THE FUTURE OF THE LIBERAL UNIONISTS.
[To THE Eons. Or THU SPECTATOR...1 IR,—The Spectator of April 9th finds that "the Conservatives
have become Liberal-Whigs, and will before long claim to be wheels in the coach, instead of drags upon it," and does not know where "the skid" now "is to be found." Is not an answer standing but seven lines above the words here quoted ? The skid" will surely always embrace at least the bulk of the party
of those who "still believe in the Decalogue and Adam Smith." May we not find a portion of the skid, indeed, already to band for the Spectator's use in the " Old Radical ex-M.P.," of p. 493, same issue ? As that gentleman says, we "never shall for any long period together have more than two political parties in England" under the present system of government. It is the only normal, because the only natural state, under such a system. " Movements " on either side may be "prodigious ;" but there must be—with those who "still believe in the Decalogue," and are true to their convictions—boundaries and barriers which may not be overpassed. Lord Salisbury some few years ago said,
with regard to many or most of those who now compose the Glad- etonian " Home-rule " Party, that they were on a dangerously inclined plane," with the awkward result for them that they could not help themselves,—they must go forwards."
That is having no "skid ;" and that is "glacier move- ment" truly ! Where there is no such skid as "a belief in the Decalogue," and no firm abiding by the "belief," the instinct of party " self-preservation " will perforce provide the "glacier movement" down the "inclined plane" of expe- -diency. It has provided it for the Separatists now. It is not upon the mass of the adherents to that " plane " of politics— use what titles you will for their distinction—that we may look for that soul-possessing patience of spirit which, "foreseeing the end from the beginning," will, when needful," accept extinction," like your high-minded correspondent, "An Old Radical ex-M.P." For what does this "foreseeing the end from the beginning" really mean but this,—that those " Radicals " who know that there is a "skid," to be applied, where needful, to the moving "coach," foresaw that they " moved " for a time with those that were evidently " skidless," and knew that a point mast come where they must in honour apply the break, where those others would not and could not do so ? To the " Unionist " -side at the present time belong surely almost all who "still believe in the Decalogue " everywhere, even for Ireland. I once called myself a " Liberal-Conservative ;" but I do not much care what political name men would now choose to give to An Old Radical ex-M.P.," or would apply to myself—" still believing"—seeing that in the main we evidently are at unity as to broad principles. This struggle is shaking men down into their proper places, finely !—I am, Sir, &c., UnoN.
Previous page
