The Tariff Reform League had a lively meeting at Manchester
last Saturday, when a propenel that the League should bo merged in the new National Party aroueed hot opposition. The funds of the Tariff Reform League are, we suppose, administered under some deeds of trust, and the net of transference to the now National Party would require much more legal authority than a resolution. At all events, the meeting was the occasion of a great pyrotechnic display of party feeling, all due to the proposal that the League should swell the ranks of the new party, whose principal object is to abolish party feeling. The champion of those who resisted the policy of union was Sir Joseph Lawrence, who used some very straight language about General Page Croft's proposal, while praising General Page Croft personally in words that curiously suggested Ben Jonson's famous tribute to Shakespeare that he " loved him the side idolatry." In the end the resolution to merge the League in the National Party, in spite of the fact that the word " merge " was reduced to " co-operation," was referred back for further consideration. After the meeting Lord Duncannon resigned his chairmanship of the League on the ground that the National Party was the only existing body free from party spirit.
Previous page
