"machinery "if it be not used as to Singapore, both in Aus

? It is plain that Imperial con- tralia and New Zealand, grave ferences—a kind of machinery unrest exists at the abandon

are of no avail if all that ment of the defence of a base those conferences desire and which we look upon as a means decide is broken in pieces at a of protecting our countries and change of government. Uni- trade-routes in case of attack." versal suffrage is the determined That is a perfectly fair statefoe of continuity, and without ment of the case, and it is clear continuity a great empire cannot that the value of Imperial Conhope to survive. So Mr Mac- ferences has been reduced to Donald, having proved a com- nothing by Mr MacDonald's plete contempt for the wishes scorn of continuity. What, and deliberations of the Im- then, can be done to avert perial conference, makes a new the lamentable misunderstanddemand for “machinery." ings which a sudden change of What Minister, of what Do- policy must inevitably ensure ! minion, will be at the pains Sir James Allen believes that to visit London to see the the growth of the Dominions new “machinery" at work will necessitate important when he recalls the effrontery changes in the future. Meanwith which Mr MacDonald has while, he favours Dominion treated the last conference that representation in London, for met

which, says he,"two suggesSir James Allen, the High tions have been made-one Commissioner for New Zealand, that a Dominion Minister should

a recently deplored, in a speech be resident in London, the delivered at Wembley, the fail- other that the High Commisure of the Conference. Last sioner should act." Sir James year," said he, “two Imperial thinks it would be better that Conferences were held. This the High Commissioner should year, with a change of Govern- act, as it is unnecessary to ment in this country, several of duplicate representation. That the recommendations of both some wise step should be taken Conferences are not to be recom- is obvious, since the situation mended to Parliament by the is at present of a dangerous Government of the day, and are delicacy. On the

one hand therefore doubtful of acceptance. Mr MacDonald fouts the The question naturally arises : Dominions ; the other of what value are Imperial Con- the Dominions resent, naturally, ferences as at present con- the contempt

the contempt poured forth stituted It is not my inten- upon their wishes. And it tion to deal with the resolu- is certain that the relations tions except to say with respect between the mother country to Preference that there is and the Dominions cannot be general disappointment in the left to the arbitrament of the Dominions and Colonies ; and ignorant electors of Great

on

Britain and their servile repre- to turn to the Left, nobody will sentatives. A year of folly believe. But true it is that may undo the great achieve- France has followed England ments of three centuries. And down the steep incline, and at if any one doubts whether the a faster rate. There is (or Empire is worth thought and used to be) something in the a sacrifice, let him go to Wem- English temperament which

, bley and take what pride he persuaded us to go slow in may in the Empire’s vast ex- the business of politics. Such tent and variety. Can even revolutions as we have had the greediest demagogue come have come generally from the to any other conclusion than sober classes, and have been that the friendship of the conducted with some kind of Dominions is worth more to discretion. Certainly we have us even than the sacred gifts never suffered from so cruelly of a free breakfast-table and sadic an orgy as the French another bob a day?

Revolution-an orgy devised

by the wickedness of aliens, It has often been observed Jews and others, and still misfor a strange fact that political understood by the ignorant as diseases are catching. In 1848 a struggle for liberty. Even the lust of revolution travelled to-day our sufferings are easier across Europe like fever to bear than are the sufferings germ. And now, wherever you of our neighbours. Though we cast your eye, you will find can put no trust in Mr Ramsay epidemics of Radicalism, Social- MacDonald, though we are conism, and Communism. The vinced that-in spite of the symptoms of the three diseases platitudes with which his mouth are frequently so much alike is now full-he knows not the that they cannot be distin- meaning of patriotism, and has guished, and even the mildest not forgotten the affection which form has a tendency to assume

he cherished during the war for the rash and the temperature his “German friends," we canof the most virulent. By what not disguise from ourselves the road the disease travels, by truth that he is, politically, a what method the infection is member of the lower middlecarried, we do not know. Its class. So also are his most passage from one country to intimate colleagues, smug and another is as secret and as solemn men, who if an uprising stealthy as the mysterious con- came, would be the first to be veyance of news across the strung up on the lamp-posts desert, where there is neither of Westminster. Of the Frenchtelegraph nor wireless. That men who will probably be inEngland and France have taken vited to take office, so much counsel with one another, and cannot be said. M. Herriot, it agreed that this is the moment is true, is made of pretty much

а

the same clay as

Mr Mac- The precedent created by the Donald, but, as Prime Minis- dismissal of the President is ter, he will be obliged to put wicked, for it is revolutionary. his moderation in his pocket If the President may be disand to follow the Socialists and missed at will, then there is the Communists, whom he will no check upon an unbridled profess to lead.

Minister and no guarantee of And he has begun with con- continuity in government. The niving at a revolution. The precedent is dangerous for the party of the Left has no tender Socialists, because henceforth feeling for M. Millerand, who, it may be used against them by until the meeting of the new the other side. And the worst Chamber, was President of the of it is that it suggests that French Republic, which all the President is nothing more Frenchmen, save the supporters than the puppet of party govof the Action Française, professernment. If he is no more to worship. Accordingly the than this, is it worth while party of the Left declined to to ask him to dwell in the take office until M. Millerand, solemn splendour of the Elysée, who was elected less than four and how, when he is abolished, years ago and is by law irre- shall the famous constitution movable, was expelled from be defended ? Thus the Radithe Elysée. The action of the cals and Socialists come into Socialists is nothing less than office with a coup-d'état, and a coup-d'état, and it was sup- the passions which they have ported by majorities both in aroused will not make the task the Senate and in the Cham- of government any easier for ber. Without the aid of the them. Senate, where he was defeated M. Herriot, in a fervid letter by ten votes, M. Millerand to M. Blum, who replied rather

, could not dissolve Parliament. frigidly as one who held the Wherefore, if the government better hand, explained some of the Republic was to be of the objects which he had carried on, he could pursue no at heart. He is willing, it other course than to resign. seems, to shorten the term of He resigned with all the dignity military service, and to cut and formality that were pos- down the cost of the armysible, and the Socialists of a hazardous policy, truly, at France have set a wicked and a moment when Germany, exa dangerous example in dis- asperated by defeat, is openly missing a President who was rearming. For us who love not to their mind. By a wel- France, the mere thought of come irony his place is filled by a disaster is terrifying. Whose M. Doumergue, who is no nearer sleep would not be disturbed to the wishes of the Socialists by the nightmare of a Teutonthan M. Millerand himself. ised Europe ? And the folly

a

of this policy is made plain and hotly contested. M. Léon by the joy wherewith the Ger- Daudet gave lustre to it by mans have heard the rumour his brilliant advocacy, and of M. Herriot's advent to power. the triumph of the classics Thus M. Herriot is ready to seemed complete. But the envy stand side by side with our of the Socialists is not to be own Mr MacDonald, whose sur- gainsaid. They desire to be render of the Singapore base efficient managers of industry is an equivalent for the lessened as little as they wish to write efficiency of the French Army. French. And once more, if Two other“ planks ”—that, we M. Herriot has his

way, believe, is the correct term- Greek and Latin are to be in M. Herriot's " platform" are sent upon the tramp. The wholly characteristic of Social- changed schools must be istic policy. In the first place, changed more, and if he promises to abolish Greek England needs warning and Latin from the schools of against the interference of GovFrance, thus proving a con- ernment in education, here is tempt for continuity which the warning written plainly. only Mr MacDonald could rival. If education is to be the shuttleIt will be remembered that cock of Parliament, there is an some months since the Govern- end of it, and if we are wise we ment of M. Poincaré restored shall let the Minister of Educathe classical tongues, a con- tion confine his evil practices stant outrage in the eyes of to the elementary schools, and the good Socialist, to the public keep his hands off public schools schools, whence they had long and universities. been banished. This admir- In the second place, M. able reform, or reaction, as the Herriot promises to make an Radicals would call it, was assault upon the Institut, and brought about not merely by to lay a greedy hand upon the the foolish pedants, who value funds of the Académie Franlearning for its own sake, but çaise. This, too, would seem by the great captains of French to be a popular measure. It industry, who complained that combines the two things which since the abolition of the an. the Socialist loves best-an cient languages they could not attack upon ancient institufind young men in France cap- tions and the seizure of money able of aiding them in their which belongs to somebody business, and by the men of else. The Académie has not letters, who agreed that, after always been above and beyond the teaching of Greek and criticism. It has closed its Latin was put an end to, the doors against many a man of writing of French had miser- genius, and it has given a erably declined. The debate foolish welcome to mediocrities. was kept upon a high plane, That is because no body of

forty men is immune from though he stood in the dock error, or can with certainty guilty of falsely pretending to anticipate the verdict of pos- be the author of another's terity. Whatever reform it works. When Mr M. H. Spielstands in need of must come mann speaks in his essay on from within. But it is not in The Title Page of the First reform that the Socialists take Folio of the haters of Shakean interest. It is the policy of speare, he speaks not without theft that delights them. They warrant. There is a strange hear of money in which they band of Shakespeare haters have no share, and their fingers abroad, stern implacable men, itch to seize it. There is not for whom Ben Jonson's sweet the smallest chance that they swan of Avon is but a flatwould spend it well if they got footed duck, who regard Stratit. It is enough for them that ford, even though it has been they would hinder somebody smiled on by the great author, else's enjoyment of it. Thus Marie Corelli, as a bad deceitful the Socialists aim at the same village, and who can devise no sad policy all the world over. worse term of abuse than But they who encourage the “Stratfordian." hatred of others, and mistake And they reserve their bita class for the nation, can terest scorn for the portraits never hope to succeed, and of Shakespeare. Whatever failthe best result they will ever ure the artists may have been achieve is narrowly to avoid guilty of in representing the disaster.

features of the poet recoils,

before they have done with Matthew Arnold, in his fam- him, on the poet's own head. ous sonnet about Shakespeare, They regard the bust in the said that the poet “ did tread church at Stratford as a fraud, on earth unguess'd at." For and they hold their sides with him, indeed, it was "better laughter when they contem

But dearly has he paid plate Droeshout's engraving. for his good fortune. For Why this work should amuse several centuries the guessers them we do not know. Perhaps have been at work, and they it is but a symptom of their have pictured him in every hatred. But superstition can possible guise that ignorant best be dispelled by knowledge, fancy could suggest. More than and Mr Spielmann has earned this, they have attempted to the gratitude of all save the prove that he could never have

“haters

by setting down in existed at all, or that, if he logical order the known facts did exist, he was not himself of the case. The bust in Stratbut somebody else of the same ford Church comes first in his name. So they have attacked consideration, and be proves him with great bittemess, as conclusively that they who deny

80.”