MANNERS IN POLITICS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13910, 8 December 1910, Page 3

MANNERS IN POLITICS.

TO THE EDITOR OF "TUG PKESS."

Sir,—To the statement that the old .Saxon callousness dies hard, you answer, "Rubbish!" That, of course, is a matter of opinion; perhaps tho description was not the most accurate, but I now quote the opinion of Baring Gould, a writer of some repute—not that his authority is to be considered superior to that of the Editor of 'Tho Press." Baring Gould says:—"Tho Saxon possessed rare qualities —perseverance, tenacity, and power of organisation—yet some of tho higher qualities of our race, the searching intellect, tho bright imagination and idealism, are due to tho spark of living fire entering into the somewhat heavy lump of Germanic nature through contact with the Celt. The Englishman accustomed to life in country districts cannot fail to be impressed with the intellectual superiority of the Welsh peasant tothe English country bumpkin. Tho Welsh of tho labourer and small farmer class aro brighter, quicker, keener, than those occupying the same position i« Saxon land. Ho reads more, above all, thinks more. He leads an inner life or thought and feeling; he is moro sensitive and more susceptible to culture, more appreciative of what is poetical and beautiful, and does not find in buffoonery the supreme delight of life. The horse-play, the boisterous revelry, that characterise tho enjoyment of country Hodge and Polly, as well as town-bred 'Arry and 'Arriet, when taking a holiday, are never present on a sumilar occasion among the Welsh. The •Toat gatherings of the latter aro their Eisteddfods, and not races and football matches, Thoy assemble in thousands to hear music and poetry, and such gatherings are entirely free from the vulgarities and riot of a collection of Anglo-Saxons out for junketing. Tho most ancient inhabitants of Britain had well-developed skulls, with plenty of brain* in them ; had delicate chins and iinelv-formed jaws, every token that ihe race was one of a gentle, highlystrung quality." . This does not sound as if all the indiscretion and excesses como from the Celtic temperament. It is not, therefore for the Saxon alone to sit in judgment of what is the best and highest temperament m the human race. Let him learn to appreciate the whole characteristics that are emhodied in the British Emniro, and forget his little England ism.' As against the doubtful cable message quoted, purporting to be from ''Truth." we have the opinion of the Rev. R. J. Campbell at the close of a remarkable speech by the Chancellor at'the City Temple, London, when Mr Campbell exclaimed: '*I hope we shall all live to see Lloyd Georgo Prime Minister." That was tho speech in which he dealt with the social waste of Britain's free-list, which "The Times" referred to as an address of sincerity and moderation. Of course, some of the inflaming millionaire Pres3 at Home found no sincerity nor moderation in that speech. As to Mr Lloyd George's facts and figures, he is not infallible; no more than Joseph Chaicherlain was in his tariff reform agitation, which became notorious the world over for its iuaccuracies and contradictions. The esChanceilor will never be equal to the late ex-Colonial Secretary, as regards his insults to foreigners. He has not yet told ua that if we sup with a foreigner we must have a long spoon, as Mr Chamberlain did of the head of one of tho greatest countries in Europe, and this while in Lord Salisbury's Cabinet as Colonial Secretary.—Yours, etc,

IDEALIST.