THE RIGHT TO LOAF BILL.
[TO THE EDITOR Or THE " SPECTATOR."]
Sin,—Mr. Lloyd George has given the most tremendous impetus towards universal Micawberism and universal bank- ruptcy. His promises are so stupendous in comparison with the means at his disposal that we must seek the records of fraudulent Banks and similar experiments in credulity for an explanation or a parallel. The inventive Scotsman who evolved the South Sea Bubble is totally outpassed and obscured by the philanthropic Welshman who has dished Con- servative Social Reform by a blend of bounce and extravagance unprecedented in the history of economic hallucinations. The Honourable Society of the Weary Willies owes him an honorary vice-presidency. The Bill cannot work. It has no capacity of life in its entirety or in its parts. But it will stimulate a spirit of blind optimism combined with a spirit of imperious dependence that may revive and exaggerate the extravagance of the times when the Carmagnole was danced by the Friends of Humanity. And the grim pity of it, besides, is that it does not even propose to touch the misery of the outcast proletariat, the submerged multitudes who exist, of hardly exist, between casual labour and chronic pauperism. Mr. Lloyd George has given Jack Cade an up-to-date pro- gramme, and nothing more.—I am, Sir, &et.,
F. HUGH O'DONNELL.
13 Mzlbourne Grove, The Boltons, S.W.
[While publishing the views of the distinguished Home Ruler and ex-Nationalist M.P., we must absolutely dissociate ourselves from the tone of his letter. We agree neither with his style nor his opinions, though we admit that serious dangers will attend the scheme if great care be not taken with the details, especially on the financial side.—ED. Spectator.]
Previous page
