When Parliament, elected on an ever-widening fran- chise, makes us
doubt on occasions whether the democracy of our ideals, at which we have steadily aimed, will not slay itself or be debauched by unscrupulous demagogues, there is always comfort to be found in the great Friendly Societies which have nobly survived State Insurance schemes and other legislation that has threatened volun- tary effort. The Chief Ranger of the Ancient Order of Foresters did not fail us when he said at the High Court held on Monday :- " I am not going to condemn social legislation which has for its aim and object the improvement of the conditions of the people ; but we have to be very careful that such legislation shall not remove from the individual his or her own responsibility. The consciousness of responsibility is one of the sheet-anchors of life, and it will be a serious day for the nation if ever we get into the position of trans- ferring that responsibility to the State."
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