In view of this pledge, an overwhelming majority of the
Union passed a resolution declaring that the Union would support Lord Robert at the next General Election. We should, of course, have preferred to see Lord Robert allowed to remain unpledged and with a completely free hand. At the same time, the above pledge is one that a sincere Free- trader could perfectly well take without any loss of honour. We are particularly glad to see that Lord Robert does not pledge himself not to stand again should the case requiring his resignation arise. Is it too much to hope that the local Associations will act in a similar way in the case of the other Unionist Free-traders now in Parliament? If they would do so, a decided step would have been taken in the direction of conciliation. We congratulate Lord Robert on the courage and tact with which he has handled a very difficult situation. He has met the Confederates in battle and worsted them. They had made sure of being able to obtain a repudiation of his candidature by the local party organisation.
Previous page
