An interesting letter from Lord Rosebery, in reply to Mr.
Raine asking how a Liberal should have voted in the Kirkdale election, is published in Tuesday's papers. Lord Rosebery states that he has no difficulty in answering the queation, as he, in that position, could not have voted at all, and adds: "The most melancholy incident in that election, to one of my way of thinking, was the complete effacement of Liberalism and the absence of a Liberal candidate,—a circumstance which cannot but give rise to deep and painful reflection. Failing a Liberal candidate, I could not have given a vote which would have been reckoned in support of Socialism on the one hand, or of Protection on the other." Mr. Raine, while believing that Lord Rosebery's letter "may be of service in 'heading off' the Liberal sheep who are on the run towards Socialism," somewhat inconsistently expresses his deep regret that the ex-Premier should have contented himself "with a recom- mendation to the country of an inane abstention from voting." We can well understand a stage in the political conflict being reached in which it may be the duty of a citizen to make a choice between two evils, but in the present instance we think Lord Rosebery's advice not only justifiable, but sound.
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