LIBERALS AND SOCIALISTS.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13738, 2 June 1913, Page 2

LIBERALS AND SOCIALISTS.

A statement upon tho "general strike in Belgium" was made when tho strike commenced Ity Mr. Woeste, the famous clerical Premier. "The Liberals," ho said—and it is obvious that they are much like other so-called Liberals—"are burning to get hack to power. They are thirsting for tho fruits of office, and they :iro willing to commit all sorts of Tniscbii-f and foolishness to get there. To g;;iu their ends they have allied thr-ni.s'olvos with. tho Socialists, and as a eonsoquenceruany of the moderate- Liberals havecome over to the Conservatives, as was shown in the general elections last year."' Those moderate Liberals would dorii;tl<\ss have been r.dad if the Government had been progressive, but there is significance- in tho fact that moderate Liberals will not, any more in Bolgium than in any other country, follow their loss prudent and less conscientious friends into an alliance with. Socialism. It may be expected that in Belgium the trend will be towards that clear division between Liberals and. Socialists which exists in Australia and which is practically cpmpletod in New Zealand.