3 JULY 1909, Page 11

One would have thought that these words would have appealed

to Conservatives of all shades of opinion. Yet we note with regret that the Morning Post not only gives no heed to this appeal, but in effect urges the extinction of the Unionist Free-traders. But though these symptoms of what we may terra Protectionist Jacobinism are, from many points of view, exceedingly disquieting, we are by no means sure that the position of the Unionist Free-traders is as desperate as it would appear. In our Constitution moderate men and moderate opinions have, unfortunately, very little weight when the Parliamentary majority enjoyed by the party in power is large. When, however, the majority is small their weight and influence at once become felt. It is by no means unlikely that after the next General Election we shall enter on a period of small majorities. In that case the Morning Post will, we venture to say, discover that the Unionist Free-traders are by no means a negligible quantity.