[TO TUE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR. "] Sin,,—With all respect, I
beg leave to say that I think your plan for enabling Liberal Unionists to retain their seats would prove fatal to the main object with which they, like myself, first became Liberal Unionists,—viz., the defeat of any attempt to set up a Parliament in Ireland. The constituencies in the stress of a General Election are by no means likely to make, or consent to have made for them, the close and balanced numerical arrangements you elaborately describe. The bulk will, as usual, go with their party. Besides, your assumption that Free-trade v. Protection will so engross the elector:3 that other great subjects will be practically ignored seems exceedingly. improbable.. In my own case, now—as when from voting for extreme Liberals I began to vote Unionist —I am determined to vote against Home-rule at all costs- Why P Because I.think it a greater danger to the Empire than any other proposal now before the country. The danger to the minority in Ireland is 'beyond doubt more visibly pro- nounced than during Mr. Gladstone's Home-rule crusade. The aim, says one of the most impartial of the Irish news- papers, is evidently to make Ireland not a fit country for Protestants to live in. What in any time of England's need a Parliament so inspired would be it is not difficult to foretell. To revert to England. Suppose a Unionist Free-trader to be also a pronounced opponent of Home- rule, would he be likely to win many Liberal votes, even those of Liberal Free-traders P Because I am convinced that your theoretical plan would in practice tell in favour of Home- rule, I beg leave to protest against it. I have been boycotted in several connections because I am a Liberal Unionist, but to my mind the arguments against Home-rule were never so strong as now. And I agree so far with Mr. Redmond that I think at least the former purchaser of the Nationalist vote at the price of Home-rule will gladly repeat the bargain rather than miss office and power once more.—I am, Sir, &c.,
R. D. F.
[As convinced and consistent Unionists, we respect our correspondent's protest, but we think it is made in error. If he votes Protectionist at the next Election, he will, we believe, find himself voting side by side with the Nationalists. At the recent by-elections the Irish vote went, not with the Free-traders, but with the Chamberlainites. Home-rule has ceased to be an essential part of the Liberal creed.—En. Spectator.]
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