Hyndman  and  H.  Quelch  in  the  Social  Democrat,  Robert  Blatch-
ford  and  A.  M.  Thomson  in  their  own  organ  have  all  contributed
something  to  this  discussion.  But  the  ominous  feature  of  it  all  is
that  no  two  articles  express  the  same  view  of  the  existing  political
situation.  Neither  common  programme  nor  common  policy  is  to  be
found  amongst  the  various  writers,  and  there  is  only  too  good  reason
o  fear  that  this  state  of  chaos  is  not  confined  to  the  leaders  of  the

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134  ^/^^  IVestminster  Review.  Aug.
labour  movement,  but  reflects  as  in  a  mirror  the  feeling  of  the  vast
bulk  of  Socialifits  and  Trade  Unionists  throughout  the  country.
First,  however,  let  us  examine  the  actual  political  situation  as  we
find  it  towards  the  close  of  the  present  administration.  During  the
months  of  June  and  July  1895,  the  candidates  of  the  different
political  parties  were  scattered  throughout  the  country,  bedaubing
the  haunts  of  the  electorate  with  what  is  commonly  called  ''  political
bird-lime."  Codlin  and  Short  vied  with  one  another  as  of  yore  in
their  efforts  to  woo  the  coy,  retiring  voters.  Eventually  the  Tories
were  wafted  into  power  on  a  programme  based  on  certain  social
changes  which  appealed  directly  to  almost  every  section  of  the
people.  Then  began  a  policy  of  wholesale  class-bribery  almost
unprecedented  in  the  annals  of  statesmanship.  They  bribed  the
landlords  by  practically  abolishing  the  democratic  Land  Tax  of  16S5.
