ENGLISH POLITICS

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 149, 21 December 1945, Page 8

ENGLISH POLITICS

AN INDIAN'S IMPRESSIONS

English politics is a study in itself. Here I can only* suggest that it is first and last an art. To understand it even superficially we must note that the English are like-minded in most matters of concern, writes Ranjee G. Shahani in "Britain Today." There are, of course, the three parties, but how does a.bigoted Conservative differ from a bigoted Labour man? Very little in fundamentals, if at all. It is all a question of tempo and methods. The ends to.be achieved are the same for, everyone. This national unanimity makes democracy workable in England. Votes and slogans have nothing to do with anything. The English feel that they have a right to be free, a right to be great, a right to spread their ideas and ideals throughout the world.

They also think that they understand the technique of government better than anyone else. This gives their Imperialism a moral sanction. And it must be admitted that, all said and done, the English govern jolly well, both themselves and those who are under them. "Live and let live" is their great quality. And they are human and humane. I have never seen animals so well treated as. in England. Cruelty is a thing that the English detest.

Their faults are obvious. They do not comprehend the psychology of other nations and races. They take everybody to be an Englishman. And they do tend to reduce religion to morality, and morality to moralism. A reasonable man, according to them, is one who agrees with them.