miners?  Don’t they feel that this measure is hanging in the balance, not in the House of Commons, but in the balance in the House of Lords, which attaches to by-elections an importance which, in their arrogant assertion, entitles them to mutilate or reject legislation, even although it comes to them by the majority of a Parliament newly elected on a suffrage of six millions.  Then there is the question of old-age pensions, a question that has been much misused and mishandled in the past.

That was a pledge given by our opponents to win the election of 1895, and after the lapse of thirteen years of toil and stress, the Liberal Party is able to take it up, and will implement it in an effective fashion.  Now, is there one of all these subjects which does not command the support of Trade Unionists and responsible Labour leaders?  The Government is fighting for these measures.  The Government is risking its life and power for these and similar objects.  The Tory Party is opposing it on every point.  The Tory Party is gaining popularity from the resistance of the interests which are affected by the passing of such measures of social reform.  The House of Lords is the weapon of the Tory Party.  With that weapon they can make a Liberal Government ridiculous.  Are the Labour leaders, are Trade Unionists, confronted at this moment with the menace of reaction, deliberately going to throw in their lot with the House of Lords?  I don’t think they will.  The record in Labour legislation under the existence of the present Government is a record which deserves, and will, I believe, command, the support of the great mass of the labouring classes of our country.

But I say, in all seriousness, that if the Liberal Government is on the one hand confronted by the House of Lords, fortified by sporadic by-elections, and on the other hand is attacked, abused, derided, by a section of those for whom it is fighting, then that Government, whatever its hopes, whatever its energies, whatever its strength, will be weakened, will perhaps succumb, and will be replaced by another Government.  And by what other Government will it be replaced?  There can be no other result from such a division of progressive forces than to instal a Tory and Protectionist Government in power.  That will not be fatal to us.  Liberalism will not be killed.  Liberalism is a quickening spirit—­it is immortal.  It will live on through all the days, be they good days or be they evil days.  No!  I believe it will even burn stronger and brighter and more helpful in evil days than in good—­just like your harbour-lights, which shine out across the sea, and which on a calm night gleam with soft refulgence, but through the storm flash a message of life to those who toil on the rough waters.