TOPICS OF THE DAY.
HOW SHALL I VOTE?
VAT E answer the question without an instant's hesita- V tion, "Vote Unionist or Liberal. It does not vitally matter which so long as your vote is cast against Socialism. Vote against the creed and the candidates of the Labour Party."
There is only one issue before the country, and that is of supreme import. It is not a dreary negation on which we are giving battle—a mere refusal to agree with Labour's "views." Again, it is not merely an appeal against Labour's management of public affairs. That in many respects has been faulty, and in the matter of the refusal to grant an inquiry in the Campbell case a very serious lapse into bureaucratic autocracy ; but even so it is not a predominant issue. Finally, the issue is not merely "stable government." That is per se a good thing, but it is very liable to misrepresentation. Stability is apt to be translated into stagnation not only by a mocking enemy but by those who do not realize that to win the confidence of the country the Anti-Socialists—and especially the Conservatives—must be dynamic, pro- gressive and constructive. You cannot fight the specific, east-iron schemes of the Socialists with a cloud of vague words. As well combat consumption with a bran poultice. You must oppose them with better and sounder but equally specific schemes. You must be out to kill Socialism but not merely with your mouth. In a word, though you must be Anti-Socialist, in the sense of directing every effort to defeat Socialism, you must never forget the constructive side of Unionism or Liberalism, as the case may be.
"What does all this mean translated into action ? " In the first place it means that you must make it clear to all persons whose views you can influence that the Anti-Socialists do not admit for a moment that they are content with existing conditions, or that they fail to realize that the country is full of evil things, and of things which ought to be set right, and can be set right—things which must be attacked again and again till a remedy is found. It is often very difficult to find the true remedy, as the Labour Government learned during their term of office, but the effort towards discovery must never cease.
Here, then, is the true issue. The Socialists offer a remedy which will bring us to disaster, for it cuts human society right across the grain, and splinters and frays it to distraction. The remedies of those who oppose Social- ism and rely upon individualism, freedom of action, the stimulation of exchange, and a voluntary instead of an enforced co-operation, are, we admit, not so attractive at first sight, and do not promise to be so easy and so quick. But they are evolutionary not destructive ; they are matters of development and enlargement, not of eradication. It is a case of conservative surgery against amputation with the easy, optimistic assurance that a well-made artificial limb from the Command Depot is really "far better than the natural leg or arm." The best opinion in the medical profession is now all for conservative—i.e., preservative surgery. And so it is going to be in politics. Conservative surgery, however, does Snot mean "Rest and be thankful." It means a cure which is more effective than amputation.
But in the name of all that is reasonable do not let us conceal the fact that we have a system of cure based on sound principles and are ready and anxious to apply it, - and are willing, nay determined, to clear away any obstacles that sloth or selfishness or folly or prejudice may attempt to raise up. In brief, instead of uttering dreary and pontifical maxims about Stability, let us recognize that it is part of our duty to bring hope and enthusiasm into our Anti-Socialism.
It is because we feel so deeply and so anxiously on this whole matter that we have consciously and deliber- ately undertaken the very disagreeable task of criticizing, or if you will, denouncing, the failings of a man personally so high-minded, so sympathetic, and of such good intent as Mr. Baldwin. As we could make no impression on the Unionist leaders by sticking pins into them lightly and elegantly, we decided to run them in up to the hilt. We claim to have in some measure succeeded. Since we denounced the ineptitude of a negative policy, we have noted ten times as much talk about Constructive Conser- vatism in the Unionist Press, and in the ukases issued from the Unionist Central Office. To have achieved that, it was well worth while to receive the angry vituperation of those who, to adapt Sir Robffirt Home's phraseology, may be called the Apostles of Stagnation.
Once more we appeal to the electors to cast their votes with the one object of defeating Socialism. They must not be content merely to vote Unionist or Liberal; they must persuade the wavering or the indifferent to do the same.
There are two things necessary to make such efforts effective. First, Unionists or Liberals must show the vital nature of the issues and the extreme danger of letting our cause go by default. Secondly, and this is equally vital, they must show, as we have shown in the Spectator since our leaders failed in their duty, that the Unionists have, in fact, a living creed, and one reinforced by specific schemes of amelioration. Unionists are not merely willing, but eager to put these schemes into opera- tion, and so to correct admitted and pressing evils.
J. Sr. LOE STRACHEY.
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