A Spectator's Notebook
I'M WILL BLAME and many will sympathise with Mr. Nigel Nicolson, one of the most eloquent Tory abolitionists, for withdrawing his support from the Silverman Bill. As MP for Bournemouth he has been in a most difficult position, and he Must have been under great pressure to retract. But I think Mr. Nicolson would have been wise not to have made a lengthy recantation. In the nature of things his original views, which Were entirely his own, are bound to be more convincing than his new ones which have been formed after much communing With his constituents. A short and complete submission to his supporters would have been more effective than the highly dubious constitutional doctrines that he propounded to explain his conversion. Like a good convert Mr. Nicolson feels that 'others may now be encouraged to take the same step.' Will they? I doubt it. Before they voted for the Silverman Bill the Tory abolitionists had plenty of time to consider what they were doing. Since then no new argument against abolition has been produced and nothing unexpected has happened; so for !hem to change their minds now must inevitably seem a shade Inglorious. It would also leave them unpopular with everybody If there are Tory waverers, they may be encouraged to stick to their guns by the memorial that the National Campaign for Abolition will shortly present to the Prime Minister. Although the memorial was circulated during the Suez and holiday Period, I hear that it has had a very remarkable response from a wide range of eminent people.
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