Lord Randolph Churchill has written to Mr. Arnold White to
comfort him for being called a Tory, by assuring him that the word has always had a popular flavour about it. This was Mr. Disraeli's doctrine ; but then, he wanted to give it a popular flavour (as indeed he did), and he knew that he could not " educate " his party without persuading some of them that the change he wished to bring 4414 was nothing but an evolution of past characteristics, which was the reverse of true. Lord Randolph also wants to per- suade the Tories to take up Fair-trade in the interests of Labour, which is no doubt quite ignorant enough to. believe that it will benefit by Fair-trade ; and there can be no question but that there is plenty of Tory precedent, especially in old times, for dabbling in Protection. The only striking and we think just, remark of the letter is that Labour is beginning to try to use its new political power just as the aristocracy and the middle class used their era of political power,—namely, in the interest of its own class purposes. The question is, however, whether true friends of Labour should encourage it in this course, or dissuade it from following so bad an example. Lord Randolph seems disposed to give his. blessing on its selfish and mistaken enterprises.
Previous page
