LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
THE LIBERAL LEADERS AND THE PROVINCES.
LTO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECIATOR.".1
Sra,—Your correspondent, " Publius," has done good service. I can wholly confirm, from my own experience, the disheartening effect of the indifference of the party leaders and Liberal M.P.'s generally to local efforts, where local efforts need most help. The policy of great Liberal demonstrations in great Liberal centres, with all the eclat of a magnificent unanimity of enthu- siasm, is well in its way. The speeches are read throughout the land, and bear fruit. But how much more fruit would come from the contact of the leading minds with the masses whom their mere names animate ! What is wanted is that Mr. Glad. stone's own example in Midlothian should be followed, and the war carried into the enemy's country. This is done with pluck and judgment by Sir Stafford Northcote and Lord Salisbury, and a host of Tory subordinates ; why should it not be done by minor members at least of the Ministry, and by that numerous body of Liberal M.P.'s who, after all, have not so very much to do ? It may be said that these constant demonstrations are un- desirable. True, in part ; but if Liberals abstain, Tories will not abstain ; and those who educate most persistently, whether rightly or wrongly, win, in the present state of things.
To the plea that Members are too busy in the Session, it may be replied that Liberal Members not in the Ministry are at least as free as the Tory Members who manage to combine diligent obstruction with weekly raids on country constituencies. Why, even if the same number of Liberals paired off for this purpose with these pertinacious francs-tireurs, there would be force enough at the disposal of the party managers to produce marked results, in districts such as "Pnblius " alludes to.
It is only too natural that local Liberals should draw one or two inferences. One is, that London is not improbably a Capua for some of our legislators. In some cases, at least, it will not be unfair to assume that it is society, and not Parliamentary work, from which our Memberi decline to be torn away. In such cases, too, it is not unkind to suggest that occasional skirmishes in the country, besides the help thus given to struggling local organisations and to the success and maintenance of Liberal principles, may give a change of air refreshing and not unwhole- some to the Members themselves. Another inference is that the party managers do not always seem alive to the fact that a majority depends on the decisions of the doubtful constituencies, and that no seats are worth so much effort as those held by 'Tories. No battle is to be won without wise and comprehensive tactics on the part of leaders, and pluck and self-sacrifice on the part of rank and file. If these are wanting to the Liberal party im critical years, when the work is being done and left undone which will decide who holds the reins of, power in the next Par- Eament, we can only look forward to the inevitable result ; and as to the ultimate future, our trust must again rest in the salu- tary lessons of a period of adversity.—I am, Sir, &c.,
F. A. C.
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