"REVOLUTION IN THE AIR!"

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17066, 20 August 1917, Page 5

"REVOLUTION IN THE AIR!"

By HAMILTON FYFE.

'"Yes," said the little man on the couch next to me—and he said it darkly, with a pompoiis, prophetic utterance—"yes, there is revolution in th« air."

We were cooling down after a Turk* ish bath. He had begun by asking m* whether I did not think "it was time we made 'some' changes in England. Jj inquired what sort of changes. " What sort, eh ?" he repeated. "Well, look at Russia. And I happen to knowthere are people on the same tack in France. A clean sweep, that's whatj we ought to have. And I believe it'af coming. Yes, there's revolution in tile' air." \; :

This little man was clearly not only.' an ass but a silly ass, to employ the* distinction once made famous by > af' popular play. But there are others,. nob altogether asinine, who have beenJtalking in the same strain. The Revolution in Russia not only upset the?; mental balance of a. small but noisji section of the Russian people: it tiaaij the same effect upon a certain' number^ of people here. Since I came back tox England a few days ago I have heard "revolution" whispered-and even cried aloud in ji dozen different quarters. I, have seen it mentioned, as a possibility, in print. What on earth does it all mean? I did not argue with my Turkish bath; acquaintance. He was not worth it. But with a person of more substance I! have tried to thresh out this false grain. " What is there to 'revolute' against?* I asked. "Not the monarchy, I supw pose?" . "No," he admitted; "the King doe* no harm." "No harm?" I said. "The Sovereign is a most useful part of our Constitution. He. is lifted above politics. Wa, have far too much politics already; i don't you agree?" Yes,* he agreed to that. • < "What is it you want to abolish,/ then? Is it Parliament? What would./ you put in its place? A Committee of Soldiers and Workmen ? ■ Very gooa. But in a week.the soldiers and work"ien would be indistinguishable from the old M.P.s. Not many years aga tthe cry of the reformer was 'Let j& have working men in Parliament. Theii all will be well.' T. re have had them.) With what result? That they are d»clared by their fello~ working men tof\ be 'no good.' "

"That's so, and it's true," said th» revolutionary.

"But ail that you need to get rid of them is an election," I told him. "Th« obect of revolutions is to alter Constitutions. How could we alter ours with any advantage ? It is the freest in the world." . ) "Ah," said he, "but the country i»'f;( well governed."

" Whose fault is that? It is the fault of the People. The revolution we need is in the thinking habits of the man^, hood and the womanhood of the country. If electors want good government.' they must think, before they vote! ThejL' must watch their representatives. They' must study public policy as they studjf' their own private businesses. 'Haven & time,' you reply? Then the country must continue badly governed. | "I could understand a revolutionary I movement which aimed at. the trial an-i punishment of the Ministers whose lack/ jof foresight, energy, and decision l«i< |us into disasters. '■ That was one object' !of the Revolution. But in England w«r are so forgiving and so slack-hearted that we allow these men to be at large | and even to take part in public affairs. We shall never be well governed r.a long as that indulgence towards criminI als prevails. A naval officer who hazards a ship is instantly court-martialled. A Pjrime Minister who hazards the En* pire is called to no account whatever. It is asinine to expect that 'revolution' would improve matters while we refus< to make our servants responsible foi their acts. . »: "Now tell me," I said, "why you want a revolution." But the revolutionary had never < word to say.