The Belfast Northern Whig of Tuesday asserts that Mr. Courtney's
speech to the Ulster Reform Club was not pro- perly reported, and that it is very doubtful whether he ever said that Liberal Unionists "should make their action as Liberals even more prominent than their action as Unionists." Further, it states that if the impression produced by the speech as reported, was that the Conservatives should be ‘. incessantly prodded by the Liberal Unionists," it was a false impression, which his speech as delivered did not pro- duce on those who heard it. We are very glad to hear it. We feel the greatest respect for Mr. Courtney's judgment, and are simply disconcerted by any evidence that his real political judgment differs from our own. But undoubtedly the word " prodded " was used, or it would be denied, and we think it was an unfortunate word. What we desire to see is the most cordial co-operation possible between the Conserva- tives and Liberal Unionists, and that cannot be promoted by any " prodding " of the stronger party by the weaker. Let us do all that we can do in a quiet way to liberalise the Government; but let us not assume dictatorial airs, which can only be irritating, and will certainly place our suggestions in a false light. We are bound to support the Government, even if it does not go as fast and as far as we could wish. The Northern Whig, so far as we can judge, agrees in substance With this judgment, though it assumes the responsibility of having first pressed on Mr. Courtney the counsel which he actually gave to the Belfast Liberal Unionists.
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