Lord James of Hereford, in his letter of August 10th
to the chairman of a Lancashire Liberal Unionist Association, on the subject of preferential tariffs, strikes no uncertain note. "'Whatever action Unionists take in support of Free-trade may well be taken within the ranks of the Unionist party." Unionist and Conservative Associations throughout the
country may lay this advice to heart. It is impossible to say that no action should be taken by the various Associations while the Birmingham Association is at work. Lord James only agrees that no action should be taken, "on the condi- tion that the Birmingham Association, of which Mr. Chamber- lain is president, shall suspend its operations against Free- trade." But such a truce will not be concluded, and failing it, Lord James asks,—" Should not Lancashire look to its interests and defend them ? There are men amongst you who can recall the days of Protection. They will remember that those who won the Free-trade victory pitched their tents within the County Palatine. They will compare the Lancashire of to- day with its condition before 1846. They can boast that if England is the workshop of the world, its busiest workers are
Lancashire men if Lancashire men, merchants, manufacturers, and artisans will now meet and speak out, they may do more than decide the big fight,'—they may prevent it." The prevention of "the big fight" is, we fear, now impossible; but the producers of England can give the Fair-trade party a defeat from which it will never recover.
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