" Zollverein's " letter was followed on Thursday by a
large- type communication over the signature of "Compatriot," a signature which is understood to be that of a very welbknown Tariff Reformer. There is, " Compatriot" declares, a gulf in the Unionist Party, and to illustrate this gulf he quotes passages from the speeches of Mr. Balfour, Lord George Hamilton, and Lord Cromer, the last of whom spoke of Preference as the twin-brother of Protection. "Compatriot" continues :—" Surely we ought to be grateful to these three- gentlemen for refusing to countenance that miserable piece of casuistry by which Tariff Reformers have been only too ready in the past to conciliate doubtful audiences, claiming to be in favour of Preference to suit one section of their hearers, while posing as Free-traders in principle to suit others." Is it not time, he concludes, " to recognise that there are only two sections of the Unionist Party,—the Tariff Reformers who reject the principle of Free-trade, and the Free-traders who abhor the principle of Protection, and to recognise that those who profess to belong to both sides at once are nothing better than time-serving politicians, either too dishonest or too muddle-headed to appreciate the question at issue " P There is a story of Mr. Gladstone using as his " notes " for a great speech the four words: "Lord Beaconsfieki---- the Government." "Compatriot's" formula is as simple "Tariff' Reform = Protection." That is, of course, the truth, and we congratulate "Compatriot" on his sincerity of utterande.
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