[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.'
SIR, - It will no doubt be a source of satisfaction to the Liberal clergy, to find how fully you recognise their steadfastness during the present crisis ; but I doubt whether they will be satisfied with your explanation of it. To many of them it will seem that the true reason why so few of the Liberal clergy and so many of the Liberal laity have fallen away is, that the former in choosing their side, place themselves in opposition to very strong class-influences which would incline them toward Conservatism, and are therefore mach more generally Liberals by conviction than are the laity. A hundred influences other than conviction may incline a layman to throw in his lot with the Liberal Party, but the very opposite is uniformly true of the clergyman. Consequently, when a time of trial like the present comes, the layman is far more likely to fall away than his clerical brother.
Home-rulers will therefore rejoice to see the steadfastness of the Liberal clergy recognised in your columns ; for to admit that such a well-tried Liberal band has been exceptionally faithful, is to grant a strong testimony to Mr. Gladstone, and one that will strengthen the hands of those who are still proud to follow the leader whom they hope that you, Mr. Spectator, have only deserted for a while. They were sorry not to have you with them with regard to Egypt ; they are grieved to have you against them now ; but they are glad that you so generously recognise the conspicuous steadfastness of this little band of convinced Liberals. Wishing I were myself more worthy to be
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