THE CONSTITUTIONAL PARTY..
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] 51.14—What's in a name ? Much assuredly, as the potency of certain shibboleths and catchwords in recent years attests. In the present complicated political situation, tending as it does to create a deadlock, may I humbly suggest that things would be greatly simplified if the name of the Con- servative Party was changed, and that in future it styled itself the Constitutional Party ? The Liberal Party is in a state of flux. Some of its constituents will flow into the stream of Socialism ; some into that of Conservatism. If the name of the Conservative Party were modified as sug- gested I submit that many more Liberals would join it than that party can hope to secure under its present appellation. Thousands of patriotic and constitutional Liberals, who put country before party or class, are nevertheless unable to bring themselves to adopt the title which has been anathema to them and often to their forbears also. The term Conservative has always lent itself to cheap but effective misrepresentation. Under existing conditions it is more than ever susceptible to this abuse. I venture therefore to suggest that the times demand this concession on the part of what our ancestors called Tories to a very human and understandable prejudice.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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