After Mr. Ramsay MacDonald's new declaration, however, we may hope
for the best. Particularly so, as Mr. J. H. Thomas has on several occasions lately pointedly praised the broadness and tolerance of a Constitution which has enabled him, who began as an errand boy and as an engine cleaner, to become one of the most important Ministers of the Crown. The Prime Minister's religious conception of Socialism was no doubt expected ; what may have been less expected was the sternness of his Puritanism, and his great liking for the Scottish "Sabbath." He said he was amazed when he found a great many of his friends talking about "the old Scottish Sabbath" as a burden. He would like to see a state of society where every man and woman would prefer the Scottish Sunday to the modern French one. In that state of society they would find solid eternal foundations of character and self-command. Finally, the Prime Minister appealed to the nation to pursue in political and industrial life "methods in accordance with the moral categories." He mentioned the strikes, disputes, disturbances and lock-outs which were present or imminent. "How childish it all is ! " he exclaimed. "Why is there no mutual confidence ? Surely these things can be arbitrated." We quite agree.
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