The National Liberal Federation have issued a circular in which
they recommend all Liberal Associations to maintain " an incessant watchfulness " over the new Government and a state of active preparation. The House of Commons "should refuse them authority to overstep the necessary limit " of official business, and " resist whatever attempts they may make to carry out in office the views and the measures which they have advocated in Opposition." The writers are obviously afraid that the Tories will fight Russia, annex Egypt, and tax the country in the interest of the landowner, and so believing they are perhaps right in their warning. But we confess the tone of their circular seems to us needlessly bitter. We prefer that of Mr. Gladstone, who declares that the Administration is now her Majesty's Government, and must be supported while it is right, and not suspected in advance of an intention to do wrong. We do not believe it to be good for the country that there should be no alternative Government anywhere, or that when such a Government has been obtained, it should be required either to be inactive, or to do everything in a way contrary to its own principles. There is no objection whatever to the dismissal of Lord Salisbury if he does anything wrong ; but there is every objection to treating him as a kind of Liberal instrument. Englishmen are not bound to place Tories in power, and are not wise in doing it ; but if they place them there, let them be Tories, and keep their consciences and their principles. It is not fair to make them act lies. Protestants might as well admit Catholic priests to benefices, on condition that they should teach nothing but Calvinism. We shall not get an honest priesthood that way, or an effective one either.
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