As the whole discussion will probably now take a different
course, we earnestly beg the friends of the Referendum to come forward and point out in Parliament what complete security from constitutional clashes this instrument would give to the nation. It is often said that the Referendum would derogate from the representative character of a member of Parliament. On the contrary, we believe that it would save the majority of the House of Commons from their servile fear of a dissolution. At present they allow their votes to be directed and their consciences to be numbed by that fear. The Referendum would liberate these unhappy victims. And the Govern- ment would be liberated, too, from many false fears and compulsions. With the help of the Referendum they could honestly say that they were in real touch with public opinion. * * *
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