MR. COURTNEY AND "PRODDING."
[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR:]
SIBIn common probably with a good many Conservative Unionists, I read Mr. Leonard Courtney's recent speech with some little anxiety, but I refrained even from good words until Saturday morning brought the Spectator.
The right hon. gentleman always seems to me to resemble Sir George Trevelyan in one respect, but to differ from him materially in a second: he resembles Sir George in his thoroughgoing Liberalism, but differs from him in that he is full of ballast, while Sir George has none.
Mr. Courtney's ballast, which is in reality true patriotism, leads him to accept "Liberal dishes from a Conservative kitchen," and to go on accepting them : Sir George, much stronger in his partisanship than in his Unionism, soon tired of Lord Salisbury's Liberal dishes, and, panting for readmission to the House, rejoined his deserted cite, who had only a dead Bill in his larder.
As a Conservative Unionist, I admire Mr. Courtney's thoroughness, and likewise his consistency, and in these two qualities I consider he brings enormous strength to the Unionist Party. His " prodding " propensities, not for the first time manifested, are not, to my mind, a source of danger to the present alliance, but rather serve to keep before the public how truly vital is the question of the Union, and how paramount in importance it is to the professors of the old and traditional Liberal creed.
While the Chairman of Ways and Means desires to preserve the Union, he desires to get on in other ways, and to prove, as he says, that Liberalism is contributing as much to its preservation as Toryism. This, Sir, I hold to be a perfectly legitimate desire, and a bit of jealousy perfectly natural : it is little more than Mr. Courtney's way of saying that he prefers bare knuckles to doctored gloves when old Liberals fight. A stalwart politician of Mr. Courtney's type and ability is bound to let off steam sometimes, and I cannot believe that his recent utterances will for a moment flutter the Ministerial dovecot; on the contrary, they will brace up the present alliance with much more dignity and effect than Mr. Morley's tears over a Herculean "stripling," or the sneaking away of Parnellite warriors, will brace up Home-rule.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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