– (Laughter.) But whether it succeeds or whether it fails the performance always commands the attention and the interest of the audience. . . .

I hope in the autumn to lay before the electors a statement upon these subjects at greater length. When the election comes, it is on these points that I will ask for your support, and I will put on my bills –

Vote for Churchill, Cheap Food, Peace, Retrenchment, and Reform.

The Protectionists have failed to prove that this country is not prosperous; they have failed to prove that they have a remedy which will make us prosperous; and they have failed to prove that their remedy can be effectively applied. As the world goes, we are undoubtedly a prosperous nation, and, man for man, the most prosperous nation. But even if we were not prosperous, Protection would only accelerate our decline and exacerbate our misfortunes. Is it a strange thing that there has been some disorganisation of our commerce after the close of a great and costly war? Mr Chamberlain told a Birmingham audience two years ago that England was rich enough to fight just such another war. Ah! the Birmingham barrel – organ is playing a different tune today – (Laughter.) England is now bleeding to death, and we are told that the colonies will leave us unless Canadian loyalty is purchased at 25. a quarter and Australian allegiance at a penny a pound, – (Laughter.)

Mr Chamberlain’s motives no doubt are pure enough, but what about some of those who were supporting him – those rich landlords and wealthy manufacturers who jostled one another on his platforms? Was it all for the unity of the Empire; was it all for the good of the Empire? – (Laughter.) I will show by quotations that the working men of Spain, France, and Germany are more discontented than the English working men, and that a Free Trade movement is in progress both in Germany and America. I do not look upon foreign peoples as if they are our enemies. – (Loud cheers.) The King has gone from one European capital to another endeavouring to spread goodwill among the nations. What is the good of that if we have another lot of people with a distinguished man at their head going about appealing to every narrow, bigoted, insular prejudice, representing every foreigner as an enemy, spreading ill-will and dissension among the nations of the earth? – (Cheers.) The union of the Anglo-Saxon race is a great ideal, and if ever it is to be achieved it will be by increasing and not diminishing the friendly intercourse of trade between this country and the United States. Against such wanton folly as a tariff war with the United States, Free-traders appeal with confidence to Lancashire, and we hope that, as in years gone by, Lancashire will point the path of honour and wisdom to the people of the British islands. – (Loud cheers.)

‘DEAR FOOD FOR THE MILLIONS: CHEAP LABOUR FOR THE MILLIONAIRE’

13 May 1905

Manchester

As Churchill’s son and biographer, Randolph (the editor’s father) observed: “While Churchill reserved his invective largely for the public platform, he gave the House of Commons the best fruit of his thoughts and the most reasoned arguments in his power.’ Here he castigates the Conservative party, which he rebrands the ‘Protectionist’ party, together with its leader Arthur Balfour, who was still Prime Minister.

The great leader of the Protectionist party, whatever else you may or may not think about him, has at any rate left me in no doubt as to what use he will make of his victory if he should win it. We know perfectly well what to expect – a party of great vested interests, banded together in a formidable confederation, corruption at home, aggression to cover it up abroad, the trickery of tariff juggles, the tyranny of a party machine; sentiment by the bucketful, patriotism by the imperial pint, the open hand at the public exchequer, the open door at the public-house, dear food for the million, cheap labour for the millionaire.

‘BRITISH HOSPITALITY’

9 October 1905

Cheetham Hill, Manchester

By now Churchill had firmly moved his political attentions to North-West Manchester in England’s industrial North, where he was to stand with Liberal support as the Free Trade candidate in the General Election three months later.

If the Unemployment Bill was a sham, the Aliens Bill was a sham with lunacy superimposed upon it. (Laughter.) I am not going to argue the merits of legislation against the admission of aliens into the country. But the Act as it was forced through the House of Commons by the closure contains absurdities which would make a deaf mute roar with laughter. The object of the bill was to keep out undesirables, but any undesirable, whether he was a thief, or a diseased man, or an idiot, might come in if he came in as a third-class passenger and not by steerage. A poverty line was drawn for the first time; a few shillings made the difference between desirability and undesirability. Moreover, the alien who chose to travel in a ship where there were not more than nineteen other aliens might come in freely. The Act will not in any degree alter the situation in England. On the other hand, it may inflict hardship and vexation upon many deserving people who seek a refuge on our shores, and it violates that tradition of British hospitality of which we have been proud and from the practice of which we have at more than one period reaped marked and permanent advantage. (Cheers.)

‘NO MORE GARTERS FOR DUKES’

14 December 1905

City Liberal Club. Manchester

On 4 December Arthur Balfour’s Conservative Government resigned, hoping to exploit divisions in the ranks of the Liberal party, which had been out of office for twenty years. However the prospect of office proved a firm stimulant to unity and Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman formed a Liberal administration in which Winston Churchill was offered his first ministerial post as Undersecretary to the Colonies, In the General Election which followed he won the Manchester North-West seat by a majority of 1,241 votes.

Mr Balfour at Manchester said that his resignation was received ungracefully by those who had so long demanded it. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman had no reason to be grateful to Mr Balfour. It was not out of any consideration for him that Mr Balfour resigned. Nothing but the bluntest compulsion procured his retirement. (Cheers.)

In what condition has he left the public estate? The property is heavily mortgaged, the banking account overdrawn, the annual charges are vastly increased, and national credit has been gravely impaired.