LIBERAL UNIONISTS AND PROTECTION. To TUS EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR " ]
Sin,—Perhaps you will allow an old Liberal Unionist to remind your readers of a great Liberal Unionist Conference held at the Westminster Town Hall on December 8th, 1 7. At the Conference and the banquet which followed it were assembled almost the whole Parliamentary party in the two Houses of Parliament, and over a thousand delegates from every part of the United Kingdom. The words of the Liberal Unionist leader are worth recalling to-day:- Lord Hartington, after urging on the Conservative party "the necessity of avoiding a policy which could be described as reac- tionary, and pressing forward all reforms which they admit to be necessary," spoke as follows I have seen that some exultation has been expressed at the prospect of some division in the Unionist ranks on account of the renewed activity of the disciples of Fair- trade. I admit that this is a danger to which we ought not to shut our eyes. I do not see, however, that the Fair-trade agitation has received support or countenance from any of the recognised or responsible leaders of the Conservative party. We heard a good deal about Fair-trade in the Election of 1880, and something about it in the Election of 1885, and no doubt as long as the depression which exists in many parts of the country continues to last we shall from time to time hear of suggestions of all kinds, however impracticable, which will be held out in the hope of reviving commerce, industry, and prosperity in the country. I do not think it would be possible for us to speak in too strong terms in deprecation of the adoption of such a policy as this by the Con- servative party. I fully admit that I do not put the two questions of Fair-trade and Home-rule on an equal footing. I may say I should look upon the adoption of some foolish retrograde moasure in the direction of Fair-trade, which step could probably be re- traced again without much mischief being done, as a much less grave misfortune than the separation of the Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland,—a step which could never be retraced, at all events not without a great political convulsion. At the same time, I fully admit that the possibility of a majority being returned which could force upon the Government a retrograde policy with regard to commercial matters would be a danger so great as would threaten to endanger the strength of the Unionist cause, and I hope the leaders of that party will weigh well the conse- quences before they give to it any countenance or support. At all events, if such a calamity were to occur as the disruption of the Unionist party, then upon those who provoked that disruption, and not upon us, would rest the responsibility."
For some fifteen years after the above speech the Conserva- tive leaders remained firm in the Free-trade faith. Where they stand to-day, or, for the matter of that, who they are in either House, is not quite certain. With the Liberal Unionist leader it is otherwise. He has shown once more that he can keep his head and his feet where weaker men fail and fall, and once more he has it in his power to save the country from the consequences of rash and reckless statesmanship.-1 am, [Our correspondent's quotation is most useful. Surely the Duke of Devonshire, when these words are recalled to his mind, cannot doubt that his duty is to lead those who are both Unionists and Free-traders, and who are determined to remain both. He owes it to us, no less than to himself, to assume the leadership of the Free-trade Unionists. — ED. Spectator.]
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