HOW TO CONSOLIDATE THE FREE-TRADE FORCES.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Srit,—The Spectator appears to be the only newspaper which until now has recognised the paramount importance of con- solidating the Free-trade forces to resist the Protectionist movement in the constituencies. I hope you will not cease to urge -what every day renders more manifest, that a Free- trade victory can only be assured by a speedy fusion of the scattered Free-trade contingents. It is almost certain that were the issue to be submitted frankly to the electorate, were the electors to vote upon it unprejudiced by considerations of party, and were the electoral organisation of Free-traders as efficient as that of the tariff reformers, the result of an election would prove favourable to a Free-trade policy. Un- happily, there is as yet no certain promise of these conditions being realised. The leaders of the various sections of Free-
traders may not be able to defeat altogether the attempt of their opponents to mystify the electors in regard to the exact nature of the appeal which is to be made to them. They can, however, by a consistent policy largely counteract these tactics, while by their example they can make it clear to all men that party connections must give way before the gravity of the crisis.
There are dangers that can only be frustrated by combined action, and weaknesses that can only be remedied by joint counsels. The effective strength of the Free-trade cause in the constituencies is threatened by the presence in several divisions of rival Free-trade candidates,—Labour men competing against Liberals, or Liberal candidates against Unionist Free-Food Members ; by the defection of Free-trade Unionist Members in consequence of their meeting with insufficient backing in their constituencies; by an unwillingness among Unionist electors to vote for Liberals ; and by the absence in several scores of divisions of any really efficient organisation. Practically the only electioneering organisations at the disposal of Free-traders are the Liberal organisations; and in many districts of the kingdom these have sunk, in comparison with their Conserva- tive rivals, into a miserable inadequacy, partly due to lack of funds, and partly to a want of central initiative and direction.
It is not practicable to discuss in a few paragraphs the methods by which these difficulties can be overcome. I believe that most people who have had experience of the electioneering side of politics will agree with me that they can only be successfully combated by the speedy formation of a central and authoritative Free-trade Council, representative of all shades of Free-trade opinion, Unionist, Liberal, and Labour. Upon the Executive Committee of this body should sit the chief Parliamentary leaders of the Free-trade forces, with colleagues of influence and capacity to assist them. The main Liberal and Labour organisations, besides the Unionist Free-Food League and the Free-Trade Union, would have their spokesmen on the Committee. The aim of the Council would not be to supersede existing organisations and societies, but to aid, to strengthen, and to supplement their activities. It is a hopeful sign that Free-Trade Leagues, com- prising men of both parties, are already in the course of formation in Manchester, Halifax, the West Riding, and Cardiff. What is wanted is that this spirit shall pervade the whole country.
The Council should be established on the basis of a common consent that the next Election cannot involve the question of Home-rule. Unionists and Home-rulers can work together, for the time at any rate, upon an understanding that they will give no support to any proposal to constitute a separate Legislature for Ireland during the next Parliament. The main motives of the combination would be to support Free-trade candidates in every constituency; to support the sitting Member if pledged to Free-trade, and to endeavour to secure the withdrawal of any Free-trade candidate who was running in opposition to him ; and to create a fund to perfect the political organisation of Free-trade members and candidates in any constituencies where it is defective. Another of the objects of the Council would be to arrive at an understanding with the solid portion of the Labour party by promoting the claim of Labour to a fair proportion of seats, and by extending to its candidates effectual assistance in such contests. It is so manifestly to the advantage of the Protectionists that there should be Labour candidates fighting all nicely balanced constituencies, that no one who has had much experience in the organising work of politics is likely to forget how there are methods of supplying funds to help such candidates to take the field in so discreet a manner that the candidates themselves have no suspicion whence their financial support comes. This is a contingency that can only be avoided by a candid understanding between the Free-trade organisers and the representative Labour leaders. It is advanced as an objection to a fusion of Free-trade forces that a Liberal Government is pledged to amend the Education Act. Many of us hops
that here some compromise will be found possible. But this matter is no bar to the formation of such a central Council of Free-traders as I have suggested. Where a Unionist Free-trade Member holds the field against a Liberal candidate, the Council might be content with his pledge that he would accord a general support for a limited period to a Liberal Government, leaving the education question an open one; and on this basis it would endeavour to secure the withdrawal of his Liberal opponent. In some constituencies, where education is a prominent point of controversy, it would be found impossible to arrive at a settle- ment. In some divisions, therefore, the organisation would have to maintain an attitude of neutrality ; but these would be few in number in comparison with others in which the Council would be able to render effectual assistance. With such a powerful combination once in the field, a hundred diffi- culties would be smoothed over, and a new courage and deter- mination would be imparted to a score of hesitating Unionist Members who hold Free-trade views, to thousands of Unionist electors who also hesitate to overstep the rigid boundaries of party, and to Liberal organisations throughout the kingdom. United we stand, divided we fall,—this is the truth which must be realised by Free-traders without further delay if the great victory of sixty years ago is not to be reversed.
—I am, Sir, &c., A PREE-TRADE CANDIDATE.
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