The efforts of the Confederates to break up the Unionist
Party are bearing fruit. On Tuesday at a meeting of the executive of the Hertfordshire Conservative Association a resolution was passed by nineteen vetes to sixteen regretting that as Mr. Abel Smith "differs fundamentally from the leader of the party, in the interests of the party and for the safety of the seat, it [the Committee] must withdraw its support from his candidature." Mr. Abel Smith, who was present, immediately stated that he would sever his connexion with the Association, bnt would reserve to himself absolute freedom as to his future action. This, no doubt, means that he has decided to stand to Li guns and defend the seat, a decision upon which we congratulate him. It will be an evil day not only for the Unionist Party, but for our politics as a whole, when men are not prepared to take the step taken by Mr. Abel Smith, how- ever disagreeable. We do not doubt that his plucky and consistent action will win him the support of a great many moderate men, even though- they may have Tariff Reform leanings. The ordinary British elector does not want a servile representative, especially when that servility is dc-nanded by an outside body like the Confederates.
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