December 10.
Tas United Kingdom has never experienced a graver political crisis than that which exists at the present day. Not only have the last two elections failed to provide the means to solve the Constitutional reforms which are now generally admitted to be necessary; but there is every probability that when the present General Election is completed the two great political parties of the realm will still remain upon almost level terms, and the balance of power, as in the last Parliament, will rest with the Labour and Na. tionalist parties—groups small in themselves, but large enough, when combined, to give a substantial majority to whichever party bids for their scppere: Tt may be doubted whether any conscientious politician in the Liberal or Unionist ranks would view with aught bat' dismay the prospect of giving the final voice in legislation to the Nationalist and Labour members. For neither of the great parties' can obtain a working majority in this manner without pledge ing itself to the introduction of legislation which has neither received the assent of the great body of electors, nor would be likely to receive it in a subsequent, appeal to the people. To attempt to deal with the grave Constitutional issues which must come before the new Parliament, with the support of either the Irish or the Labour party would amount to the coercion of a large body of electors, whose stake in the prosperity of the nation probably exceeds that of the Liberal, Labour and Nationalist electorate combined. Moreover it would be a striking example of the truth of Roussean's assertion that "sovereignty cannot be represented, even as it cannot be alienated; it consists essentially in the general will, and the will is not ascertainable by representation. The English people believes itself free, but it greatly deceives itself; it is not so except during the election of Members of Parliament. As soon as they are elected, it is enslaved, it is nothing."
It is scarcely conceivable that the Crown will give guarantees with the knowledge that by their uso Constitutional reforms of an almost revol Tutionary character are to be drag-eoned through the House of Commons with the assistance of the Trish and Labour groups. But if arantees are refused, and the Unionist and Liberal parties are unable to obtain a clear majority without extraneous assistance, it is dificult to see any remedy for the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.