The Unionist Free-Trade Club is, as we have said, a
very different body. Though its members are Unionists, mean to remain Unionists, and intend, if they can, to re- establish the Unionist party on Free-trade lines, they do not imagine that they can do this by supporting Protection under any of its aliases. They mean, that is, to make their Free-trade views prevail, and in doing so will not shrink from the necessary sacrifices. In the Duke of Devonshire they have an ideal leader. He is cautious, temperate, unmoved by clamour, and anxious for peace and compromise where these can be obtained without the surrender of essentials. But at the same time he is anchored in principle, and will never allow the bogey of party loyalty to scare him from action necessary to the welfare of a cause in which he believes. He would not as a Unionist support Home-rulers for fear of the consequences to the Liberal party, and as a Free-trader he will not, we are convinced, allow any sophistical pleas, however apparently cogent, to induce him to support or give his countenance to Protectionists.
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