What M. Sorel and the French Syndicalista called "direct action
" is the way of poverty, not the way of wealth. The less the wealth created—in other words, the less capital there la- the smaller the wages will be. The Trade Union officials, who are for the most part sensible and experienced men, know all this perfectly well, and we are left wondering why they have not the self-confidence to toll the revolutionaries plainly and forcibly what the truth of the matter is It should be remembered that to fail to do this is positively to encourage revolution. It is weakness and absence of leadership in high places which are more responsible than the passionate ebullitions of smaller men for political and social disaster. Revolutions come from the top, never from the bottom, even though they often seem to come from the bottom. The Prime Minister above all other men has it in his power to say and to do exactly what the nation desires. He was returned by an overwhelming majority, which showed that the nation was thoroughly moderate and " patriotic " in temper. He has only to assert his right to carry out the will of the majority.
Previous page
