We trust that the Society "for the Liberation of Religion
from State Patronage and Control" will discuss and reverse the very imprudent decision of its executive to force on Disestablish- meat as a test-question at the first General Election under the new Reform measures. No step could be taken more certain to divide the Liberal Party at a very important crisis, and, as we think, more likely to bring down well-deserved unpopularity on the cause which should have been the source of that division. In fact, it is clear to us from every point of view that a more- unfortunate time to make Disestablishment a test-question could hardly be conceived than the first General Election under the new Reform measures. The chief interests of that election must centre more or less on a democratic scheme of County Govern- ment, and the emancipation of the land from its legal trammels, and these are not issues which can well be mixed up with that of Disestablishment. The council of the Liberation Society may succeed in disastrously dividing the party, if they prevail in their manceuvre, and in giving a great lift to Lord Salisbury. But they will certainly do much more ; they will certainly alienate a large number of their own heartiest supporters by the step.
Previous page
