MR. GLADSTONE'S OPINION OF THE LIBERAL UNIONIST PARTY.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] 4Stn.,—As one of " that unhappy, unfortunate, ill-starred abortion of a party, which is called the party of the Liberal Unionists," may I, if not too late in the day, remark that -these epithets are eminently " Gladstonian " ? The raison (Pare .of the Liberal Unionist Party was to save the Union. It is the well-founded belief of that party that the Union, and consequently the country, was and is saved by the action of its leaders and representatives. If this was done at the risk of political extinction, so much the more credit to the party. May I ask Mr. Gladstone, through the medium of your .columns, whether he considers that M. Curtius was unhappy, unfortunate, and an ill-starred abortion P Of course we may say his story is a myth ; but if so, the -calamity which menaced Rome may have been a myth. Mythical or not, this classical hero has for ages been held up as an example of devoted patriotism, because, to save his -country, he sacrificed what he believed was the most valuable thing to be found in it. The gulf of political extinction, and surely Mr. Gladstone meant nothing worse, has not closed over the devoted and patriotic heads of the Liberal Unionist Party yet; although the Gladstonian augurs are so constantly turning loose their ill-bred birds of evil omen. Yet the "ill- starred " party does not shrink ; the leap has been taken already; and if they do go down at the next General Election, it will be with colours standing. The country will not forget that, should the wicked prosper for a time and require extinc- tion in their turn. Absit omen !—I am, Sir, &a., Brooks's Club, St. James's Street. HEREWOLD WANE.
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