SIR, —We Liberals have fully met the challenge of today ;
only those who turn the Nelsonian blind eye to the signal fail to understand the Liberal plan of development. In 1946 our Reconstruction Committee wrote: " In the years that lie ahead we believe that the conflict between materialistic and spiritual conceptions of economic and political theory and practice will emerge as the dominant theme of national and inter- national affairs. Whatever may be the effect of the present political situation and whatever alignments of political forces may take place, we believe that the heart and centre of any spiritual leadership must be that concern for men and women as individuals ' made in the image and likeness of God' which is implicit in the Christian ethic."
This is a faith that cannot be compromised. Is the only alternative to Socialism an amalgamation with a party that " exists to forestall in- evitable changes by judicious compromises in the interests of threatened classes and institutions "—to quote Asquith ? No ; if we have the courage to walk out into the wilderness, and there profaagate our pro- gressive policy, we shall triumph because, despite the blaring bugles of the Tory legions, we alone are capable of converting ,to our beliefs an age of youth spoon-fed on political slogans.
The Liberals see in the common labourer and artisan of today a type of man possessed of a common mind. that it obsessed by a few common shibboleths ; accordingly his mind is not trained to analyse the problems of the modern age. It is useless, therefore, to pound the spiritual founda- tion of Liberalism at this type of man, since he is unable to understand it, and rather than strive to reach our level of intelligence, he wants the State to reduce everyone to his. We must shift the ground, but not the content, of our appeal. We must phrase our ideas in simple terms, thereby gradually raising him from the rut in which he lies, for a pro- gressive policy, such as we preach, is valueless unless it is backed by the support of this social class which, as the years pass, will gradually become the predominant class of the kingdom. It is because the Tories lack this support that they have not won a single by-election in a Labour seat since 1945.
Liberalism is synonymous with education ; as the minds of the growing generation broaden, so will the people once again turn to us to save them from two opposing tyrannies. It is a glorious crusade to fight, but one which requires the warrior to possess a burning inspiration. The Tories eealise that our national campaign, after only twelve months' on- slaught, has begun to reap its wider reward: hence their sudden wooing blitz. We know there will be setbacks and defeats, as at Edge Hill, but that is the lesson of life. We shall continue to carry the message of salvation into every home in this land, until once again the challenge
of our time is answered.—Yours faithfully, Jtrum Eng°, Riversdale Road, Liverpool, 19
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