UNIONIST FREE-TRADERS.
[TO THE EDITOTt OF 11111 " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—I am one of those Liberals who most strongly support the views of Mr. Methuen (Spectator, April 8th) as to the duty of Liberals towards Free-trade Unionists; but there is another side to the question. In the county of Hereford our three Members of Parliament are staunch supporters of the Tariff Reform League. An active Free-trade campaign has been carried on for some time past, and three gentlemen of moderate views and high personal character have been introduced as prospective Liberal candidates. There are a very considerable number of influential Unionists (landed proprietors, clergy- men, professional men, and tradesmen) who are known to be Free-traders. I will refrain from mentioning names, except those of Lord Biddulph, Lord James of Hereford, and the Hon. John Biddulph, who have openly joined Free-trade organisations in London. Hitherto, so far as I know, no Free-trade Unionist has taken any step of a public nature in the county to assist the cause of Free-trade. If Hereford- shire may be taken as a sample of the position of matters throughout the country, then I fear the cause of Free-trade is doomed if it has to rely on support from Free-trade Unionists. In Herefordshire these gentlemen are divided into three classes :—(1) Those who are actively supporting the Tariff Reformers on personal and party grounds; (2) those who will vote for them but give no active support ; (3) those who will take no part whatever. Recent events are lulling the anxiety of even classes (2) and (3), though to many of us the insidious campaign now resorted to would presage a greater danger to Free-trade than the more open and pronounced methods of the Tariff Reform League.—I am, Sir, &c., Unionist Free-traders, so often have we set it forth. It is that Unionist Free-traders will not only serve the cause of Free-trade best, but also will best serve the Unionist party, by voting and working against Tariff Reform candidates at the next Election,—and by Tariff Reform candidates we mean all candidates who will not pledge themselves to oppose the Chamberlain policy inside and outside Parliament.—En. Spectator.]
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