While crediting the Opposition with the desire to main- tain
a continuity of sound naval policy, Lord Selborne in somewhat exaggerated fashion deplored their ignoble and unconstitutional intention to upset everything else the Government had done, especially in regard to educa- tion and licensing. In his lurid forecast of their pro- gramme he was injudicious enough to include the payment of Members, which he denounced as calculated to undermine the whole fabric of disinterested public service and high Parliamentary traditions. This may or may not be the case —we are ourselves oppcsed to the payment of Members— but it was really most ungrateful of Lord Selborne thus to fulminate against a principle set forth and advocated by the candidate in West Monmouth, who was not only adopted by the local Unionist Association, but who actually received the direct and cordial support of Lord Selborne's chief, Mr. Chamberlain, and who was acclaimed by the Times and the other Unionist newspapers which are working to keep Lord Selborne and his colleagues in office.
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