The meeting at Devonshire House on Thursday went off very
satisfactorily, though Lord Hartington's words on the main subject of his address, the paramount importance of keeping the Liberal Party together, and of not incurring the reputation of Conservatism for himself or his friends, inspire us with a good deal of misgiving, which we have elsewhere expressed. Mr. Chamberlain's assurances of support to Lord Hartington were most loyal, and among the Members present was Mr. Quilter, who was supposed to have reconciled himself with the Gladstonians. The Liberals, of course, agreed to keep to their own side of the House, and to give no one any excuse to say that they had ceased to be Liberals. They have been the truest of all the Liberals. But what is essential is the loyalty to Liberal principles, and not the mere name which the world may choose to give to that loyalty, even though that name should be most unjust and misleading.
