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CHAPTER V
THE CONDITION OF ENGLAND
Reader: Then from your statement I deduce that the
Government of England is not desirable, and not worth copying by
us.
Editor: Your deduction is justified. The condition of England at
present is pitiable. I pray to God that India may never be in that
plight. That which you consider to be the Mother of Parliaments is
like a sterile. woman and a prostitute. Both these are harsh terms.
but exactly fit the case. That Parliament has not yet, of its own
accord done a single good thing. Hence I have compared it to a
sterile woman. The natural condition of that Parliament is such that,
without outside pressure, it can do nothing. It is like a prostitute
because it as under the control of ministers who change from time to
time. Today it is under Mr. Asquith tomorrow it may be under Mr.
Balfour.
Reader: You have said this sarcastically. The term "sterile
woman" is not applicable. The Parliament being elected by the
people, must work under public pressure. This is its quality.
Editor: You are mistaken. Let us examine it a little more
closely. The best men are supposed to be elected by, the people. The
members serve without pay and therefore it must be assumed only
for the, public weal. The electors are considered to be educated and
therefore we should assume that they would not generally-make
mistakes in their choice. Such a Parliament should not need the spur
of petitions or any other pressure. Its work should be so smooth that
its effects would be more apparent day by day. But. as a matter of
fact. it is generally acknowledged that the members are hypocritical
and selfish. Each thinks of his own little interest. It is fear that is the
guiding motive. What is done today may be undone tomorrow. It is
not possible to recall a single instance in which finality can be
predicted for its work. When the greatest questions are debated. its
members have been seen to stretch themselves and to doze.
Sometimes the members talk away until the listeners are disgusted.
Carlyle has called it the "talking shop of the world".
Members vote for their party without a thought. Their so-called discipline binds
them to it. If any member. by way of exception. gives an
independent vote. he is considered a renegade. If the money and the
time wasted by Parliament were entrusted to a few good men. the
English nation would be occupying today a much higher platform.
Parliament is simply a costly toy of the nation. These views are by pendulum of a clock and are never steadfast. The people would
follow a powerful orator or a man who gives them parties.
receptions. etc. As are the people, so is their Parliament. They have
certainly, one quality very strongly developed. They will never
allow, their country, to be lost. If any person were to cast an evil eye
on it. they, would pluck out his eyes. But that does not 'mean that the
nation possesses every other virtue or that it should be imitated. If
India copies England, it is my
firm conviction that she will be
ruined.
Reader: To what do you ascribe this state of England?
Editor: It is not due to any peculiar fault of the English people,
but the condition is due to modern civilization. It is a civilization
only in name. Under it the nations of Europe are becoming degraded
and ruined day by day.
https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&r...y78OQ4iZh1Y_J1HwcKpgWMw&bvm=bv.53371865,d.bmk
THE CONDITION OF ENGLAND
Reader: Then from your statement I deduce that the
Government of England is not desirable, and not worth copying by
us.
Editor: Your deduction is justified. The condition of England at
present is pitiable. I pray to God that India may never be in that
plight. That which you consider to be the Mother of Parliaments is
like a sterile. woman and a prostitute. Both these are harsh terms.
but exactly fit the case. That Parliament has not yet, of its own
accord done a single good thing. Hence I have compared it to a
sterile woman. The natural condition of that Parliament is such that,
without outside pressure, it can do nothing. It is like a prostitute
because it as under the control of ministers who change from time to
time. Today it is under Mr. Asquith tomorrow it may be under Mr.
Balfour.
Reader: You have said this sarcastically. The term "sterile
woman" is not applicable. The Parliament being elected by the
people, must work under public pressure. This is its quality.
Editor: You are mistaken. Let us examine it a little more
closely. The best men are supposed to be elected by, the people. The
members serve without pay and therefore it must be assumed only
for the, public weal. The electors are considered to be educated and
therefore we should assume that they would not generally-make
mistakes in their choice. Such a Parliament should not need the spur
of petitions or any other pressure. Its work should be so smooth that
its effects would be more apparent day by day. But. as a matter of
fact. it is generally acknowledged that the members are hypocritical
and selfish. Each thinks of his own little interest. It is fear that is the
guiding motive. What is done today may be undone tomorrow. It is
not possible to recall a single instance in which finality can be
predicted for its work. When the greatest questions are debated. its
members have been seen to stretch themselves and to doze.
Sometimes the members talk away until the listeners are disgusted.
Carlyle has called it the "talking shop of the world".
Members vote for their party without a thought. Their so-called discipline binds
them to it. If any member. by way of exception. gives an
independent vote. he is considered a renegade. If the money and the
time wasted by Parliament were entrusted to a few good men. the
English nation would be occupying today a much higher platform.
Parliament is simply a costly toy of the nation. These views are by pendulum of a clock and are never steadfast. The people would
follow a powerful orator or a man who gives them parties.
receptions. etc. As are the people, so is their Parliament. They have
certainly, one quality very strongly developed. They will never
allow, their country, to be lost. If any person were to cast an evil eye
on it. they, would pluck out his eyes. But that does not 'mean that the
nation possesses every other virtue or that it should be imitated. If
India copies England, it is my
firm conviction that she will be
ruined.
Reader: To what do you ascribe this state of England?
Editor: It is not due to any peculiar fault of the English people,
but the condition is due to modern civilization. It is a civilization
only in name. Under it the nations of Europe are becoming degraded
and ruined day by day.
https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&r...y78OQ4iZh1Y_J1HwcKpgWMw&bvm=bv.53371865,d.bmk
