Mr. Leonard Courtney, the Chairman of the Committee of Ways
and Means, made. a speech to the Ulster Liberal Unionist Association, in the Ulster Reform Club, on Wed- nesday. The important feature of his speech was his appeal to the Liberal Unionists to give the most effective help in their power to the Unionist Party in maintaining the Union, which could only be done, he thought, by em- phasising their Liberalism even• more than their Unionism. "Their action as Liberals must be even more prominent than their action as Unionists." The result of handing over Ireland, and especially the congested districts of Ireland, to the Nationalist Party, would be most disastrous But if it was to be avoided, it could only be avoided by making Liberals see that the maintenance of the Union was abso- lutely essential to a progressive and Liberal policy in Ireland. The Liberal Unionists must be "eager," zealous," "strong," and identify the Liberal cause with the Union of England and Ireland. If the Government,—which he did not accuse of slowness in responding to Liberal suggestions, but which be yet desired to see more ready to respond to them,—were to be sustained, it must be through such a systematic " prodding " by the Liberal Unionists as would make all true Liberals wish to see it kept in power, and shrink from banding over Ireland to the mercies of the Irish Nationalists. That may be good advice, if it is acted on with sedulous moderation. But we may excite disgust by "prod- ding," if we are too "eager," "zealous," and " strong " with our prod. If the Conservatives once think that they are being unfairly used, the alliance will break up, and the prospect of maintaining the Union with it. A weak ally must not even try to dictate the whole policy of an alliance.
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