THE UNIONIST PARTY. [To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."J
"What we are concerned with, and what we implore the Unionist rank and file to consider, and to consider at once, is how to save the Unionist Party from destruction."
Sia,—At the close of your second leading article (March 11th), recalling your prophetic views of what the Prime Minister would do to the Unionist Party, occurs the passage quoted above. So true is it that "evil communications corrupt good manners," and that Mr. Lloyd George has so corrupted the Unionist leaders that the rank and file stand aghast at the tragic abandonment of every shred of Unionist principle and every rag of self-respect. Now, if your leaders have been false to their principles, what are you to do in the rank and file? Is it quite fair to blame somebody else, e.g., Mr. Lloyd George? If your leaders have betrayed you, stand up to them and tell them so, and it is the only way to save the Unionist Party from destruction. It may interest your readers to know that the rank and file in this polling district (1,700 voters) have taken matters into theirs own hands, and at the annual meeting of the 13ollington and Pott Shrigley Unionist Association, with a large attendance of members, passed the following resolution, nein. con., almost every hand being hoisted in its favour :—
Resolved: 1. That this annual meeting of the Bollington and Pots Shrigley Conservative and Unionist Association wishes to put on record its deep regret that the leaders of the Unionist Party have forfeited the right to use the name "Unionist," inasmuch as they have voted for "Home Rule."
2. Further, that it regrets its leaders' surrender to murder and assassination.
3. Further, that they have made it possible that the pledges given to the Ulster Parliament may be broken.
4. Further, that the loyal Irish in the South and West of
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Ireland should never have been abandoned to the tender mercies of their enemies.
5. Further, that a copy of this resolution be sent to Mr. A. Chamberlain, The Lord Chancellor, Sir A. J. Sykes, Bt., M.P. (our Unionist (1) member), Brig.-General E. Makins, D.S.O. (our prospective candidate).
All the Coalition leaders are responsible for the tragic cata- logue of catastrophes at the conclusion of your first leading article, and it is to the permanent interests of the Unionist Party that if Mr. Lloyd George gees he should take Mr. Chamberlain and the Lord Chancellor with him. Then, after Ulster has been betrayed (as she will be) and an Irish Republic has been established (as it will be) the rank and file of the Unionist Party (provided it acts as ours has done here) can, with a clear conscience, commence the almost superhuman task of putting together again the broken pieces of the British Empire. There is only one hope for the Unionist Party, and that is, that the rank and file should, before a General Election takes place, repudiate the leaders who have betrayed them, otherwise the Unionist Party ceases to exist.—I am, Sir, &c., The Waterhouse, Bollington, Macclesfield. E. L. °stmt.
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