Practical Politics; or, the Liberalism of To-day
PRACTICAL POLITICS
OR
THE LIBERALISM OF TO-DAY
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.
Alfred Farthing Robbins
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PREFACE.
CONTENTS
I.—WHAT IS THE USE OF A VOTE?
II.—IS THERE ANYTHING PRACTICAL IN POLITICS?
III.—WHY NOT LET THINGS ALONE?
IV.—OUGHT ONE TO BE A PARTISAN?
V.—WHY NOT HAVE A “NATIONAL” PARTY?
VI.—IS ONE PARTY BETTER THAN THE OTHER?
VII.—WHAT ARE LIBERAL PRINCIPLES?
VIII.—ARE LIBERALS AND RADICALS AGREED?
IX.—WHAT ARE THE LIBERALS DOING?
X.—SHOULD HOME RULE BE GRANTED TO IRELAND?
XI.—WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH THE LORDS?
XII.—IS THE HOUSE OF COMMONS PERFECT?
XIII.—IS OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM COMPLETE?
XIV.—SHOULD THE CHURCH REMAIN ESTABLISHED?
XV.—WOULD DISENDOWMENT BE JUST?
XVI.—OUGHT EDUCATION TO BE FREE?
XVII.—DO THE LAND LAWS NEED REFORM?
XVIII.—SHOULD WASTE LANDS BE TILLED AND THE GAME LAWS ABOLISHED?
XIX.—OUGHT LEASEHOLDS TO BE ENFRANCHISED?
XX.—WHOSE SHOULD BE THE UNEARNED INCREMENT?
XXI.—HOW SHOULD LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT BE EXTENDED?
XXII.—HOW IS LOCAL OPTION TO BE EFFECTED?
XXIII.—WHY AND HOW ARE WE TAXED?
XXIV.—HOW OUGHT WE TO BE TAXED?
XXV.—HOW IS TAXATION TO BE REDUCED?
XXVI.—IS FREE TRADE TO BE PERMANENT?
XXVII.—IS FOREIGN LABOUR TO BE EXCLUDED?
XXVIII.—HOW SHOULD WE GUIDE OUR FOREIGN POLICY?
XXIX.—IS A PEACE POLICY PRACTICABLE?
XXX.—HOW SHOULD WE DEAL WITH THE COLONIES?
XXXI.—SHOULD THE STATE SOLVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS?
XXXII.—HOW FAR SHOULD THE STATE INTERFERE?
XXXIII.—SHOULD THE STATE REGULATE LABOUR OR WAGES?
XXXIV.—SHOULD THE STATE INTERFERE WITH PROPERTY?
XXXV.—OUGHT THE STATE TO FIND FOOD AND WORK FOR ALL?
XXXVI.—HOW OUGHT WE TO DEAL WITH SOCIALISM?
XXXVII.—WHAT SHOULD BE THE LIBERAL PROGRAMME?
XXXVIII.—HOW IS THE LIBERAL PROGRAMME TO BE ATTAINED?
XXXIX.—IS PERFECTION IN POLITICS POSSIBLE?
XL.—WHERE SHALL WE STOP?