Excerpt from Current Political Problems

The book I was asked to write was to be entitled Pros and Cons of Current Political Problems, with the intention that the attitude of both Radicals and Unionists towards those problems should be, as I think it is, stated. But it is almost impossible for any one taking an interest in politics, or indeed in his country, to be without a decided opinion upon one or the other side. If it happens that I incline in the Unionist direction, the arguments on either side are nevertheless given with the utmost impartiality at the end of each chapter. It would be possible to compose a book consisting only of such pros and cons, but surely it is of more interest, perhaps even of more use, for the author to give his own opinions in a plain straightforward manner, which in no way prevents the reader from studying the pros and cons, either before or after he has read, or without reading, the chapters.

In spite of the large composite majority which exists to-day in the House of Commons, the excess of votes for the Government over those cast for the Conservatives at the last General Election was only 6 percent. It is possible, therefore, that there is room for a book of this character at the present moment when far-reaching changes have been, and are being, effected in the Constitution, and in the character of British rule. In that hope my volume is offered to the public, in spite of all its imperfections.

Field-Marshal Lord Roberts, Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, Lord Cromer, Mr. Buckland, C.I.E., and Mr. Philip Cambray, have kindly looked at the proofs of the chapters on the Army, Navy, Foreign Affairs, India and Ireland respectively, but I alone am responsible for every opinion offered and every fact stated.

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