SIR,—The following passage, written by G. W. Russell in 1902,
shortly after the General Election of 1900, seems to have a peculiar interest for today. Speaking of 'the collapse of our parliamentary sys- tem,' he said :
That system, as till 1895 we understood it, postulated something like a balance of parties; a system of checks, a wholesome competition for public favour, a remorseless and untiring criticism directed by the 'Outs' against the 'Ins.' All this has departed, and instead of it we have a Government. tried for five years, found in sonic grave respects conspicuously wanting, and yet sent back to office with a majority which makes them safe for another five years; and an Oppo- sition, puny in numbers, notoriously divided on every question of actual interest, incapable of effective criticism, and apparently reconciled to permanent exclusion from oflice. Yet within four years that Opposition triumphed with a parliamentary majority larger than for 100 years, and began building the Welfare State!—Yours faithfully,
RODERIC DUNKER! FY
Worthing
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