Evening star., 1922-11-22
LLOYD GEORGE SAYS
s LAW RULES BY
~. MINORITY VOTE
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Continued from First Pago.l
tional liberals, having promised CO.
operation, the votes recorded by them
ought not to be placed on the debit
side Of the confidence account. The
basis of appeal made by the national
liberal candidates for support is prac-
tically that stated by me in my Man
chester speech:
1.-The supreme task of statesman
ship at this hour is the pacification
of the nation SO that the people shall
have leisure to devote themselves to
the peaceful avocations of life to fill
up the epleted reservoirs from which
we all draw. My course Is clear
one: will support with all my might
any government that devotes itself,
and lends its energy. to that task
with gle-mindedness, feariessness
and with reSolution-provided 1t does
not embark upon measures which In
f1ict permanent injury upon the coun-
try, whether these measures be re-
dictionary or revolutionary. That does
not mean that l pledge myself to sup
port inefficiency. vacillation or inhrm-
ity in any government. or IN any
party-but any government that does
not pursue that course l will resist
policy"
have perused the addresses OF
many national liberal candidates and
/ have addressed many meetings IN
their constituencies. and l find that
their attitude toward the government
is defined in these terms. with purely
verbal variations. The adress OF
MIR. ]. d. Gilbert. who won in Cen
trail Southwork, is very fair sam
pie taken out of the bulk:
IF you honor me again with your
confidence / will support any pro-
gressive measures brought forward
BY the present or any other govern
ment. / shall not offer factious oppo-
sition or nagging criticism while our
country is in difficulties at home or
abroad"
Confidence Not Expressed.
There may be one or two who went
further but none expressed confidence.
have made some inquiries as to the
number Of conservative votes polled by
the national liberal candidates. I am
informed that on the average it repre-
sents about third Of the total. On
the other hand, the number of liberal
votes polled by the conservatives where
a compact existed at least balances this
account, TOT dEtnOuSH Tie tolsti III eaShi
constituency does not equal the ngures
of the conservative support in national
liberal constituencies. still that support
is spread over three times as many con-
stituencieS.
The prime minister and his chief cleo
tioneering manager both emphatically
repudiated the suggestion that there
was any pact between the conservatives
and national liberals, and urged that
there were only local arrangements
made between the candidates OF the two
parties for their mutual convenience
As head Of the national liberal group
expressed grave doubts as to the com
position of the ministry and much ap-
prehension as to the language in which
its policy was defined.
That represents the general atti-
tude Of the national liberals toward
the government. Their support. there
fore, cannot be claimed in totaling the
votes recorded for the government
The fact, therefore. remains that those
who voted confidence in the govern
ment represent only 40 per cent OF
those who went to the polls and rs
per cent of the total electorate.
l place this fact in the forefront
because it is bound to have a pro-
found effect upon the course of events
during-maybe beyond.,the lifetime
of this parliament. 1t Is the first time,
certainly, since the reform act when
q pronounced minority OF the elec-
torate has succeeded in securing con-
troll of the parliament and the govern
men of the country. 1t will be idle
to pretent that in democratic coun-
try like ours. thoroughly fmbued
with the spirit of representative gov
ernment, this does. not weaken the
moral authority of the government OF
the day.
Change In System Urged.
Therefore, if the government is wise,
it will bear that fact in mind and
wilfi not commit itself to policies
which challenge the nine millions who
hat maan than ranHesant a inrit1. of