LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
THE VICTORY OF FREE-TRADE AND TRUE CONSERVATISM.
[TO THE EDITOR OF TRII "SPECTATOR."]
SIE,—The little English colony on this sunny shore is this week awaiting the arrival of the Spectator with a keener interest even than usual, in view of this unhesitating and imperious verdict of the British people. Personally I cannot but regard it as the greatest triumph that Conservatism has scored for very many years. You may call it a Radical victory, but the essential bed-rock conservatism and hard common-sense of our race have, again come uppermost, and have again saved us from unknown disaster. The people, seeing danger .ahead, have risen from the indifference with which they regard many things, and have with irresistible strength intimated that they will have none of these revolu- tionary changes, and have no use for the politicians who pro- pose them. They simply sweep them out of their path. That is my reading of the situation. It was the same, though not in quite such dramatic fashion, when Mr. Gladstone proposed Home-rule, and so it would be again if any party, by whatever name they might call themselves, attempted to tamper with our well-tried traditions and institutions. My main point is that it is the highest Conservative work that the Liberals have been doing at this Election.—I am, Sir, &c.,
[We agree. The crushing nature of the Liberal victory is in no small measure due to the innate conservatism of the British people. They are essentially a steadfast people, and the notion of suddenly giving up a policy adopted after along struggle, and, further, a policy which has stood the test of time, was certain to be utterly repugnant to them.—ED. Spectator.]
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