"TORY FACTS."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 744, 17 February 1910, Page 4

"TORY FACTS."

CoNsaionsLY or , unconsciously Me. J. P. Luke,'when presiding yesterday, over the meeting of the Hospital Board, gave us an excellent mot, for which we could wish a long currency: He hAd been discussing the growth of the expenditure on nospitals, and he .reminded tho Board that the franchise had been widened, that more .and more of responsibility for social work had been thrown on/ the rates, and that people who would otherwise be charitably inclined refused to make donations or do anything for charitable work because they already paid for that in rates. "Therefore," he concluded, "we don't get from people the same goodwill as we used to get, and .would' get under a voluntary system." ~ '"Tory ("interjected Me.'Okawpoed.. "Tory! Now,:.if that statement had"come from me!" It was then that.Me. Luke made his mot: "I'm telling you the facts, and I don't know if .they're Tory facts or not." We need hardly say that Mb. Lote was , not' only stating, facts, but stating them in a thoroughly sound way.' He let out one of the many: wholesome truths which it is the constant care of, a certain class of "Progressives" to conceal or to; deny.. . In discussing the .extraordinary growth; of: the expenditure on charitable aid in. this country we have over and, over again .in-' sisted upon the very point which was; made by v Mr. ' Luke. ; The only., credit that we can claim for doing so is such credit as.may attach to those who, having no reason-to conceal'it,say . what everybody '.thinks who thinks at all.. -There are probably a. good many honest people who, be,lievihg .in; a vague way that .they are, Liberals,- have'sincerely believed that itis a inafk of. "Toryism" to say. that' the nationalisation of be-' nevolence, and , the coercion;of charity, are very unwise .things,; and., certain to cause; waste.; ; '. The fact ■ that Me. , Luke, whom:nobody, /•will accuse of "Toryism"; (which,; most oddly, *seems to be regarded as the ioppbsite of State paternalism), has said those very-'things may lead the ■honest, doubters to do.a.little original. thinking.- '■' ';■•:■;' ./•'■'.■': i . : . ,:■;:'.: '•. What: we. like/is. ! th6, light which |Me..Luke's observation turns. upon the. idea, that facts "are: not always facts. ■ He plainly dislikes joining the Tories even in affirming an absolutely unchallengeable; truth. ;:He may have .felt a little .shocked"when ITe. 'GEATrFOKD'aI happy interjection 'showed him that ho. wa.s ( meritipning one- , of the that it is the (business of. a "Liberal" never to-men-tion at alir; To ■ his.: credit; ,we say it with" all sincerity, , ;'he"preferred the, fact-..t0 the."Liberal" -.theory.-• The ."Liberal" politicians -are well enough aware .that in'-]this,.-': as in. most things, : what-we, :'like' Me. Luke, may call, "Tory facts", are the facts; of nature,' the actual facts. , - A , Liberal',:"fact" is,.'generally. , , a' fact treated ..'accprding, to. Maek Ttvain's famous;;'-recipe.:,',•'.■'"Get; \ your- , facts 'first, and then you ;can distort ;'em as much'as you-plea&s." tho bulk- of the votes .upon; vhich;; "Lib-, eralism", relies, are 'the:-votes of ,'people -who . sihcerely'. believe.; that; those javrs.of nature,! and,those facts of experience, .which te.ll]-. against the! teachings of i-Humanism' \6v "Liberalism'' or State;.-Socialism, ''or; whatever;, it ■. may v call' itself ..are 'merely;'' Tory proju dices."■-'The.'law: of gravitation itself ..has. incurred the' suspicion :of: being' "a - Tory : contriv-. ance, , for 'it-.tas been, challenged; in, thejHouse of■Eepresontatiyes by sogood 'a :"Liberal" ;as.;ME:; ; 'LAUEEN-, son. ;'.':The opinion- expressed '.by/Me. Luke has • been; the: rankest 'heresy , in the eyes of our present-day "Lib-.i erals,"- but. Me. Luke's confession will probably persuade a good many honest but, , ; careless'.- supporters ;of the: "Liberal" doctrine'...that .their creed is not quite sound. Therei are a good, many other.; "Tory > ;facte" j which will'in'due, coufse/be seen .to be really;facts: and :not-, mere -pre--. judiceS. i. And -in -the '■■■'■. long; run, , ' we' .believe; the public- will;admit , ;that facts , arc.; facts, - even if; they •do hot suit .the'. people whoso j idea - of; 'progress, ;Consißts 'of doing."something fresh/ - '■;'"'.■;-■:;•■: ;, : -'-,.-'.=i ■" , . : -. -v-i..'--: ;■-