The Speaker's Aim.

I am not here to-night to deliver a fighting political speech. I am not going to attack or defend any party, am here to contribute such serious thought and information as I possess to a better understanding of the most difficult, the most vital, and the most urgent question of the day—the Labour question—and before I proceed let [unclear: m] earnestly impress this upon you, as intelligent men and women. No solution of any problem can be hoped for until the facts are dispassionately ascertained and considered, and until ways and means can be seen. Facts are often dis tasteful—they frequently shatter Cher ished illusions, they disappoint our hopes, they condemn many of our an tagonisms and bitternesses, and, above all they eject us from the fool's paradise of which well-meaning fanatics and sentimental day-dreamers, flattering out discontent, sometimes make us tenants Heated language, fiery denunciations of existing evils and capitalistic classes will help us little.