PARTY RECONSTRUCTION.
[To Tea Eorron. or TH IC " SP RCEATO IL"' Sin,—Tariff Reform has weakened the power in proportion as it has strengthened the purpose of the Unionist Party. Reconstruction on a Free-trade basis would reverse this process. Is it possible to do this ? You have advocated it with singular candour and ability, and so far without success. As a Unionist Free-trader, and one who has taken an active part in opposing Unionist Tariff Reformers, I suggest that many Unionists would vote for Unionist Tariff Reform candi- dates at the next General Election if they would answer in the affirmative the following test question, viz. :—" Will you pledge yourself as far as the next Parliament is concerned not to support any proposal subversive of our existing fiscal policy ? " The effect of an affirmative answer to this test question would still leave the candidate free to hold what opinion he pleases on Tariff Reform, provided that "in the next Parliament" he abstains from giving a vote in favour of Tariff Reform.—I am, Sir, &c., F. M.
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