Morals and Politics I'm sorry for the East Harrow Tories
in their embarrassment over the Courtney affair. As a nation of hypocrites, we reserve our biggest hypocrisies for the relationship of private morals and public life. And how unpredictably incon- sistent we are! Commander Courtney is well on the way to becoming a minor public hero, while poor Mr. Profumo (the similarities are remark- able; even the Russians appear in both cases) has had his whole life destroyed. Perhaps Disraeli has the last word. Just before one general election a supporter presented him with con- clusive proof that Palmerston had lately been involved in an affair, adding, 'we've got the old boy at last.' You must divulge this to no one,' replied Dizzy: 'Palmerston is now over seventy. If he can provide evidence of his potency he'll sweep the country.'
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