§ 5

The great war provided proof that military discipline, which means obligation of the items of a system to work for the success of the whole, did not unfit men for peaceful labour, but rather the contrary; because a habit of self-control in combination strengthens the fibres of individual physical and mental activity. So far advanced is the system of units in combination under the flag, that at any moment mobilisation can be effected, and in a time of necessity practically the whole male portion of the nation can be under arms. Industrialism provides arms which in time of peace need not be overwhelmingly costly to taxpayers, because in a moment of emergency war material can be produced with almost miraculous rapidity. It is not the intention of those who are organising reconstruction to be caught napping again. The nation, as a whole, being more intelligently equipped than it was, sees ahead, and mistrusting politicians, it follows the lead of good sense and keener intellects than those who are under the spell of party politics possess.

But I am moving too quickly, a habit which the mind has when it is keen and full of ideas. Government is on the basis of Home Rule, with some of the restrictions as well as advantages of the old Saxon Heptarchy. Imperial Parliament holds no sway over the Communes, which are governed by a Mayor selected not on account of his wealth, but his wisdom. He is elected for three years, and by the voice of the Commune. His Council is representative of each necessary trade and profession, hence it is truly democratic. Men of the law are used as referees (but are not except as such) allowed to be active members, the legal mind being held to be limited, and narrow, by its training to delay, and dangerous by its sophistry.

Not more than one representative of each trade is permitted. This wise proviso has been accepted to prevent jobbery, for which the old Borough and Town Councils were renowned. Each representative, while his first duty is to look after the trade he represents, has a vote upon all subjects.

In order that the Council of the Commune shall be in a position to look after the interests of the entire community, what used to be called “country gentlemen” form a feature. All honest tradesmen are respected; dishonest ones and profiteers are held in no respect, but are considered aliens and unworthy of any responsible place in the State.

The House of Commons, as it was called, no longer exists. It was considered a clumsy assembly, and one out of touch with realities. It ceased to exist because the people became weary with too much talk, too many promises, and of muddle at every turn; so they ceased to vote for M.P.’s to sit at Westminster. It died quite a natural death, the country at large being scarcely aware of the moment of its demise which no one regrets. It has come to be borne into the minds of the honest democrat that too many laws framed by lawyers were every year passed, not one of which was sincerely intended to be applied, but were passed as sops to public opinion upon some more or less burning question of the moment. Imperial Parliament, which we have stated is under the presidency of the King, is composed of Privy Councillors selected from the County Communes as the wisest men of the moment, not necessarily rich, but trustworthy, and such as have proved to have no personal axes to grind. This implies that the King’s Councillors are men of learning and character, and are not likely to commit banalities in their dealing with foreign affairs, for which reason it is found desirable that they are travelled and not insular men, accustomed to meet foreigners and to speak their language, as well as to be conversant with their habits of thought and institutions.