We are surprised that the news—published on Wednesday —that the
Duke of Devonshire has consented to become President of the Unionist Free-Trade Club has not been made the subject of more comment in the Press. As a matter of fact, it is an event of no little importance, and strongly marks the determination of the Unionist Free-traders to make their views effective. It is true the Duke of Devonshire's headship of the Free-Food League led to very little practical result ; but the Free-Food League was a very different body from that over which the Duke will now preside. The Free-Food League was a body committed from the beginning to half-measures and timorous counsels. No doubt it contained a considerable number of men who were not afraid of taking responsibility; but they were too often overruled by the section who in regard to Free-trade can best be described as " willing to talk, but yet afraid to strike."
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