It is extremely satisfactory to see, as at the Queen's
Hall demonstration, the Unionist Party united in advocating the policy which called that party into existence, and in forwarding its true work. For the moment the spectre of Tariff Reform was forgotten, and Unionists were able to agree as they did in the old days before Mr. Chamberlain rent the party in twain. Our only regret in regard to the demonstration is that neither Mr. Balfour nor Mr. Walter Long took the opportunity of insisting upon that essential item of Unionist policy,—the need for reducing the over- representation of Ireland. As long as that monstrous injustice gees unredressed, the Unionist Party cannot feel that they have done all they could do, and ought to do, for the cause of the Union. If the last Session in which the Unionists were in power had been used to do electoral justice to the United Kingdom, the power for evil of the Nationalist Party would have been materially reduced. As it is, we have to look forward to Ireland returning to the next Parliament some thirty more Members than she has any right to return, and England returning some thirty less. With the sophistical arguments used by certain Unionists to defend such a state of things we confess we have no patience. Mr. Balfour and his colleagues were guilty of a great dereliction of duty in not removing this anomaly when they had the power to do so.
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