[bukwash] evolution AND DEGENERATION OF PARTY 9 



out the power of making that policy eïïective. They can present it and 

 record their votes and reasons in its favour, but with a view to future 

 rather than to present success. 



The issues on which the parties divide on the floor of the house are 

 no longer confined to principles or matters of commanding importance, 

 but are extended to minute and well defined legislative action. Many 

 subjects of legislation are thus excluded from the category of party ques- 

 tions and are left to the exercise of individual judgment. It is the pre- 

 rogative of the Government to choose their ground in bringing forward 

 their programme of legislation, leaving minor matters to individual 

 action. But even after this elimination the field of party issues is 

 greatly enlarged in parliament. The discussion of these issues in 

 parliament has a twofold purpose, justification and conviction. 

 Prohahly the latter purpose is subordinate. On all party questions, 

 the position of the party is carefully considered and practically 

 determined before the matter is discussed in the house. The speeches 

 are not so much to change votes as to justify the position taken before 

 the country. This is especially true of great issues which have already 

 been explained and considered in caucus. Those items of legislation 

 which are less essential to the party principles and policy may be left 

 for open discussiion. That a man should leave his party on a great issue 

 becomes thus a most important matter in parliamentary history and is 

 scarcely ever the result of a discussion or of parliamentary oratory. On 

 the floor of parliament the party thus assumes its distinct function and 

 develops its organization to meet the requirements of that function. 

 The principal elements in this organization are the parliamentary leaders, 

 the whips and the caucus. By means of the caucus the leaders consult 

 the whole body of theiiç followers on important matters of policy. The 

 whips are the agency by which the whole force of the party is made avail- 

 able for a division. Two leaders are recognized in the house, one of the 

 government and one of the opposition, but under these are lieutenants 

 who are intrusted with the defence of particular parts of the party policy 

 as well as called upon for general support of the leaders. The members 

 of the ministry holding seats in the house are, of course, identified with 

 such leadership on the side of the government. 



The party thus fully formed and organized has a definite period of 

 historic life often extending through several generations, and sometimes 

 perpetuating by means of its organization a degenerate existence after 

 its formative principles have ceased to have any living efficacy. 



Of the normal life of a party the living issue is the creative force, 

 and this normal life is or should be governed by certain ethical prin- 

 ciples. A man who takes upon himself the responsibility of being the 



