[To THE Errror. or THE "Sracraror."] Sin,—Every one who values
the observance of decencies in our public life must regret the ill-mannered attack which the Chancellor of the Exchequer has thought fit to make upon the Spectator and upon yourself. In one sense only is the violence of his vituperation welcome, as it proves that your very just criticism of his recent speech has not failed to reach its mark.
I venture to think, however, that not the least distressing part of the whole business is the reflection that Mr. Lloyd George owes his present position as a powerful member of a powerful Government, in some measure at any rate, to the lamentable attitude which the Spectator thought fit to adopt in the dark days of the General Election of 1906, when it recommended those who shared its views on economic questions to cast their votes against the Conservative candi- dates. I am personally in sympathy with those views, disliking and distrusting what is known as "Tariff Reform," but I thought then, as I think now, that the madness of the Tariff Reformer is as pure reason compared with the madness of the "Conservative Free-trader," who for the sake of a single one of his principles was pre- pared to jettison all the others, and, indeed, to participate actively in their destruction. Surely, Sir, Free-trade is as nothing, in comparison with the many things of good repute which have been put in peril by the "Liberalism" of the past five years,—including, at this last, the ancient fabric of our Constitution. Did the Spectator really anticipate that a Government which had Mr. Lloyd George among its leaders would maintain our credit either at home or abroad ? Well, at any rate, it advised us to vote for Free-traders, and as one
of those among its readers who omitted to follow that advice, I observe with some feeling of amusement the manner in which the " Free-trade " Chancellor of the Exchequer has thought proper to express his gratitude.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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