THE PROVINCES ON HOME-RULE.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] S1R,-I hope you will allow another "provincial Liberal" to protest against the notion propounded by Mr. E. A. Mason in your current number, that he represents "the feelings of most of us on the Home-rule Question." I beg to say : —(1.) That so far from thinking "Mr. Gladstone's policy to be in the main just and inevitable," the provincial Liberals amongst whom I live hold it to be unjust and uncalled for. (2.) That so far from thinking all other parts of Mr. Gladstone's scheme except a statutory Parliament matters of detail, the same provincial Liberals think the rumoured throwing over of all detail, and attempt to treat the second reading of the Bill as a bare resolu- tion in favour of a statutory Parliament, would be a demoralising mancenvre, to which they cannot yet believe the Government will stoop.
I don't suppose I ham wore right to speak for provincial
Liberals than Mr. E. A. Mason, but I have probably just as much; and so, for what it is worth, let me put my "respectful assurance" as squarely as may be against his. He assures you that "the feeling of provincial Liberals is with Mr. Gladstone." I say it is not. —I am, Sir, dm.,
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