TOPICS OF THE DAY.
THE UNIONIST FREE-TRADERS.
WE are glad to note that during the past week the Unionist Free-traders have been shaking off the apathy which has too long distinguished them, and that they are at last showing signs that they intend to make t heir Free-trade view s effective, —and to make them effective, not by joining the Liberals, but by remaining Liberal Unionists or Conservatives while giving full effect to their Free-trade convictions. The Duke of Devonshire's ad- mirable letter to Lord Lichfield published last Saturday advising Liberal Unionists to take no part in the forma- tion of idr. Chamberlain's new Liberal Unionist organisa- tion was the beginning of this movement in the direction we have indicated. It was followed by the publication of a manifesto issued on behalf of the Surrey Unionist Free- traders asking those Conservative and Liberal Unionist voters in the Chertsey division who are opposed to Mr. Chamberlain's policy, while remaining Unionists, to make their Free-trade views effective by voting for the Free-trade candidate and against Protection. This is the first occa- sion at a by-election where public and united action has been taken by Unionist Free-traders, and its significance cannot be ignored. Finally comes the decision taken on Wednesday by the Unionist Free-traders in the Liberal Union Club to resign their membership of that body, since the majority will not agree to a policy of real neutrality on theFiscal question, and toform anew club opento Conserva- tive and Liberal Unionist Free-traders, whose duty shall be to unite its members in the double object of maintaining the Union and Free-trade. In all these instances we are glad to note that the policy which has been consistently advocated by the Spectator was adopted. That is, the Unionist Free-traders are urged "not to abandon one jot of their Unionism" while taking the necessary steps to make their Free-trade views prevail. The new Unionist Free-Trade Club, which is open to all, whether Liberal Unionists or Conservatives, who are willing to proclaim themselves both Unionists and Free-traders, but to none who do not agree on both these essential points, will, we trust, be joined in large numbers by those who believe in its principles, and are determined that neither the Union nor Free-trade shall be destroyed. The honorary secretary of the Club is Sir Cameron Gull (10 Hyde Park Gardens, W.), and all who agree with the principles upheld by the Unionist Free-traders should without delay write to him and enrol themselves as members.
Conservative and Liberal Unionist Free-traders should remember that by uniting for common action they are not assisting the ruin of the Unionist party which has been brought about by the action of Mr. Chamberlain, but are taking the only step open to them to prevent the destruc- tion of that party becoming complete and irremediable. If they will now form a powerful and compact political body, they may place the cause of the Union out of danger, while at the same time saving the nation and the Empire from the dangers which Protection must bring in its train. To accomplish these two objects is by itself a great and patriotic work. But they can do more by such action. They can provide a means for reuniting the Unionist party on a Free-trade basis when Pro- tection has been defeated. If only the Unionist Free- traders will keep together till the fever which is now working such terrible results in the Unionist party has exhausted itself, they will be able to provide a rallying point for the broken fragments of the great and once victorious army which Mr. Chamberlain and his ally, Mr. Balfour, are now leading to destruction. It does not need the gift of prophecy to see what will happen when the inevitable appeal to the country takes place. The electors, though as determined as ever to maintain the Union and to keep the Empire in health and strength, will have nothing to do with Protection, no matter under what alias it is presented to them. As a result, the Conservative party will suffer a defeat at the polls without parallel in its history. Then will come the opportunity of the Unionist Free-traders. Even though it may take years of patient effort to rebuild the noble structure so wantonly ruined by the men whose duty it was to keep it strong and inviolate, the work will not be impossible if one tower at least is left standing from which the work of reconstruction can be begun,—the work of making the Unionist party once more in the true sense a national and an Imperial party. Men who think now that this is a dream, and that the Protectionist section of the Unionist party can never be, induced to abandon its policy, fail to realise the nature of the defeat which Mr.
Chamberlain has prepared for his party. Every political party rightly and necessarily desires power. The posses- sion of power is its raison d'être. When, then, the broken Unionist party realises that its return to power is im- possible unless it can reunite on a Free-trade basis, such reunion will take place. That is why we so strongly urge on all Unionist Free-traders the duty of remaining Unionists, and thus preparing the way for a reconstruction of the Unionist party, and for once again putting Free-trade in the position it formerly held,—a position which, like the Monarchy, was not disputed by either party in the State. We freely admit that by becoming Liberals the Unionist Free-traders might in all probability place th3 Union out of danger, for their presence in that party would soon outweigh the very small section of Liberals who still desire to dissolve the legislative Union. But by refusing to join the Liberals the Unionist Free-traders, while doing equally good work for the cause of the Union, can do an infinitely greater service to Free-trade. Their pressing duty is to see to it that Free-trade is once more inscribed on both the party banners, and this can only be accomplished by their remaining Unionists.
But though we would so strongly urge the Unionist Free- traders to remain Unionists, it must not be supposed that we desire to support the half-hearted counsels of those who think that the cause of Free-trade can be safeguarded by voting for Protection, or, at any rate, by refraining from supporting Free-traders against Protectionists. Though we believe that it is the duty of the Unionist Free-traders to remain Unionists, we think it is also their duty at the coming elections, and, indeed, as long as Protection holds the field, to make their Free-trade views effective by voting for Free-trade candidates, whatever may be their views on other subjects. Only by such action can we Unionist Free-traders ensure victory for the cause which we place above party, and which we believe to be vital to the interests of the nation. Only by such action can we defeat a policy which we hold to be a blow directed at the heart of the Empire,—a blow which if delivered must send that mighty fabric in ruin to the ground. The General Election, whatever may be the opinion of those "gentle warblers of the grove" who imagine that Mr. Balfour is a Free-trader, will be a national plebiscite on the Cham- berlain policy ; and it is, therefore, the duty of Unionist Free-traders to do their share in making its rejection so overwhelming that it will not rear its head again for a generation. Now, this can only be done by the Unionist Free-traders for the time sinking their political differences with the Liberals, and working loyally for Free-trade. That the Liberals, the genuineness of whose adherence to Free-trade is fortunately beyond all possibility of question, will meet them generously in the work of defeat- ing Protection we do not doubt. It is, in fact, impossible for Liberal candidates to accept help from Unionist Free- traders without acknowledging that help by putting aside, for the time at any rate, controversial questions and concentrating on Free-trade. An example is the present election in the Chertsey division. There, owing no doubt largely to the influence exerted by the Unionist Free- traders, the question of Home-rule has, we will not say fallen into the background, but has absolutely disappeared. The Liberal candidate, wisely realising the need for concen- trating all efforts on defeating Protection, has declared Home-rule not to be before the electorate at the present election. In a word, the more active and more powerful the support given by the Unionist Free-traders to the Free- trade candidates, the more certain it is that Home-rule will disappear entirely from the region of practical politics. The Irish Members have not proved such loyal supporters of the Liberals as to make it likely that they will sacrifice the Unionist Free-traders to their demands. In truth, the Irish alliance with the Liberals is a thing of the past, and the Nationalists are already considering what terms they may be able to exact from the Protectionists ; while they, to judge from the leader in the Daily Telegraph quoted elsewhere, are preparing for a change of front in regard to the Union. We have only one word to add. It is that if the Unionist Free-traders are to hold. the position which we have pointed out they may hold if they choose, they must organise, ana organise thoroughly. If, that is, the new Unionist Free- Trade Club pursues the ostrich-like tactics of the Free-Food League, it will inevitably share the fate of that body,—a body which, owing to its timid and divided counsels, has failed to do the work which we must assume it desired to do; or at any rate which a section of its members desired to do. Only through organisation, and by bold and straightforward tactics can the Unionist Free-traders make themselves effective. We trust and believe, however, that our warning will not be needed by the new Unionist Free. Trade Club. At any rate, it has in Mr. Arthur Elliot, the chairman of its Organising Committee, a man who not only knows how to make great personal sacrifices for the cause of Free-trade, but who realises the needs of the situation and has the courage to express them with no uncertain voice.
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