HOME-RULE AND THE LIBERALS.
[TO THE EDITOR OF TER SPROTATOR.']
Sin,—The letter of "An Old Radical Ex-M.P." illustrates the miscalculations politicians may make in forecasting the future when they forget that parties, in addition to having leaders, have principles ; and that while Conservatives apply to the sola- tion of the Irish difficulty the principle of their party, which is to conserve government as long as possible in the hands of those to whom hereditary position, intelligence, or command of the necessary resources have given the power to rule. Liberals apply to it their principle of liberty, which requires that each nation be governed by the wishes of a majority of its units.
To those who recognise the existence of a nation in Ireland, however they may characterise its connection with Britain, it must be apparent that there is only one policy possible to each great party in the State, be its leaders who they may,— namely, to the Conservative Party the policy of Coercion, and to the Liberal that of Home-rule.
The majority of both parties may have proved slow and loath to see whither their principles led ; but both have now seen, and cannot again shut their eyes to it.—I am, Sir, &c.,
Edinburgh, January 2nd. A. ROXBURGH. [Is it the duty of Liberals as Liberals to concede a separate nationality to the majority of every geographically separate province which demands it ? If it were so, Liberalism would be fatal to nations, and would involve the principle of disintegration.
—ED. Spectator.]
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