We have always thought it probable that Mr. Chamberlain's policy
of Protection would end in Home-rule. A leading article in Thursday's Daily Telegraph on the secession of the Unionist Free-traders from the Liberal Union Club gives a considerable amount of confirmation to our view. Here is the passage in which the Protectionists raise—though, no
doubt, with a certain amount of "crocodile tears"—the Home-
"They themselves [i.e., the Unionist Free-traders], at the bidding of the Duke, while professing their devotion to the Union, put Cobdenism before Unionism ; but there is a large and growing number of politicians who, likewise professing devotion to the Unio4, --,nt Fiscal Reform before Unionism. There is an unsuspectedly large number of Tories whose sympathy with Home Rule was scotched but not absolutely killed by the methods adopted by various National Leagues to obtain it. If Ireland continues as free from lawlessness and outragemongering in the future as she is at present, these scotched Tory Home Rulers may lagain raise their heads. Strong as our sympathy with the Unionist cause as such is, there is no good living in a fool's paradise."
When people begin to talk about there being "no good living in a fool's paradise," we know what to expect. But though we think it quite likely that the Protectionists will tread the path which the Daily Telegraph points out to them, we are not alarmed for the Union. The Unionist Free-traders form a bodyguard both for the Union and Free-trade, and will see to it that both causes are maintained inviolate.
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