MR. MARKS AND THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY.
LTO THE EDITOR OF TUE "SPECTATOR."1
SIB,—I shall be much obliged if you can find space for the enclosed letter. Sir William Bull, after its receipt, com- mended Mr. Marks at Ramsgate to the support of the Con- servative Party, but has not ventured to answer me or challenge the truth of my statements. Such action requires explanation from one who speaks in a representative character. If the Conservative Party is to secure the con- fidence of the country, it is essential that its representatives should hold its principles high.—I am, Sir, &c.,
"Langley Lodge, Broadstairs, Thanet.
16th April, 1906.
DEAR BULL,—A8 I see that you are announced to speak on behalf of Mr. Marks at Ramsgate on Primrose Day, I think it desirable you should not come under any misapprehension of the position here. I therefore enclose you a pamphlet containing the correspondence with and the documents submitted to the Tariff Reform League, and a circular issued by the Liberal agent on the 4th March, which remains unanswered.
You ought to know that Mr. Marks and his committee have been challenged to specify any inaccurate statement in the news- paper articles set out in the pamphlet, and have been unable to do so. I need not refer to them at length, but the following facts are clear from the reports referred to :- (1) That a jury in 1890 found charges of a most disgraceful character proved true against Mr. Marks.
(2) Since that date Mr. Marks has not ventured to face a British jury.
(3) That evidence pointing to similar disgraceful conduct was given in the Hooley and Whitaker Wright cases.
(4) That in 1903 Mr. Justice Bigham characterised, after hearing this evidence, Mr. Marks as a scoundrel on his own admissions and a dishonest rogue.
(5) Mr. Marks has failed to give any public explanation of this evidence, and has refused to submit the facts to any nominees of our leaders.
It is obvious therefore that no one can at p .euL support Mr.
Marks unless he is prepared to maintain ti' Conservative Party should be indifferent to the character of its representatives. The action of the Central Office at the last Election in removing Mr. Marks's name from the official list showed that they were not ready to compromise public honour so gravely. Your presence under existing circumstances as the representative of a Metro- politan constituency appears to me to countenance that which good Conservatives should condemn.
At the last Election I stood for the Conservative and Unionist League here in order that those loyal Unionists who recognise the primary importance of character in public life should not be forced to vote against their party as the only way of securing what all its leaders have declared to be essential. I therefore think it due to you to bring these facts to your notice, and to await your reply before taking further steps.—Yours very truly, F. E. McCoamicx-Goosasur. Sir William Bull, M.P."
[In publishing Mr. McCormick-Goodhart's letter to Sir William Bull, we would ask oar readers whether it is not a matter of grave public concern that Unionist Members of Parliament should give their countenance and support to persons like the Member for the Thanet division. Can the Unionist Party afford to recognise Mr. Marks as one of its representatives when such things are said publicly in regard to him as are said by Mr. McCormick-Goodhart in the letter printed above,—a letter which Mr. McCormick-Goodhart is perfectly willing to justify in full if called upon to do so P We are glad to say that the Tariff Reform League has played a most honourable and straightforward part in the whole matter, and explicitly refused to countenance Mr. Marks's candidature. We have, it is hardly necessary to say, no personal animus whatever against Mr. Marks, but as Unionists
we are concerned with the purity of public life and the good name of the Unionist Party. To parties, as to men, character is essential, but while Unionists act as Sir William Bull has acted the character of the Unionist Party is bound to suffer. Mr. McCormick-Goodhart deserves the sincere thanks of men of all parties for the manner in which he fought the battle of political purity at the General Election, and for the courage and persistency which now mark his determination to make the Unionist Party feel the disgrace which it must incur if recognised members of that party publicly support Mr. Marks, and recommend him to Unionists as a fit and proper person to represent them in Parliament.—ED. Speetator.1
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