HOW DOES BRITAIN DO IT?

Northern Advocate, 11 August 1934, Page 8

HOW DOES BRITAIN DO IT?

The way in ' which Britain achieves, the seemingly impossible of achievement lias puzzled the world on many occasions. Without a written constitution,' and apparently without any well laid policy, she “muddles through,” and does it successfully. Lord Raglan, a celebrated anthropologist, has recently declared that, were be a dictator for five years, he wonlcl give Britain a constitution. It is well known, of course, that except for a brief time under Cromwell, Britain has never organised lidi* system of government in a manner capable of being reduced to specific terms of pen and paper. She has preferred, as the “Christian Science Monitor”, says, to act more or less in a series of improvisations, tempering respect for tradition with a readiness to embark on experiment that has, on the whole, proved remarkably successful, so successful, indeed, that the , question has often been asked: 'How does Britain manage to do it? In the opinion of our American contemporary, one reason for Britain’s successful application of the empirical method lies in her history. To go into battle without a plan requires great self-confidence. This confidence has been engendered in Britain by her historical experiences. Not for many hundreds of years has she been invaded by a foreign army, as has happened so frequently to continental nations, nor for a very long time lias her internal stability been seriously threatened by revolutionary tendencies such as have been common on the other side of the Channel. Furthermore, successfully to apply the empirical method of dealing with emergencies on the spur of the moment as they arise calls for mental qualities and tastes of a< peculiar kind. A nation that acts in this manner must unite a groat capacity for thought with a dislike for abstract reflection. Now, the very English, idiom, “I venture to think,” suggests that the English temperament regards thinking as an occupation not to be lightly entered upon, and this is confirmed by Dr. Johnson’s remarkably typical attempt to refute the idealistic theories of Berkeley by merely kicking* a stone instead of by logical,’ argument. On the other hand, the names of Newton and Bacon and a score of others indicate that when England determines to think she can think to some purpose. Any' nation which possesses these qualifications should bo able to make a success of the English method of living in a series of happy improvisations. Expressed by an American paper, this opinion of Britain and her methods of procedure, is indeed interesting.