CURRENT TOPICS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 241, 4 July 1908, Page 10

CURRENT TOPICS.

Tho Vision of Liberalism. . ■ " Bacon's Baying that 'adversity does best discovor. virtues' is of doubtful application , . to a political party," writes tho "Nation," < imdor the heading, ''Tho Vision of Liberal-! ' ism." • ''Twenty years of aimest unerasing - struggle '■ against; reaction have loft their, traces upon-Liberal Parliamentarians in a strain of timidity and even of conservatism which is evidently a source of moral and of intellectual weakness. There have always beon voices ready to proclaim that the-, active • mission of Liberalism 'was'.'well;ni£h fulfilled, and that, for the present at any rate, it was afl-importarit to ' presdrve what had boon won, to regain what had beeii lost, and to do just as- much or as littlo tinkering as was needed to ! maintain the fabric of our ■ liborties. / Wo. do not for one moment suggest that" this is tho conscious: prevailing sentiment of the 'Liberal majority m the House, or in the country,. and .the strenuous warfare-waged by the Government' in many, fields will appear to many a sufficient answer; '• to such'criticism. .;But without arguing-the ■matter here, we cannot refrain from pointing, but that almost all tho' important measures of domestic policy before this -Parliament - are, in-substance,- endeavours to recover,', for tho people and the,Stato,,liberties :of.propef- . ties or privileges which had . within recent generations; been' lost or : encroached jupon • by Borne class; trade, or other vested interest. ■V 'Doos this mean ; that'coldness;and"placidity;of' puroose'belong essentially to Liberalism.as a '-middle-'course;.'and is' Liberalism committed 'to an embarrassing and disheartening.oppoi- - tunism?;.' No 'such thing.:'. ~ But/W.e..,hav6: - evidently rTesiched -a period a .rooro conscious organisation of Liberal energy is - domanded. It is a time to. follow. Matthew ■Arnold's, advice and :'Let our thought'.May l?rcely upon, our stock notions and ideas.' ~Th® first result of such an operation ;will ,bo to illuminate :our commonplaces . regarding the nature of that libortv to the service; of which the party, is dovotea." ; .

The Freedom .of the' Individual. : ■ "Liberalism" - (the "Nation" goes on to say) '-will, still insistently retain -its diverg- • ence from Socialism,.in taking for its distinctive test of policy tho freodom of 'tbe mdi- . vidual citizen rather, than 'the r streneth'. of, the State, though: the antagonism of tho two - standpoints inay tend to disappear in tho light of progressive experience. But it will . justify itself -by two: great;enlargements of • its liberative functions. In seeking to realise: libortyffor the individual citizen ;as''epuality. • of opportunity,' it wiU recogniso that, as the area and nature of .opportunities are .'continually shifting, bo tho rold limited concepi* j- tion of .the task of Liberalism riiu'st always advoncis.' • Each generation of Liberals will ' - bo required to translate si. new sot of needs and .-.aspirations into facts; : It is . because ' wo liavo fallen so .far short of dne performance of this'task that our-Liberalism shows signs of enfeeblemont. -We must fearlessly ' faco as> our first, though not our only, ques- ' tiori, '.'.What' is ;a. ; froe. Englishman; y tp-day ? ' If we answer this question faithfully, wo shall recognise that .it comprises many oiements of real liberty and opportunity which ■ liavo not been- won .for: the people as a - whole. Is a man free who has not" equal opportunity with his fellows of such ; access -to f 1 all ma- > tcrial "arid-moral means of personal < develop; ment andywork ; as'-shall - coritributo' to his ' own welfare-and'tbat "of his : society ? Such - equal oppbi-tunity 'at -loast implioi? K att> O(iual "access to of > his Md as-' a -workplace irid a,homo, such mobility asjwill enable him to dispose, of his personal 'enfir- • gios to . tho best advantage, easy access to • that factor of capital or credit 'whichvmodorn industry recognises as,essential.to economio independence, arid to-whatever new form - of industrial power, electric, or other,- may needed to .witli human efEorts.; . A man is not really free for purposes of self- . development ■ in'. life (and. work who is not adequately provided in all these respects, and ..npfsmall part of constructive.Liberalism: must ; be': devoted to the attainment 1 of those equal opportunities." ; l - ■ . . Education of Children. ' Without blaming the decision of tho Migisi trato at thoiMaryloborio Police Covirt in., the caso of Mr. Edwin.Colliris, woitrusWsays 'th 6 - ' 'Guardian") . 'that. the liberty of /educated parents >t6Ygiv6: their" children-the..education 'thoy think Jiest for .theni will.be jealously ;defended.., Mr. Collins, who is'a journalist, '■ and holds a testimonial to his: literary capaf city from the lato Professor Henry Mdrley, ' believes that' the best .way children up to the age of .twolv'o is to feed them'well; dress them .'anyhow-(so that, they need," not bo afraid .of spoiling: their clothes),: and let thorn run about in the open air as much as' possible, :givirig : them 1 some oral . instruc": tion, but not .toaching them to road. That is not very far from tho opinion of Herbert Spencer, but it 1 is not :tno view of Mrs; Grundy, whoso .-prejudices in favour of an early smattering of "the "olof-ibs"' havo re- . ceived Parliamentary' sanction) 'and Mr.'.P<iul - Taylor considered that ho liad no option but to order.that tho 'defendant's children should bo sent to an elementary, school arid trimmed to the regulation County Cojuicil pattern. ' Yet the eldest of', them.; a lad of fourteen, had -won-'an.ossay prizo in competition:with lads -ranging up /to : cighteen.v;' .

,Tho Tragedy of Korea. ' Mr. Archibald R; Colquhoun • reviews Mr. iF. A. Mackenzie's new book,Tho Tragedy of' Korea;" in' the" Moniing Post." He says"'Mr. Ma,ckonzie calls. his book tM "story'of the awakening and tho destruction .of. a nation.; His presentation of this story -amounts to an indictment of tho-Japanese on. the score, of 'odious-cruelty,' needless slaughter,' and wholesale - theft.'. This .1" id . strong- - language, and personally I should. have-omitted ;tho adjectives, which aro not : necessary to the argument.... Tho j author gives chapter and verso for "his 'accusations, so far as, cruelty, slaughtor,. and theft; are concerned, and is borne out by other witnesses, somo ot' whom he quotes. Toi.dccido on ,-tho. actual degree of cruelty or . dishonesty ono needs to .judge by. " Oriontiil .;*standards, - and_ the adjective'' is /' also too sweeping. Yot, on tho whole,' ho 'writes with a sense of fairness [ 'Np." unbiased observer can deny that Tioroa ow'os the loss of her independence mainly to tho corruption and weakness of her old national . .-'administration.-''." It- is equally truo-.'-that ■ Japanese*' policy' on' the. 'mainland* has''been made more difficult by; the. intrigues-'- and . obstinacy of the'old Court partv. ~.. Japan j / has broken her solemn promises to Korea - and has evaded in-, every .-'way her pledged obligations to maintain tho policy.of equal opportunity because sho is driven thereto by heavy- taxation, ;by tho poverty of her people, and :by tho necessity of obtaining fresh markets and new lands for settlement.'. There'oho has-, the . caso in a inut-. shell—Korea's weakness and Japan's need. It is necessary to keep these points--firmly fixed-in. one's mind beforo trying to pro-' nounco judgment on tho events of tho past few years. Tho real tragedy 06 Korea was the decay of an ancient.-country up to the point when it has becomo . tho natural prey of a strong neighbour." ; • Government. Bonus for Horses! - : , ' At last the alarming deficiency of British horses is to bo chccked through tho enterprise of-the Board of Agriculture. A momentous decision, both to the War Office and the farmers of Britain, "has beon arrived at, says tho '"Mail." - Afternegotiations-opened in 1006, when tho War Office first awolro to the national danger, the Beard of Agn'oul, ture, with the support ef 'th# Treasury, agreed to take over the business of- building up a national reserr# of horses, j and their acceptancoof,the work of oonstitutcs the most, considerable endeavour made for centuries- to foster- the brooding of cobs--and . hunters in Britain. Tho nucleus of a special staff .is being organised-at 'Whitehall.-' It . will tako tho work in hand at. oncie.

British Patont Law. ■ According to tho "Berlinor Tageblatt," tho now British Patontf Law lias liad a very serious effoet ori German industry. Tho Gorman Patent Law also requires, that an .ar-; ticlo -must/:.' to- a ' certain extent,' bo _ manul facturod in tho country if it is' to enioy : tho protection provided, but the journal declarea that this /provision is interpreted very liber'ally. ''It'iirges tho conclusion of a--treaty regarding patents' with Great Britain, on tho | lines'of: those existing with Italy and Switzerland; "whereby tho penalty of withdrawal of .protection from, a_ patentod_ artiole not mado in tho country in which it ia sold is not enforced! if: tho articlo comes from ono of the countries which are parties to tho troaty;" -In'this'connection, tho "Tageblatt" understands '' that" tho German Government is taking-steps *t<> come to an arangement with the United' States on the subject of patents, in view of ( tho movemont in America tor Federal legislation requiring patents to bo manufactured-in tho United States on the pain' of forfdtunPof 'patont rights.—Router. Mr.- Asqulth's Maiden Speech. :'/ Mr: As juitii's ~maiden speech, delivered ''in the. Commons, on .March 25, 1887, is recalled by'the''''Westminster Gazette." "Pall Mall" of- that day called it '"a* successful maiden, speech, 11 .-and described it thus "jhe most; striking speech of tho evening, apart; from'iMr.,-;.Gladstone's; was the# made .by>Mrv.-Asquitn,'"a:you»g English lawyer sitting if or a" Scotch constituency. His language was ~woll;,chosen', .atad his sentences .admirably rounded and knit'; and altogether it was a clover,, able, . and powerful utterance. ..It was a protest, against coercion. Ho hold that tho. present was' 'a manufactured crisis,' and ho-compared tho Government's motion 'to one of .•the' South- Sea Bubblo sehomes, .Jtho .particulars .of which will hereafter be .disclosed." ;, Mr,,\"Asquith's success about bqualle(l:yMr.---Finlay , s triumph during the Home.Rulofdobate; The Housopaid him'the .compliment of..listening to him.' as to .a leader.', 1 ' / ... . A. Wittyrciiinose, Ambassador. the Chinese Ambassador in Washingtonj-is-a-great favourite. Hero is how the " Saturday. Evening Post " doscribes him:— "'. , - ' ; \ t- Wut Wul'HoW do do? ' Wit! Wul 'How are you? Chirig—Change-Wu Ting-fang I , Glad to seo'you—Wu! Wul Wu!" "It means, dear; brethren, the return to ■Washington of , ;Wily., Wu, the Reporter's Friend.lt the'.'reappearance in our . taidst :.of tho greatest copy-subject tho slaves of .'the; pen.' -liavo ''.had in t'weiitjy years. It means' spacevacres of it; words—tons' of theni..'. It moans ibread and an occasional iSlap.of' pie..,.;.lt:ineans that onco again in .•Washington-j.'sitsiiWu, Wiso Wu, Witty Wu, • Wu;'' Waiting Wu—waiting for- the inrush .-.of.'correspondents eager to; inter view him',: ..'describe/-him; einb.alm him in' special articles', quote his quips , arid - quirks, his opigrams and ;hiß epiphonemas, and just .os" : eager ,as4ho inrushers are, if you should receive a return postal card asking you about it','.!; ; • v : -'.';r-i Disarmament." According tpLtlie;' ''Borliuor Tageblatt,"'it is -rumoured'-in diplomatic circlos m Berlin that Great Britain has not yet; abandoned her. endeavours;'to' arrange an international understanding .for. the limitation of armaments.' Tho. Cabinet is considering tho idea of: inviting the other Powers to a conference Of -naval exports, at The Haguo. Tho xhity of ithis.tcdnfcrehce'- would be to - express' its views provisionally, in a non-committal ,sense;i regarding;-the' : prissibilitios.of .disarmament: The'journal's London correspondent, who-mado:inquiries in the matter,"'reports !that,;. >l whiio_"Qr«it .-Britain' does not intend issue; invitation's to-such ; 'a conference iini .mediatoly r ., endeavours oontinue to be-made towards: the. attainment of this.,' aim." Tlio steps; which are now being taken, aro not official, buCwell informed personages believe that, the difficulties, which lie in tho way will be;removed in a year's time.'.-.The.'corres-pondent''.is 'further informed that it is wrong to,, think that Gormany is- tho principal impediment in. tho.Tealisation of the idea. It would probably bo moro difficult to obtain the consent of the United States and Japan. A National Issua. .Tho; supremacy.; of the British Navy is. a national- necessity-:(says the London ."Express'-'), and -is-therefore' a question that ; should .be kept-oiitsid*; 1 the controversies of i pirty polities. ;,;Whon, however, tho dominant 'political party sacrifices the Navy's supremaoy/or paltry considerations of temporary expedience, . it . becomes a patriotic dirty to arraign- that party before tho poople -of i the .oountry.j The Radical-Socialist GovVnmont,lias,sho.wh, during its two years of nothing for tho safety of the Empire, so;.long as' it can eai'n tho "reputation ; for economy among its ipatriophob'e supporters." But immediately it'is at tacked for its. short-sighted parsimony it accuses its opjionouts of. making tho, I\ T avy a party question; : In Germany all parties exception of the. Socialists—are. agreed;,in', their desiro for a great navyV ; The--Germany Navy League has an onormous" momberslup, and thoro is no divergence -of navnF matters ■ among tlio' reputable.-.aflrt.-.responsible citizens'; of tho., Fatherlaifd.;jn' . England .wo aro less fortunate .Tho.fßadical. party is -blind,'-to the nation's'necessity/ and it is, therefore; the obvious '.:duty„;Of Unionists to', include the; jna-mtQiianc.q.: of a . paramount. : maritime _'fMeo. t 'mo]jg-..tt'6:joeds .for which they stand;

Lord Curzori. apd. Democracy.

■ Lord. Curzon,; opening a working men's .cilub.at Litton,-lrt'tho Peak District, said:— "Ho wa3 not yet fifty years of ago, but ho had .lived'long otio'ligh to soo a most astonishing chango-in-the" position of tho working •classes:.;.' Thoy : -'woro now infinitely bettor housed, :with':£oo'd; water supplies, and effi-. •cient whon ho was a boy. •Thoy-.woro also-'better educated. Ho could .remember -tho 'timo- when a scholar, or 'scholard,';, as ho'was called, was a raro exception .in 'itho-'riUages.v.yHo was looked'upon with some suspicion;, and perhaps some roSpcct,<by .the rest'of'tho people. But now every man was:; cdi}catod,'a«.d'it >yas the object of all of'them to-lift,' thoir children to a higher sctdodiofl education and matorial advantage /t-ol.thaOhey^had;enjoyed. .Tho. working classes 'also now had a voice, in' tho local government-of-the-area in which they lived.That trained them : for tho wider responsibilities of citizenship, which, with tho bettor education ;thoy enjoyed, thoy wero more abla •to vexoroisc.- -;.Thcy : ;COuld oven aspiro to -bo members of Parliament .'themselves'.''

A Socialist Republic,

If, as a , correspondent of. tho "Daily Chronicle", affirms, cortain folk in tho Grand Duchy of .Luxemburg dream of tho establishment. of;-a Socialist Republic-within their borders by arid"-, by, the.v afford ono moro illustration "(says , tho "Guardian") of the truth, that some pcoplo novor know when they aro 'Well off. " At present .tho littlo nook of independent'- territory wedged hotween Francv, Germany,. and Bolgium might well bo thn. envy,of ..its" mightier neighbours. By the Treaty of -London, concluded; in 1867, it.i-is;: neutral'grouud, and its quarter'of a million inhabitant,s, can onjoy absolute peaco and the.'undisturbed pursuit of commerce and industry, Vwhatevor storms may: break over the Wostorn horizon.; Moreover, whilo their youth aro freo. from tho attentions of German drill-sergeants, they have all the benefits of. tariff, union with Gonnany. "Unfortunately tho health of the resigning Grand Duke is' not good, andrunder tha Law of Succession cnacted'-last a year, a girl of fourteen is hcir-prcsumptivo ,to the Throne, a situation ,which-'invites to. idle scheming. That tho Kaiser' would 'lightly suffer Luxemburg to become a nest of revolutionaries is improbablo, nor do wo beliove that M. Clemenceait •or " his 'successors :would particularly relish i the prospcct.