been brought into the field in the best condition, in the largest possible numbers, in a spirit of the highest enthusiasm, at the most favourable season, and on the best possible ground—­then I think, when our army has been brought into that situation, we can afford to await the supreme arbitrament with a cool and serene composure; and this mood of composure and of calmness may ripen into a kind of joyous and warlike heartiness, if we can also feel that the cause for which we are fighting is broadly and grandly a true and righteous cause.