The English Conservative Program
Blundell, F. N.
June 23, 1926 THE COMMONWEAL 183 THE ENGLISH CONSERVATIVE PROGRAM ...
...Foreign readers drawn from so many sources that it is difficult to must bear in mind that there is no organization into classify...
...They their influence decreasing...
...deposit he can obtain an advance of 9o percent of the With regard to welfare work a word must be said cost of a house, and pay back the cost by instalments of which applies to all parties...
...This is again a very varied of things would be a change for the worse...
...the matter of religious faith she remained true always to the Catholic Church...
...It is mainly property in some form or other...
...The President and Before your eyes, members of the cabinet are all Catholics...
...In consequence the orientation of the program sympathetic, and others merely regard them as "hands" has in the past varied considerably from time to time, represented by Trade Union leaders with whom they and it is only recently that its direction has tended to are in constant and intricate negotiation...
...Baldwin is in favor of the state controlling the conditions of in a stronger position than ever, and that his personal labor on the one hand, and making provision for those following in the party is even larger than before...
...The ideals voiced Have you heard silence singing in the twilight, by the late President Wilson, of independence for all small When all was hushed and grey, nations then under the domination of their larger and stronger When black and still across white pools unrippled neighbors, afforded encouragement to the Lithuanian people The shadows lay...
...They are usually tions and its ideals are somewhat dimmed by the glare personally benevolent,- honest, and consistent...
...Baldwin took a further step in the direc- racy" he will undoubtedly carry the bulk of his party tion of providing against the accidents of life and giv- with him...
...and others do not go beyond a desire for a purely They are honest and patriotic, and in spite of their material improvement in the conditions of the people...
...There is the remains of the old Liberal groups within an English party, and that there is much Unionist party with its roots in the Manchester overlapping of the different sections of opinion...
...They vary greatly in their attitude of which has a certain influence on its social pro- toward the working classes...
...and inspired them to greater effort...
...Where all lay parched and white It is true that 75 percent of Lithuania's population is CathoBeneath the terror of the all-revealing, lic, but this population is represented by some fifteen political Enshrouding light...
...Some are Conservatives by con- forward, and trying to get them generally adopted...
...This implies a very confused posing an extension of small-holdings on an ownership view of the position of the family, which is not conbasis, and this will receive warm support from the fined to any one party...
...It also intends to bring in leg- ency to consider the individual apart from the family, islation to provide credit for farmers who desire to combined with a complete ignorance of moral theology...
...country was called upon to wage in defense of her religious faith during this period, particularly against the propaganda Have you seen beauty blooming in the wasteland, of Bolshevik Russia...
...The Housing Act of 1923 is an example of the different parties under these heads...
...This word is worked very hard at times, and hind a smoke-screen of sentimentality...
...It may fairly be protectionist provided its own particular interests are argued against us that, in the past, we have not adeprotected, and it is opportunist in that it would easily quately given effect to these principles...
...Many of these advocates are in effect comThough Mr...
...At the end of the EuroWhen from the marshlands rose the mists upcurling, pean war they saw their dearest hope realized in the regained And not a wind-breath stirred, independence of the nation...
...Their numbers are small and men, most of whom fought in the world war...
...Baldwin, supported by a majority of plete materialists, but the Anglican Church as a body his party, is advancing on these lines, there is a con- and the Nonconformist Churches as a body, though siderable measure of opposition...
...This section of and military classes, and its members have in conse- the party has many differences of opinion internally, quence some experience of and sympathy for work- but is united in its support of the present Prime Mining men...
...The first Factories' Act was different parties which would result in the demoralizapassed by them and they were also responsible for tion of the electorate...
...They appreciate many of their difficulties, ister...
...They hope, how- for the less fortunate worker, is the distinguishing note ever, that the Act last referred to may, by giving a of Conservative social policy, there are many other real inducement to thrift, have more far-reaching re- forms of social activity which it promotes in common sults in the way of benefit to the people than the actual with other parties...
...The efforts...
...was under the jurisdiction of a German province, part under...
...The Lithuanians question was raised only by the Catholic Lord Fitz- were not afraid to accept Christianity, but they did fear the Alan...
...This type taking as its text, "The poor we dustrial element is far the least attractive in the party...
...sigh at frequent intervals for "the good old days" On the whole, this section is progressive according to when privilege set an even clearer dividing line be- its lights, but is out of touch with working-class aspiratween rich and poor than at present...
...They are quite Milner, others again drifted into politics without a honest in this belief and have some grounds for their very definite objective and found that objective in the opinion...
...The Christianity of the interest and sinking fund over a period of twenty years...
...The Lib- if the party were in unscrupulous hands, but it is not...
...Nevertheless, abandon one leader for another more favorable to its there have always been Conservatives putting them view at the moment...
...For over two centuries position solely on the ground that there were plenty the most strenuous efforts were made and every possible measure was employed, by the Knights of the Sword from the East of voluntary agencies for those who wanted them, and and the Knights of the Cross from the West, to spread Chrisobjected only to the use of public money...
...There is a regrettable tendprogressive elements...
...Further objecApart from this side of social progress, Conserva- tion was made that this bill would have the effect of tives in the past have always been solicitous for the starting a competition in social legislation between the welfare of the workers...
...By the Widows, Or- industrial and financial conditions enable him to conphans, and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act of tinue his progress toward a "property-owning democlast year, Mr...
...ing of contraceptive methods at maternity centres in Lithuania was, however, amongst the latest of the European a recent debate in the House of Lords, based his op- nations to receive the Christian faith...
...This section is drawn mainly from the landed practical idealism of Mr...
...From 1915 to 1919 Lithuania was under of view...
...The government is pro- Protestant mentality...
...Throughout those centuries Lithuania, from the national and the defender of religious education, and is in general economic standpoints, suffered much and lost much, but in a defender of the rights and prestige of the churches...
...This statement by the Archbishop has been influence of other nations upon their national and political hailed by those in favor of birth control as one which affairs, and thus it was that they remained true to their pagan "happily completely separates the Church of England beliefs...
...carrying out their election program...
...Their of money...
...and they body and represents many different shades of opinion...
...Baldwin to carry his bill without many a year, though they did not succeed in putting it delay in order to prove the sincerity of his party in on the statute book...
...Apart from this Protestant mentality and German occupation...
...This independence was not won And not a cricket quavered from the meadow, by Lithuania without many serious struggles with her neighbors, Nor note of bird- especially with Bolshevik Russia and with Poland...
...They hope, and of housing conditions, the clearance of slums, the inthis is the particular aspiration of the younger mem- crease of educational facilities, and the promotion of bers of the party, by other measures to conduce to general welfare schemes, such as maternity centres, what has been well called "a property-owning democ- etc...
...Catholic Polish queen, Jadwiga, becoming himself a Catholic The Labor party is equally unsound on this ques- and so giving encouragement and impetus to the general intion and a resolution on similar lines to the above troduction of Christianity to the country...
...This would be a real danger the original Workman's Compensation Act...
...Such are the general improvement provisions of the Act could give...
...Jesse Collin's Land Purchase a measure of social insurance, but it was probably bill, which he and others fought for pertinaciously for necessary for Mr...
...The desert-rose that blossoms from the anguish The Catholic Church in independent Lithuania had achieved Of burning skies...
...All this legislation tends to a better distribu- would certainly call themselves Christians, agitate at tion of property, affords help to those willing to help frequent intervals for easier divorce generally, greater themselves, and, perhaps most important, improves facilities for divorce for the poor in particular, and the status of those who avail themselves of the help the teaching of contraconceptive methods at maternity offered by giving them a position of independence...
...Baldwin...
...Progressive Conservatives have always delarge industrial representation is a danger to the party sired in the first place to help people to help themin that, like the Trade Union element opposite, it is selves, and in the second place to help people to own largely concerned with sectional interests...
...eral party extended the principle of making provision it might also be argued that if the electorate is ready for the unfortunate by adding the Health Insurance to be demoralized, instruments of demoralization will and Unemployment Insurance Acts on the contribu- spring up whatever the present leader may do...
...The moral issue seems to By JOSEPH KONCEVICIUS escape them altogether...
...Conservatives can, however, claim the In spite of opposition from within the party to this credit of being the first to give a lead to public opinion particular bill, there is no doubt that Mr...
...English people is unfortunately in the main a ProtThese instalments usually amount to less than he would estant Christianity and therefore carries with it a otherwise have paid in rent...
...Not less severe were the struggles which the And of fear...
...184 THE COMMONWEAL June 23, 1926 Cases in point are the Small Dwellings Acquisition depression is not the best time in which to introduce Act of 18g r, and Mr...
...Even the Archbishop of Can- T HE Lithuanians are one of the oldest nations in Europe terbury in opposing a resolution in favor of the teach- and were located in prehistoric times by the Baltic Sea...
...tory principle...
...it isgained her independence, three and a half centuries had passed...
...While this fostering of self-help by the individual, The Conservatives do not regard these provisions combined with the provision of a moderate security as anything more than palliatives...
...have always with us," would so apply it that the poor Still, in the Centre we find another large group repwould always be the same poor, and the rich the same resenting professional and commercial as opposed to rich...
...On the whole, the inEurope...
...from the Church of Rome on this important national Iagela, the Grand Duke of Lithuania, in 1386 married the issue...
...At the present time the Christian Democrats And tawny grass- (Catholic) are in power with an absolute majority of three Have you seen beauty, starry-petaled, blooming representatives in the national parliament...
...some lay more their method...
...Transmutation Lithuania always strove for independence...
...These men are usually on the extreme Right the type which would probably actual employers themselves, and not the representabe called Conservative in most of the countries of tives of employing interests...
...no real organization for the reason that part of its population ELEANOR DOWNING...
...They think that any change in the existing order manufacturing interests...
...In 1569 Lithuania and Poland were united and this union The Catholic Church is thus, as ever, the one bul- endured until the so-called Poland-Lithuania partition by Ruswark for the protection of family life and Christian sia, Austria, and Germany in 1795, following which the Church idealism...
...Some of them profess to hark back may become a competition for votes, in which the to Disraeli, others are followers of the late Lord parties may bid against one another...
...centres...
...June 23, 1926 THE COMMONWEAL 183 THE ENGLISH CONSERVATIVE PROGRAM By F. N. BLUNDELL THE Conservative party in England is built up viction, and some because "they have not got a better of a number of different schools of thought, each Vole to go to...
...is leavened by outstanding men whose knowledge and Of the elements which build up the party there is sympathy are beyond question...
...AlSchool...
...Lithuania Have you heard silence murmurously singing has now adjusted her difficulties with her neighbors, except Into your ear, those with Poland under whose occupation part of Lithuania A magic music wrung from depth of shadow still remains...
...There is the financial interest which, while in though, as has been said, there has been a good deal personal sympathy it may be found anywhere between of vagueness in direction in the past, there have been the extreme Right and the extreme Left, in politics certain principles underlying all Conservative social mainly follows the point of view of the banks...
...Baldwin...
...It is quite true that a period of trade of women in bad health, or of persons who might June 23, 1926 THE COMMONWEAL 185 transmit an hereditary disease, or even of persons LIFE IN LITHUANIA whose economic position would be lowered if they had a number-of children...
...ing a moderate security to the worker...
...They dread lest a program of "social reform" people at large...
...There is little to choose between the policies of racy...
...are representative of many professions and occupaNext to them we have a considerable section of tions, and, in so far as there is a definite link between men who consider social progress to be desirable but them, it is that while they repudiate the fallacies of are afraid of going too far...
...whole...
...purchase their holdings on the basis of reducible mort- The result is that many well-meaning people, who gages...
...Some are genuinely gram...
...By this Act if a man can make a small stress on one point and some on another...
...Some take a definitely Christian point of view, but do not wholly sympathize with their aspirations...
...Altogether, from the consummation of consequent confusion of thought, the Conservative the union with Poland at Lublin (1569) until Lithuania reparty is according to its lights a Christian party...
...contribution to any social program is to supply the The Left of the party is composed chiefly of young function of a brake...
...Happily, however, there are in all parties in Lithuania was placed under the administration of a Rusa number of men, not of our faith and sometimes not sian province and so remained until the outbreak of the Euroof any faith, who accept in the main the Catholic point pean war in 1914...
...They seldom consider Socialism, they are intensely anxious to improve the that the time is ripe for action at any particular mo- social conditions and in particular the status of the ment...
...The Widows' Pen- in each case there are many exceptions, are quite unsions Act was objected to by the industrialists as lay- sound on all these matters...
...If unable to labor on the other...
...elements inside the Conservative party which influence The Centre of the party is formed by members in varying degrees its social program...
...The moral tianity in Lithuania, but without success...
...The propagators of was carried by a large majority at the recent National the Faith in Lithuania were Poles and from this time for over four centuries the Catholic Church in Lithuania was subConference of the Independent Labor party, though ject to Polish influence and was, in fact, dependent upon a this does not, of course, commit the Labor party as a Polish province in matters of administration...
...parties ranging from extreme communistic to extreme conserWhen noon lay level on the tortured prairie vative...
...These parties, however, are reduced in the ultimate Where cloud-shapes never pass, to two outstanding parties, namely, the Christian and AntiAnd dew drips not upon the rough-thorned cactus Christian parties...
...timidity they would, under good leadership, support Such is a very rough and broad classification of the progressive movements...
...Many Anglicans are uning too heavy a burden on industry, and by other sec- doubtedly uncomfortable when arguing in favor of tions of opinion as being too nearly akin to "Social- these doctrines, and endeavor to shelter themselves beism...
...The mass become constant under the influence of Mr...
...They say, for is used as a label to mark all sorts of proposals which example, that while reprobating the practice of birth are disapproved of, without any regard to its appro- control in general, they think it justifiable in the case priateness...
Vol. 4 • June 1926 • No. 7
