17 MARCH 1894, Page 15

THE CRISIS AND ITS DANGERS. [To THE EDITOR OF TER

" SPECTATOR."]

A. V. Dicey's letter, and your leader on this subject

in the Spectator of March 10th, give timely warning to Liberal :Unionists and to their opponents likewise, that the outlook -of political-events points to greater resolution than ever in maintaining the bond between the Liberal Unionists and the

Conservative party. The absence of any reference to Home- rale in the Queen's Speech is an incident which may mislead some persons. It is the policy of the Ministerialists to keep that -question under cover, and to induce the Liberal Unionists to believe that there is no longer any cause for a gulf between 'them and the Liberal party. Whereas the very silence upon the question of the Union renders it imperative upon us who are determined to maintain it, to give the Ministerialists no hope -of. winning our support until, or unless, Home-rule is uncon- ditionally surrendered. We are justified in withholding our support from the Liberal party so long as this remains an unsettled question. And it is our paramount duty to support the Opposition in and out of Parliament, in order to prevent • even a temporary accession of strength to the Ministerialists. It is to be hoped that no Liberal Unionist will give his sup- port to any of the measures promised in the Queen's Speech, so long as there is reason to believe that a scheme for the disruption of the Empire lurks in the background.—I am, sir, &c., OSWALD JOHN SIMON. Oxford and Cambridge Club, March 12th.