THE NEW SPLIT IN THE UNIONIST PARTY. L'ro TIE EDITOR
OF THE " SPROTATOR."1 Sru,—Free-trade Unionists, according to your advice, were settling into readiness to vote for the Unionist candidate whatever his Fiscal colour. But a rude alarm disturbs us. Tariff Reformers are giving us a foretaste of what spirit Protectionists are. The Confederates are showing us one of the chief "notes" of Protection—its tyranny— which the masses in the United States have long found out. Our disquiet springs not so much from fear of this secret and self-appointed tribunal .(which Englishmen will hate, as you, Sir, have pointed out) as from the fact that the Conservative Party, acting by the Central Association, stand by and affect impartiality. Unless there be hope of profit from the Confederate manoauvres, why are these not condemned in justice to men who deserve well of their party ? In truth, Sir, this is only the latest of many signs that authority is wanting and leadership in abeyance. Free-trade Unionists being thus awakened into reconsidering their position, it may be feared that in place of our votes being cast as you have recommended, flesh and blood will counsel retaliation, and plausibly suggest to us that, after all, and for the coming Parliament at least, a little Socialism controlled by the good sense of the British electorate and the House of Lords, but with Free-trade preserved to us, may be a less serious outlook than the loss of Free-trade, coupled with the tyranny which follows, and as we now see may accompany, the adoption of Protectionist doctrine.—I am, Sir, &c.,
DANIEL DIRT.
54 Shooters Hill Road, Blackheath, S.E.
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