THE LIBERAL LEADERSHIP.
[TO THE EDITOR OP THE •Srsorieros.-1
SIE,—The Spectator has been my welcome companion on Sunday afternoons for several years, and in the course of this time I have read many articles on the Liberal party and its misfortunes, various explanations being given to ace mat for what has occurred. All of them have doubtless to some ex- tent been true, but it seems to me that sufficient stress has not been laid on the main cause of its disintegration, which is surely this,—that the party, as represented by its leaders, has for many years been Gladstonian rather than Liberal, that it has given its confidence absolutely to a man of over. powering greatness, conferring on him the office of conscience- keeper, and accepting his views and decisions with unwavering faith in place of ham mering out its own opinions and prin- ciples as a political party in real health must do. The con- sequence of this abnormal condition having lasted so long is that the power of leadership has been lost and the party left helpless as we now see it. The leaders of the Liberal party have for many years revolved like planets shining by reflected light around the great central orb, performing their functions with due regularity. A catastrophe has, however, occurred, and the controlling sun has been removed. The bereft planets, by the mere law of gravity, have reluctantly re- arranged themselves round the heaviest member of the system. But this heavenly body, having but slender powers of attraction and emitting neither light nor warmth, has proved but a sorry substitute for the great illuminating orb on which they once depended and now have lost for ever. The only remedy for the misfortunes which have overtaken this great party is probably time, and it may well be that a younger generation will have to come to the front before fall
recovery can take place.—I am, Sir, &c., NEMO.
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