A SUGGESTION TO UNIONISTS.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIE,—Mr. Gladstone's tiny majority has enabled him to prac- tically stop all debate on the most important clauses of his Bill for the misgovernment of Ireland, and what is even more important, to prevent the enlightenment of the electorate on the darkest points of a measure which was entirely concealed from the public view till the last moment possible. As all Unionists, confident in the righteousness of their cause, desire that the utmost light should be thrown on every point of the Bill, and the attention of the electors directed to every detail, would it not be advisable that some kind of symposium of prominent Unionists, in regard to those clauses which there will be no time to discuss, should be prepared and circulated among the electors, either gratis or at a trifling charge P If the opinions of Mr. Balfour and Mr. Chamberlain, for instance, could be made widely known on points upon which they are to be gagged in the House of Commons, it world be probably productive of much good. If any extra funds are required for the purpose, I am sure that great numbers of Unionists would willingly assist se excellent an object. I am the more desirous that some sueh course should be adopted, as it might elicit a reply from the other side, and show us—as I am sure every fair-minded Unionist would wish—that we have some honest antagonists who venture to assert in public that they believe in the justice of their cause.—I am, Sir, &a., F. R. 0.
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