Ever since I came to manhood I have taken an interest in politics； though at first it was the foreign branch of the subject that attracted me most。 Like most country squires my father was a Tory to the backbone； and； although one of them broke away； all his sons were brought up in the strictest sect of that somewhat fossilised creed。 People generally remain in the political fold wherein they chance to be born； much as they generally remain Protestants or Roman Catholics； or Wesleyans or Unitarians； according to the faith of their fathers。 Now I understand that I never was a real Tory — that； in short； as a party man I am the most miserable failure。 As a politician I should have been useless from any whip’s point of view。 He would — well； have struck me off his list as neither hot nor cold； as a dangerous and undesirable individual who； refusing to swallow the shibboleths of his tribe with shut eyes； actually dared to think for himself and to possess that hateful thing； “a cross…bench mind。”
I believe in conscription。 I think it would be the grandest gift that Heaven could give to Britain； that it would lighten the terrible burden of anxiety which haunts many of us26 by at least one…half； that it would make men of tens of thousands among us who are now but loafers without ambition； without prospects； save such as the relief that State or private charity may afford； that it would inculcate patriotism and the sense of discipline； lacking which every country must in time e to an inglorious end。 Indeed my greatest grudge against Mr。 Balfour and his colleagues is that they did not take the opportunity given to them during the dark days of the South African War to introduce this reform； which would then； I believe； have been passed without a murmur。 Of course I understand that they feared lest a bold step of the sort should tell against them at the polls。 How superfluous were their fears was shown by the ultimate disaster to which their do…nothing policy led the party at last。 At the best； failure was in front of them； and it would have been better to fail with something done； if such should prove their fate； leaving a great name behind them which ere long their country would have crowned with the honour it deserved。
25 Written in 1912。
These are sentiments which； however much they were disapproved of by the party manager on the hunt for votes； would； if adequately presented； probably provoke a cheer from a Conservative audience。 But suppose that I were the speaker on such an occasion； and followed that up by stating that I had grave misgivings as to the authorised programme of Protection； alias Tariff Reform？ Suppose I pointed out that in my view； which is possibly quite erroneous； duties on food…stuffs are scarcely practicable in this land of city…dwellers； who not unnaturally object to paying more for the necessaries of life； as； however moderate those duties might be； the British middle…man would be careful to see they did？ Suppose； further； that I showed what I take to be an unanswerable fact； that any scheme of Tariff Reform which omitted duties on food…stuffs would result in the final ruin of British agriculture； and in the consequent progressive deterioration of the race； what would the Conservative Party say then？ That they had no use for me； I imagine！
In the same way； what place is there in politics for a man like myself who has the most earnest sympathies with the poor and who desires to advance their lot in every reasonable way； but who loathes and detests the Radical method of attempting to set class against class； and of aiming all their artillery at the middle section of society — the real prop of the race — for the reason that it is Conservative in its instincts and votes against them at the polls？ Again； what would be thought of one who； posing as a member of the Tory party； yet earnestly advocated the division of the land amongst about ten times as many as hold it at present； thereby spoiling a great many great estates； and often enough interfering with the interests and pleasures of those who shoot and hunt； or who seek this road to social success？ Assuredly for such a one there is no standing…room upon any of our political platforms。 “Away with him！” would be the cry。 Therefore he must be content to remain outside； doing whatever work may e to his hand which he conceives to be clean and； in however humble a measure； useful。 It is hard to be an out…and…out party politician and yet remain honest — or at least some of us find it so； though the consciences of others are more acmodating。 Perhaps； however； this saying is not true in every sense； since some minds cannot consider a subject in all its aspects； to them light has but a single colour。 What they want to believe； that they believe。
Such are the views to which I have attained at my present age。 Five…and…twenty years ago； even fifteen years ago； they were different。 For then I still smarted from the whip of Mr。 Gladstone’s Colonial policy； and had less practical experience of social questions than I have today。 The great wrongs which Radicals were capable of working upon loyal Englishmen to serve their party interests dominated my mind。 In short； Mr。 Gladstone turned one who in all essentials would have been a moderate Liberal into an Imperialist who made the mistake； that is mon to those who “think in continents；” of underrating the needs and circumstances of the Home Country。 The Empire is very large and England is very small。 So is the heart small in proportion to a great body； but after all it is an important organ； and if it bees diseased or stops — what happens to the body？ Even today； when the Colonies are more powerful than they were a score of years ago； they would find this question awkward to answer； since there are peoples who； in such an event as the stoppage of our national heart； might be anxious to possess themselves of a limb or two of that weakened or paralysed body。 Indeed； as we see by many signs； this is a fact whereof the Dominions have bee painfully aware in these latter days。 Realising that an empire cannot be kept together merely by taxing the Mother Country’s goods and affording homes for such of her surplus population as it suits them to receive； they now show themselves eager to adopt a scheme of Imperial Preference and to bear some share of the cost of her armaments。 There they are surely wise； since if England falls； say within the next fifty years； then — God help these half…empty lands； one of which at least has been reduced to the strange expedient of offering a money bonus for every child born within its coasts！
In the future； however； all this may change； it is even possible that they may bee the protectors of the worn…out and decrepit parent from which they sprang。 Absit omen！
My first chance of entering Parliament occurred in 1893； e speeches that I had made and certain letters I had written in the papers； I was asked if I would contest King’s Lynn。 I declined because of the expense and the difficulty of getting backwards and forwards between my home and the borough； since this was before the day of motors。 Herein I was foolish； that is if I wished to enter politics； since I think I could have won that seat easily enough； and it would have been much less costly to fight and hold than a county constituency。
A couple of years later the question arose again。 By this time； as I have explained； I was utterly weary of a retired life and of the writing of books； from which I sought eagerly for some avenue of escape。
My letters in The Times on matters connected with South Africa had attracted some notice； and as a result I was again brought into contact with those interested in the affairs of that country。 Ultimately I was elected Chairman of the Anglo…African Writer’s Club； a pleasant and useful dining society that is now defunct。 Also I became co…director of a weekly paper called the African Review； which some years ago was absorbed by another journal。 It was a very good paper of its sort — too good for the market to which it appealed — and run on the most straightforward lines。 The end of these activities was that； greatly daring； I entered into a partnership with my fellow…director； who was a financier in the African market； with whom it was understood that I should stand for Parliament； with the general idea of giving my attention to African affairs in the House of mons。
Mercifully the thing miscarried； for had it been otherwise I might have had to bear upon my shoulders much of the burden of the Parliamentary defence of the inspirers and perpetrators of the Jameson Raid； which would have been neither a pleasant nor an easy task。
The constituency which I was weak enough to undertake to contest was； and still remains； one of the most difficult in the kingdom from the Conservative point of view — namely； East Norfolk。 In the old days before the lowering of the franchise it was represented by the late Sir Edward Birkbeck； who； however； after that event was defeated by a majority of 440 by Mr。 （now Sir R。 J。） Price； a gentleman unconnected with the county。 Seeing the hopelessness of winning the seat； Sir Edward Birkbeck made no further attempt in that direction； and the late Colonel MacCalmont was invited to take his place。 He came； he saw； and he retired； like a wise man； leaving me to fill his shoes。
I may as well state the result at once。 I reduced the adverse majority to 198。 Since that time sundry other Unionists have fought the place； with the result that on each occasion it has risen。 I believe that at the last election it reached the grand total of somewhere about 1200。
My programme was Unionist and Agricultural。 I quote a few lines from the speech which I made when I was selected as a Conservative candidate； as it puts my position in a nutshell。
These are the measures that I would suggest as a means towards that remedial legislation to which you are entitled。 First I am of opinion that the 60；000 pounds per annum at present raised by Land…tax in this country should be kept at home and should go to the relief of the Poor…rate in the districts in which it is collected。 Secondly I would advocate that foreign barley ing into this country； unless it be crushed barley to be used as food for cattle； should be su