The North Cumberland Reformer. — 1890-09-18 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

SETTING THE SNARES.  THE highly interesting and exceedingly amusing series of Primrose plc-nice, sports, and free "afternoon teas," accompanied by the comic stump oratory that adds such piquancy to the proceedings, was continued, as many of our readers are aware, by a right jovial gathering recently held hard by cur fine Cumberland Brighton. All these shows and feeds and funny entertainments are like so many feathers in the air, that show the way of the wind of Tory and Unionist expectancy as regards an early general election. In an important sense our friends the enemy are proving themselves wise in their generation. They are trying to pre pare their party for the coming tussle, and to brace up the nerve and spirits of their followers for a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether. That they are not adopting the best means for so laudable an end is not our concern. Our concern lies in another direction. If they still retain the antiquated notion that the masses (" them asses," as the people are courteously called by many of "the classes" party, when no election is pending) are purchasable by the blandishments of Tory ladies, or the sporting pleasures of a Primrose pic-nic, we will not quarrel with their convictions. Indeed, it would be quite as reasonable to quarrel with any other consistent Tory notion. It may be true that a very small few of the great host of working men may be in the market, and open to the arguments of Primrose politics, but we are not in the least excited over that possibility, being too well assured that the working men of the three kingdoms are clearsighted enough to see through the hollow farce of the whole proceeding. The forlorn hope of the party that enabled them to overcome the temptation to political suicide when the Franchise was extended so largely to the people, no doubt lay in the direction that manifests itself in the "come all, come early "hospitality of Primrose pic-nicism. But, the night is passed for that kind of thing—excepting, perhaps, in some priest and squire ridden spots, where these autocratic masters of the religious and political consciences of the benighted ruralists have so far succeeded in keeping out the light of social progress. Even in such places there are indications of dawn, and perhaps the near general election will hasten the rising of the sun of progress and liberty in such dark places of the earth. Where men know the meaning and the responsibility of political rights and power, they either laugh at the folly, or indignantly protest against the insult of such attempts to bribe them to sell their birthright. And it is here where our concern comes in. Ours is to be watchful and active too—not a hair behind our busy opponents. But, ours is to enlighten, not to befoul the people. The forward party must carry the light of publicity and of truth into every poor man's home—must reach his will and direct his action through the enlightenment and education of his intelligence. Truth in politics as in science and in religion gains everything and loses nothing by examination, criticism, test, and publicity. The forward or radical party know, as a cardinal factor in their practical creed, that to trust the people, which necessarily includes the placing within their reach of all possible opportunities for inquiry and self-training, is the best, is in fact the only way to secure certain support. Regard it as our policy if you will ; take from it all suggestion of motive other than that involved in party tactics—it still bears the most searching test, and well holds its own against the most elaborate Primrose pic-nic entertainments that money, and art, and beauty can provide. Our policy is to remember that working men are something more than eating, drinking, and laughing animals—that they are intelligent and responsible beings, with rights, and claims, as well as duties and responsibilities. They are not children to be bribed into tractability by the stick of candy,or driven to obedience by the threat of punishment. They may be hard-handed; they may be rough and ready; they may sometimes be unreasonable and impatient; they may even on occasion be copyists of their" betters" (?) in the matter:of tyrannous interference with the rights of others. They have much to learn, as we all have; and it will not be amiss to remember that their opportunities have, until very recently, been none of the best. It is the duty of the party to educate and enlarge the knowledge, and stimulate the intelligent independence of the masses. How to do this most effectively is the problem before us, and with the strong and wisely enthusiastic Women's Liberal Union, spreading its network of branches over the whole country, there is provided at once an efficient and a perfectly honourable set-off against the snare-setting of the Primrose League.