[To TIM EDITOR OF THE "Serer/mm."1 SIR,—Once again I must
utter my protest—a protest hitherto unheeded—against the mistaken policy which the Spectator urging in regard to the close-coming constitutional crisis. Once again I beg to repeat that it is not the duty of the Lords "to make the best of a, bad job," but to prevent its perpetration altogether. This can only be accomplished by the rejection of the Parliament Bill, for when once the Home of Lords have abandoned their own defence who shall deliver them from the wrath to come ? The whole of your special pleading about consequences is beside the mark—the one thing necessary is to refuse to do evil that good may come and, now that the battle is set, to fight. Here lies the path of duty, of courage, and of honour—strategical movements to the rear will only spell disaster. Granted that the rejection of the Parliament Bill drives the Government to the tender- ing of unconstitutional advice to the Crown as to the creation of 500 shoddy peers for the purpose of gerrymandering the House of Lords. What will happen ? Only H.M. the King will be given the opportunity of his life to show himself worthy of his high calling and to dismiss unfaithful stewards from the trust which they have so flagrantly abused. With the resignation of the present Government fresh combinations would become possible—nay, inevitable. It may be quite true, as you say, that the Unionist party could not single-handed undertake the responsibilities of government ; but what is there to prevent a combination of the best men of all parties, for an agreed period of time, upon an agreed programme of legislative progress ? Tben the dog " Politic" would cease to be wagged by its tail, and the devils of party passion would be cast into the bottomless pit. We stand upon the razor- edge of our destiny, and woe be to those who counsel flight or compromise in this hour of our peril—I am, Sir, Ste., ARNOLD F. Hum Broomfield Hall, Suaningdale, Berks.
[Mr. Hills means we are sure to do no disservice to the King. Yet if his advice were followed—which fortunately it will not be—irreparable injury would be done to the Monarchy. The "combination of the best men of all parties" is in this context a snare and a delusion, though one set quite RDCOn. sciously by Mr. Hills.—En. Spectator.}
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