The suggestion thus made found, or appeared to find, no
support. On November 12th, however, the day after the break-up of the Conference was announced, and when it was clear that a General Election was to take place immediately, we returned to the point and urged that Mr. Balfour should do what he has now done. Though we admitted how difficult it would be for Mr. Balfour to accept such advice, we expressed our conviction that he possessed sufficient courage for the task. "Is Mr. Balfour capable of running this risk P We believe that he is, for he has never been want- ing in co nrage." The need of the hour for Unionists was "Concentrate, Concentrate, Concentrate." We added, and ventured to italicise, the following sentence :—" AU that is needful is to appeal for concentration at the coming Election, and to give assurances that no vote given for the Union shall be used to impose a tanif without a further reference to the people."
