[To THE EDITOR OP THE SPECTATOR:1 SIE, — I have read with
interest your article in last week's Spectator upon a new Centre Party,—a party to which, as a strong advocate of Free-trade principles, with a bias against Socialism, I should be glad to attach myself. I think, how- ever, there is something wanting in the policy which you out- line. It is admirable, so far as it goes, but it is essentially conservative, in the true sense of the word. Now both the Tariff Reformers and the Socialists advocate respectively a policy which is undoubtedly progressive. No party will survive against their onslaughts which is not also progressive. Nor, indeed, could any honest man give his adherence to a party which should be purely conservative, seeing the very pressing need that there is for social reforms in England. I suggest, Sir, therefore, that the Centre Party should maintain in the forefront of its programme the cause of social reform, while stoutly opposing the reactionary measures of the Tariff Reformers and the Socialistic proposals of the Radicals.—
[By all means let the Centre Party have a policy of social reform, provided that it is real reform, and progress not in the wrong but in the right direction. For example, we most earnestly desire a reform of the Poor Law,—a piece of social reform which would greatly benefit the working class, who are the chief sufferers by profligate Poor Law administration and expenditure. Let us, however, not be afraid of the gibe that we advocate a negative policy. That defect, if it is one, is at any rate shared by the Ten Commandments.—ED. Spectator.]
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