Flexible Democracy.

While many people are forecasting “a new epoch” in government and in world affairs generally, it yet seems that the page 11 new epoch is marvellously clever at readapting the old materials. The old Liberalism was staunch against tariffs, and Government interference in business, yet here are these two old Liberals well in the swim in a new tariff and State-action tide. Some critics say that Democracy is doomed, yet British democracy is green enough to attempt the revolution of decreeing that Cabinet's collective voice can be switched off in emergency, and that Ministers can oppose the Cabinet's 10 per cent, tariff if they please. And while the Samuels and the Snowdens, as Commoner or as Lord, make peaceful protest, the chariot of Empire advances on its fiscal wheels to the great Imperial Olympiad at Ottawa.