7 JANUARY 1888, Page 24

UNIONIST SCRUPLES.

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]

SIR,—The Spectator of December 31st commented in a way which I consider flattering, on a letter of mine, printed in the Guardian of December 28th, on the subject of Lord Salisbury's Derby speech.

I have not the slightest wish to controvert a single sentence in that article,—first, because I should be extremely glad that the rest of the world should take your view rather than mine of the drift of Lord Salisbury's speech; next, because I think newspaper discussions, like duels, should not go beyond an exchange of shots ; and lastly, because I could not do justice to my own view of the case without dragging forward those mis- chievous historical recollections which, if it were possible, all good men should, I think, conspire to bury.

I only wish to protect myself against a possible misconcep- tion. I detest, as heartily as you can do, the notion of semi- Separation. If the Empire can continue to govern its Irish portion, well and good. If not, let Ireland go. But, with reference to her subsequent disasters, let us by no means retain any responsibility beyond that of letting her have her way.—