A MUGWUMP'S VIEW.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR...] SIR,—I have been impressed with the present indifference of most thinking people to the trend of party politics. It may be recognized that the party in power is, at a time of unexampled prosperity, engaged in squandering the resources of the country over domestic legislation of doubtful value, while nothing is being done to strengthen our position against trouble that may assail us in the future. But when we turn to the Opposition we are apparently offered nothing more reassuring than a squabble over Tariff Reform, and the very ineffectiveness of its leaders would seem to be actually keeping the present Government in power. Few Englishmen are really indifferent to the fate of their country, but is it not just now almost a case of "nowhere help at all" ? A change of political parties may be in some senses only "a rearrangement of sinners "; but the ideals of the Conservatives do at least contain a good deal that should make for national welfare. Why cannot its leaders have the pluck to work up to them? Let them stop discussing a policy that evidently has not yet been clearly formulated, and simply say to the country, " Your affairs have been grossly and cynically .iuis- managed, and it will take some time to clean up the mess ; but we will do our best to start things on better linei and by degrees to weld the Empire." It is considered, I believe, almost a truism among politicians that in order to convince an electorate you must offer some definite bribe. None the less do I venture to suggest that the better part of the country would gratefully welcome at the present time any administra- tion that would be willing to work on non-contentious lines till we had time to see our way more clearly.—I am, Sir, &c.,
Previous page
