THE UNIONIST POLICY.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."3 SIR,—An undesirable result of the Spen Valley election would be any general impression that the Unionist wing of the Coalition Party was hostile to the Labour Party. Such, I am sure, is not the case. The working men owe more to the Unionist Party in the way of considered and lasting reforms than to any other, and it would be tragical if the Unionist Party in its present shape were represented to be, or manoeuvred into being, a party apparently hostile to Labour. On the misleading " leaders" of the extreme Socialists the Unionists must turn the freest and most direct light, but otherwise our attitude should be one of sympathy, help, and hrotherliness. Nor should (may.I submit ?) the attitude of the UniOnist Party to Ireland be misrepresented. To judge from the Press, "a great change " has come over Unionists, fer they are willing to give Ireland any sort of Government she desires. Readers of the Spectator do not need to be reminded that since 1886 the Unionist Party has never deviated from its expressed willingness to give to Ireland the largest possible self-adminis- tration compatible with the safety, Imperially, of Great Britain. and the safety also of the lives and liberties of Protestants (and Unionists who are not Protestants) in the North or South or any other part of Ireland. But Nature having placed Ireland where she is geographically, she is a member of a national partnership, and the first necessity of a partnership is conformity to law and order on the part of the junior partner as well as of the predominant partner. Mr. Balfour's term of office as Irish Secretary gave security of life and good government to Ireland. Have we ever improved upon Ramoyle, Glasgow.
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