The Duke of Devonshire, in a letter published in Wednes-
day's papers, has made one of those wise and moderate political statements which mark him out as the most essen-
tially English of our politicians. "A Liberal, though a Unionist," wrote from the Reform Club stating that "the fear of being labelled Tories" was leading many Liberal Unionists to abstain from active work, and saying that if the Duke could and would say that the independent existence of the Liberal Unionist party was to be preserved "at any rate until the ghost of Home-rule is finally laid," and "that our motto is to be alliance, not fusion," a deplorable tendency would be arrested. The Duke of Devonshire, replying, said that while personally he attached no great importance to the distinction between alliance and fusion, he considered that the Liberal Unionists could not adopt the name either of Tory or Conservative. "While the Home-rule question exists, I wouhd. gladly see Unionists of all sections adopting that name in preference to any other designation; but this cannot be done at once, and until it is done, the Unionist party must con-- tinue to consist of Conservatives and of Liberal Unionists." There was, he added, no desire or intention on the part of any one to put an end to the existence of either of the inde- pendent parties, "whose close alliance has up to the present time been attended by such remarkable success." This is- sound sense. While alliance answers so perfectly, it would- be most foolish to make any change.
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