If any attitude on the part of the Government could
give a handle to Bolshevism, the art of making wild promises which cannot be fulfilled would do so. Fortunately Bolshevism is foreign to the mind, temper, and blood of the British people. But the nation. may go as near to the horrid thing as it is capable of going .if the Government do not succeed in proving that they are men of honour and complete sincerity. The Prime Minister, above all, ought never to tolerate facts which give rise to the suspicion that he is ready to surround himself with flashy and clever political undesirables instead of with men of transparent honesty. Even though simplicity should become more apparent in his circle than cleverness, it is essential for him to consort with men worthy to*maintain the repute and dignity of a great Empire. Lord.Salisbury puts his finger on one principal defect of our democracy when he indicates that so- called.democratic Governments are generally afraid of the opinion of the people. They prosecute their plans in a spirit of intense partisanship and pretend that this is democracy.
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