Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-24
England Has Undergone Revolution,
But Common Sense Holds the Scales

permit exact definition, accurate appraisal
Yet one thing 1t does mean Enthusiastically; 1t
Is as truly the outgrowth OF war and after
war as bolshevism or fascism. II 1t has many
roots If there innumerable causes,
patent unmistakabIe cause lies In the utter
intense nationwide WEAKNESS Of those lead
ers who in war and In peace. to the minds Of
the masses. have not led.
1t may be economic. it may be political. II
may be social but not economic. political or
social would have sent Ramsay Macdonald to
Downing street. II the cables have carried
Stanley Baldwin's speech to his party on the
eve OF the opening of parliament, you will
have noted the aIl-signifcant statement that
youth. much of 1t, had escaped, that 1t must
be recovered il the tory party is to come back
70 power. And the deserton or partial de-
sertion OF youth at this time means that thou
sands and thousands who fought In the war
have quit old party moorings renowned for
mer party leaders. not out of enthusiasm for
new gospel. but out of WEAKNESS. anger.
much Of both. for the things that happened be-
tween 1914 and 1918. for the things that did
not happen between 1918 and 1923.
Labor would not be in power today on Ia
Dor principles. policies and leaders. even
though 1t is the best organized political unit
in the country. 1t Is in power because 1t offered
the country alternative to what had been.
Its power Is rigidly limited until 1t demon
strates that afirmatively II do much
anything.
The alternative is now presented. either
labor can do more than others and will show
capacity and courage; putting water in its
wine 1t will still keep enough wine, In which
case 1t may tomorrow have more votes, or
the old parties perceiving the meaning of the
lesson Will learn; then labor. having failed,
Will have to step down and go away. But
first. since the sporting spirit is always upper
most. labor must have its chance, it's fair and
full chance.
England Consents to Experiment.
There is think deep and important dis
tinctton between labor itself-the men and
the movement. interesting as both are and i'm
portant in Britain. in Europe and America
and the state Of mind which has made a labor
government possible. Britain has not gone
labor; Scotland. perhaps. Wales possibly, much
OF industrial North England. yes. But Britain
as whole no. emphatlcaly no. It has merely
consented that the labor experiment be tried
wye are an appalling here" most
Englishmen OF all parties would say I'VE
tried the liberals, We got In war; we tried
coalition and IL 1t finally ended war we have
not got peace. We tried the tories, promising
tranquility and we got a new election to i'm.
pose protection Let US try labor. now So far
1t has not let us down." In America I think
there Is too great readiness to associate a Ia
Dor oVerturn with the doctrines not only of
the labor party itself. but Of socialism on the
continent. We see bolshevism In every radical
hIanifestatton. partly, perhxps because n.ost
OF our radicals are Europeans. The striking
thing one notes on the spot Is the amazing de-
gree to which this British revolution IL British
Ramsay Macdonaid teAav tie ri sf :
amazing political army that perhaps any leader
ever marshaled. In Its range IL extends from
lead center to left. Its radical fringe. believing
in violent direct action. only Is momcntari,y
restrained by any semblance of discipline
This fringe coming from Clydesde, from the