One hundred years ago
WHEN WILL the politicians learn to see the enormous disadvantages of political screaming? Again and again, it has been made plain to demonstration that if a man will only work quietly and persistently, he can often carry his objects almost without challenge; while if he screams about those objects, gives enthusiastic and highly coloured accounts of what are his ultimate aims and principles, and talks excitedly of what he means to do in the end, and what will be the final outcome of his policy, schemes in themselves quite innocent, will raise a veritable hurricane of opposition. Yet our politicians scream on. It was in vain that Tal- leyrand preached, surtout, point de ale. It seems a law of the ordinary politi- cian's being that he should arouse the maximum of opposition to his projects by wild and intemperate talk about all the impossible things his proposed reform will accomplish. He can hardly ever be content with declaring that what he wants is good in itself, and that therefore all reasonable men should support it. That is far too utilitarian for him. He must always paint his proposal red, or green, or orange, or true blue, as the case may be, and then dare any one who happens to hate the particular colour to have anything to do with his scheme; or else point out that in reality the best part of his plan is that it gives pain and annoyance to those scoundrels, the blues, the greens, or the reds.
The Spectator 12 January 1895
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