Mr. Auberon Herbert writes a clever letter in the cynical
vein, to Wednesday's Times, asking a number of questions, which he appears to think, ought to make both the political parties wince -equally. These are specimens;—" Can you inform me [he swi],- l. Which political party at the present time is by way of represent- ing the principles of Free-trade, and which party the principles of Protection ? 2. How our Liberal Free-traders, if any, voted as .regards Mr. Gladstone's Land Court, and other mediaaval institutions which he has been good enough to invent for us ? a Which of the two great political leaders, Lord Beaconsfield .or Mr. Gladstone, has most successfully persuaded his followers to throw away old and familiar weapons, to renounce convic- tions, and attack principles which they once served ? Which of the two leaders has shown the greater power of demoralising this party on a grand scale, and at short notice ? 4. Which of the two parties have been the most successful in establishing that one-man power,' and in effacing themselves, their opinions and convictions ?" We could reply to all these queries, and 'feel our withers quite unwrnng :-1. All the Liberals have, so far as we know, been sticking to Free-trade, and some of the Conservatives; but very many of the latter have tried to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds, while not a few have gone over zillinit tinbluShingly to Protection. 2. Most of the I
Liberal Free-traders voted for Mr. Gladstone's Land Court in Ireland, and quite rightly too. Mr. J. S. Mill, who was a Free- trader, if ever there was one, taught us all, near forty years ago, first, that the value of strict monopolies like land is not, except under very peculiar conditions, governed by the laws of supply and demand.; and next, that in countries of different traditions and customs, the political economy which applies to a commercial condition like that of England would be simply misapplied. 3. Mr. Gladstone has distinctly raised the moral level of his party, as the whole history of the last two years proves. The Tories should reply for themselves. 4. Some- times one party, and sometimes another, has effaced itself best. But on the whole, the Conservatives have been most successful, as their party discipline has generally been the best, and ought to be the best, since Conservatism discourages division and individualism of opinion. But if half the members of either party approached the individualism of Mr. Auberon Herbert, par- liamentary government would on the spot cease to be possible.
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