In the Queen's Hall (London) on Tuesday the Duke of
Devonshire, as president of the Unionist Free-Food League, gave an address which shows that he has not changed his mind since he resigned his place in the Government, and by so doing expressed in the strongest and clearest way his belief that the policy of the Government was dangerous to the cause of Free- trade, and so to the nation; and must therefore be opposed. The Duke of Devonshire was cautious, fair, moderate, and reason- able, as he always is in political controversy ; but he was also, to quote the words applied to him by the late Duke of Argyll, "firm as the rock, and clear as the crystal that adorns the rock." He did not content himself with the easy and pleasant course which is so great a temptation to many Free-traders, of abusing Mr. Chamberlain's policy and leaving it to be inferred
that Mr. Balfour, though, perhaps, not quite as sound as one could wish, may be reasonably supported as "a sort of a kind of. a" bulwark against Chamberlainism. Such gentle sophistries were not for him. He looked Mr. Balfour's policy straight in the face, and showed in effect that since it contains no con- demnation of Mr. Chamberlain's schemes, and openly declares for the abandonment of our present policy of Free-trade, it is not a policy which can command the support of any Free- trader.
