Omaha daily bee., 1910-07-25
The British Crisis
Democrat or
DenaRogue?


In point Of fact, II is what Lloyd George
says that is Objectionable, not the manner
OF his saying II. Much Of his political
preaching would be regarded in America as
SOCIALISM" but that Is largely because the
word socialism, never means the same
thing in any two places, or at any two
times. The British people accept as a mat
ter of course what Americans would re-
gard as the most dangerous OF socialistio
doctrines, and then reject as sooialistio
things which In America are looked upon
as simple common sense.
Lloyd George is more radical than Bryan
or LaFollette, for the simple reason that
Great Britain already has enacted into en-
| forcible law everything, and more. of So
cial legislation advocated by Bryan or La
Toilette in their most radical moments.
Bryan advocated regulation of railway
rates, and LaFollette il fighting for ply
steal valuation of railway property, Before
either OF them mad made any Roadway with
these doctrines Great Britain already had
taken action, except that IN Great Britain
the government not only regulates railway
rates. but 1t makes the rates and the rail-
roads have nothing to do with Transports
ton tariffs except to charge what the gov
eminent says to charge, no more and no
| less. Municipal ownership, cooperative
societies. and many such things are COM
mon in Britain. ....
II Lloyd-George limited his radicalism TO
that OF Bryan and LaFonette, he would be
more reactonary than the opposition lead
ers, Balfour and Chamberlain. II Mr. Bal
four, as a senator from Rhode Island ana
Mr. Chamberlain as a representative from
| Illinois, were to make the same speeches in
the capitol at Washington that they have
made at Westminster, they would be re-
sarded as devout followers OF Eugene v.
Debs. But that is all because Great Britain
as not tne LnIteu states and British prob
lens are not ..mericau problems. There
are political questions in Great Britain
upon which Senator Aldrich and Speaker
cannon would take an attitude which the
British conservatives would consider dan
gerously socialitsic.
l One great source of confusion is that the
United States and Great Britain employ
the same outfit of political phrases, but
none of them means the same thing in
the other country. 1t Is radlcal-sooiallsm
In England to advocate the imposition of
land taxes yet even the staunchest tory
when informed that in the United States
the telegraphs and express business is car
! ried on by private corporations, will declare
that America Is uncivIliSed. In the United
10
but government ownership Of telegraphs Is
unthinkable socialism. ... ..s.
How RADICAL Mr.. Lloyd-George is, whether
he be democrat or demagogue, may be de-
termined by reading his own words. Dis
. cussing the land laws and the House OF
J Lords, the crucial questions in the British
2 crisis. he said: The question is whether
five hundred men-ordinary men-chosen
accidentally from among the unemployed
I should override the deliberate judgment
OF millions of people who are engaged in
the industry which makes the wealth OF
the country
who ordained that a few should have
, the land of Britain az a psrqusite? Who
! made 10000 people owners Of the soil, and
the rest of US ftrespassers in the land of
our birth? Who Is it--who il responsible for
the scheme of things whereby one man IL
engaged through life In grinding labor to
win a bare and preeRrious subsistence for
himself, and when at the end of his days,
he claims at the hands of the community
he served a poor pension of eight pence a
day he can only set II through reyolu-
ton, and another man who does not toll.
= receives every hour of the day, every hour
: Of the night, whilst he slumbeTs, more
! than his poor neigbbor receives in a whole
year of toll? Where did the table Of the
law come fromg WHOSE ringer inscribed III
These are the questions, The answers are
e charged with peril for the order of things
= the Peers represent but they are fraughi
l. with rare and refreshing fruit for the
J. parched lips OF the multitude who have
$ been treadng the dusty road along. which
!. the people have marched through the dark
e ages which are now emerging into the
Q light"
Q That is Bloyd-Georges estimation OF the
9 situation. His slogan is the abolition OF
u hunger. He demands the emancipation oi
i the people from bondage to the privileged
Z Glasses, If he is a demagogue he is utterly
d without shame. II he is a democrat he IL
e the most thorough-golng democrat who
d ever has occupied a political position OF
Is such great power
o Bx FRHDBR10 J. EAHKIM
i Tomorrow-The British Crisis. XXI
The Church and the state.