THE REFERENDUM LEAGUE: PRELIMINARY MANIFESTO.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—The Referendum League has been formed to promote the following aims :—
(1) To obtain a means of ascertaining the real voice of the
'people as a whole ; (2) to prevent the passing of hasty, un- constitutional measures by a temporary, non-representative Irnajority; (3) to put an end to the illegal usurpation of despotic power by the Cabinet ; (4) to restore constitutional procedure that has been superseded by Parliamentary usage ; (5) to safeguard the rights, liberty, and property of the subject ;
G) to check existing abuses of party system.
The Referendum.—The Referendum is the only practicable method by which the above-mentioned abuses can be remedied: it is sound in principle and simple in application. It has been adopted in many countries with complete success, and is growing in favour, notably in Switzerland, where it has been in force for thirty-seven years, with such good results that it is now used in unimportant questions as well as in grave constitutional crises. The Referendum League is essentially a non-party organization, but it reserves to itself complete freedom of action.—I am, Sir, &c., GUILFORD L. MonEswonTri, Provisional Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Referendum League.
14 Howick Place, Westminster, S.W.
Previous page
