Evening star., 1924-03-01
BY RIGHT HON. j. II. THOMAS,
Colonial Secretary in the British
Labor Government.

AS a result of the unexpected defeat
of the conservative party and the re-
turn Of the labor party to parliament as
the alternative government Great Brit
ain is confronted with a momentous
constitutional situation unprecedented
in English political history. The cir
cumstances are such as will demand
from party leaders the exercise of some
of the highest qualities of statesman
ship. and in fact from all ranks Of So
ciety and from the public press a rea-
sonable measure of ,oierance and fair
play.
1t may be true that labor govern
ment in this country would be an inno-
walton, and that consequently there is
some apprehension on the matter. But
feel compelled to Issue the warning
that any conspiracy on the part of other
sections OF society, whether prompted
by fear or prejudice, to deprive labor
Of it's rightful place in parliament, as
warranted by past constitutional prac-
tice and tradition, would be bound to
lead to widespread distrust in the
efficacy of the ballot box and would
drive our men and women, who have
been taught so laboriously 10 believe
In constitutional methods, to resort to
other means, and, indeed. they would
be driven into the camp of that other
wise small group of people who never
hesitate to preach revolution as the
shortest cut to the millennium.
Made Plea for Fair Play.
Readers will appreciate how sincerely
those of US who have seen this danger
have pleaded for fair play. 1t was most
decidedly not because of the glamour
Of office, or because of the emoluments
that may be attached to II. 1t was
simply because we could See that the
present position arose out of the
natural and inevitable process of evolu-
tion under democratic constitution
like the one In force in this country.
BY the time these notes appear Mr..
miership and Mr.. Ramsay Macdonald
may have taken his place, but the par
liamentary oppositions. superior IN
numbers TO the government, would stu
have to act absolutely fair and straight.
We shall then have reached stage in
political evolution when the future OF
our country will depend upon the happy
working of a delicate experiment. In
order not to vitiate that experiment
labors opponents must be honest IN
their actions. and must avoid. as FAR
as possible, the raising Of questions. the
interest in which would not be Identical
with the whole interest OF the state.
Called at Most DimcuIt Period.
To those who are inclined TO be panic
stricken, as some OF the newspaper pro-
prietors appear to be. II cannot b" too
strongly emphas sized that if, as / antici-
pate, labor is called upon to govern, the
party would be taking Office, not only
in one of the most difficult periods of
our history, but also when 1t Is IN an
absolute minority of the house. Never
theless. even though its political future
be at stake. the labor party. as his
majesty's opposition, is determined to
show that il is prepared. when called
upon, TO carry on the kings govern
ment, and that under no circumstances
would it shirk that responsibility. And.
incidentally, it ought not to be forgotten
that the acceptance of office would i'm
pose upon the party duties and re-
sponsibilities of the highest Importance,
and that nothing tends more than this
Labor Under No Illusion.
Labor is under 10 illusion as to the
present limits Of possible social REFORMS
and as to the pace at which they can
be introduced. Therefore IL VIII De en-
tirely the fault of labor's opponents il
questions are raised which will bind the
poor together and excite them against
the rich. We know quite well that the
government has not an inexhaustible
fund out of which every want can be
satisfied But still the higher classes
must display wisdom and foresight, and
must acquiesce in every just claim, If
they wish to escape having TO concede
unwillingly some claim which might
easily involve drastic change in the
constitution. 1t will be better for all
If evolution be permitted to pursue its
natural course.
So-called courage, which strengthens
opponents and loses not only the pres
ent battle but many subsequent bat
ties, is a great curse to men and ma
tions. After the Franco German war.
France, under the Theirs administra-
ton, was singularly tranquil and pros
porous and was fast attaining her for
mer place among the great powers.
But the conservative faction in the as
sembly, processing to be alarmed at the
spread of socialism, offered violent OPP
position to the government 1,Il and & at last
that, after several years without any
settled form of government, in 1875
France had a republican constitution
drawn up for it by the national assem-
bly, which was elected in 1871. / believe
that we in Britain will have the sound
common sense to avoid unconstitutional
and violent change.
Threat Of Force Answered.
The indomitable Sir Frederick Ban
bury, after making reference TO the
dissolution of the long parliament by
Cromwell. said at recent meeting In
ed to carry on after his government had
been defeated on a major issue he
would be prepared to lead the Cold
stream Guards into the house OF COM
mons. Unfortunately he appears to
have overlooked that Cromwell's action
was that of a military revolutionist,
not of a constitutionalst. In any case,
we in this country will not tolerate the
selection or rejection of parliament by
the army. 1t is such foolish speeches
by men Of rank and education which
provoke action by extremists.
Another important reason why labor
should be given its chance to govern is
that, by a process of education and
practical experience, the workers nave
reached a stage when one will find
widely distributed in their ranks not
only a spirit of true patriotism, but a
highly intelligent public spirit as well,
and certainly in as large a measure as
1t exists in the ranks of the other
classes and parties.
Democracy in Trade Unions.
It must be remembered that. for q
period of over fifty years. our work.
ers have been exercising democratic
government in their trade unions and
cooperative and friendly. societies
Also. during the past twenty five
creasing part in local government
and other public work, until today
there are thousands of working men
and women serving as magistrates
and guardians of the poor. and thou
sands more serving as parish, rural
urban, borough and county council
ors. In fact, we have today numer-
Gus instances where labor is in full
mower on local bodies and where the
office Of lord mayor or mayor Is occu-
MED by a member of the labor party.
Does not all this prove that the time
sponsibility for national government
vvoll?