Practical Politics; or, the Liberalism of To-day   By: Alfred Farthing Robbins (1856-1931)

or the

LIBERALISM OF TO DAY

BY

ALFRED F. ROBBINS

AUTHOR OF

"Five Years of Tory Rule;" "William Edward Forster, the Man and his Policy;" "The Marquis of Salisbury, a Personal and Political Sketch," &c.

REPRINTED FROM THE "HALFPENNY WEEKLY"

London T. FISHER UNWIN 26 PATERNOSTER SQUARE 1888

TO My Father, WHOSE DEVOTION TO LIBERAL PRINCIPLES HAS FOR SIXTY YEARS NEVER WAVERED, THIS WORK, THE OUTCOME OF HIS EXCELLENT TEACHING AND CONSISTENT EXAMPLE, IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.

PREFACE.

The Articles here republished are from the columns of the Halfpenny Weekly , to the Proprietors of which the Author is indebted for much courtesy and consideration. They were written originally in the form of letters to a friend, but, though they stand substantially as first printed, various alterations have been made consequent upon the necessities of a permanent rather than a serial form. The Author does not profess to have exhaustively discussed every political question which is of practical importance to day for that, within the limits assigned, would have been impossible; but he has attempted to furnish a body of information regarding the principles and aims of present day Liberalism, not easily accessible elsewhere, which may be useful to those whose ideas upon public affairs are yet unformed, and helpful to the political cause he holds dear.

May, 1888.

CONTENTS

PAGE I. WHAT IS THE USE OF A VOTE? 11

II. IS THERE ANYTHING PRACTICAL IN POLITICS? 16

III. WHY NOT LET THINGS ALONE? 21

IV. OUGHT ONE TO BE A PARTISAN? 25

V. WHY NOT HAVE A "NATIONAL" PARTY? 31

VI. IS ONE PARTY BETTER THAN THE OTHER? 35

VII. WHAT ARE LIBERAL PRINCIPLES? 41

VIII. ARE LIBERALS AND RADICALS AGREED? 47

IX. WHAT ARE THE LIBERALS DOING? 52

X. SHOULD HOME RULE BE GRANTED TO IRELAND? 58

XI. WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH THE LORDS? 66

XII. IS THE HOUSE OF COMMONS PERFECT? 71

XIII. IS OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM COMPLETE? 77

XIV. SHOULD THE CHURCH REMAIN ESTABLISHED? 83

XV. WOULD DISENDOWMENT BE JUST? 89

XVI. OUGHT EDUCATION TO BE FREE? 97

XVII. DO THE LAND LAWS NEED REFORM? 102

XVIII. SHOULD WASTE LANDS BE TILLED AND THE GAME LAWS ABOLISHED? 107

XIX. OUGHT LEASEHOLDS TO BE ENFRANCHISED? 112

XX. WHOSE SHOULD BE THE UNEARNED INCREMENT? 117

XXI. HOW SHOULD LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT BE EXTENDED? 122

XXII. HOW IS LOCAL OPTION TO BE EFFECTED? 127

XXIII. WHY AND HOW ARE WE TAXED? 132

XXIV. HOW OUGHT WE TO BE TAXED? 137

XXV. HOW IS TAXATION TO BE REDUCED? 144

XXVI. IS FREE TRADE TO BE PERMANENT? 149

XXVII. IS FOREIGN LABOUR TO BE EXCLUDED? 155

XXVIII. HOW SHOULD WE GUIDE OUR FOREIGN POLICY? 160

XXIX. IS A PEACE POLICY PRACTICABLE? 165

XXX. HOW SHOULD WE DEAL WITH THE COLONIES? 171

XXXI. SHOULD THE STATE SOLVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS? 177

XXXII. HOW FAR SHOULD THE STATE INTERFERE? 182

XXXIII. SHOULD THE STATE REGULATE LABOUR OR WAGES? 188