Foundations of Democracy

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 202, 23 May 1936, Page 18

Foundations of Democracy

“I take the liberty of quoting from Hie right hon Member for West Bir miuglmm (Sir A. Chamberlain) when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer. Speaking in this House on December 1. Hilt), dealing with the question of a national lottery under the title of 'Na tional Premium Bonds.' the right lion, gentleman said: "'Above all. at a time when the one lesson you have to teach everybody is that there is no salvation except in work, you teach them to expect salva tion by luck! Instead of teaching them to rely upon their efforts you teach them to look to chance. If yon do that, no amount of money you may get. whether it be much more than 1 anticipate or not, will compensate the country for the damage which will be done.’ ‘‘Let us build up a democracy which will have a love of all pure sport and manly exercises : which will have a conscience void of offence; or as Rudyard Kipling has it:

“‘Teach as rlr'liflht In simple thiiips. Ami mirth that hath no bitter sprinr/s'

“I would add no bitter springs, and no bitter outgoings. Let us build up a democracy which will have moral standards not pitched too high, not too good for human nature's dailv food.' but still high, exalted, noble, anil ennobling.”— The Rev. James Barr. M.P.. in the House of Commons