outrages committed by a small gang of female anarchists. The
legalisation of terrorism by the trade-unions was too tragic a surrender
to be ludicrous, but it was even more disgraceful. None could be
surprised when, during the war, the Government shrank from dealing with
treasonable conspiracy in the same quarter.

The _Times_ for May 24, 1917, contained a noteworthy example
of justice influenced by pressure, and therefore applied
with flagrant inequality. In parallel columns appeared
reports of 'sugar-sellers fined' and 'strike leaders
released.' The former paid the full penalty of their
misdeeds because no body of outside opinion maintained them.
The latter, who were stated to have committed offences for
which the maximum penalty was penal servitude for life, got
off scot-free because they were members of a powerful
organisation which was able to bring immense weight to bear
on the Government.[2]

The 'immense weight' was, of course, the threat of virtually betraying
the country to the Germans. The country is at this moment at the mercy
of any lawless faction which may choose either to hold the community to
ransom by paralysing our trade and channels of supply, or by organised
violence against life and property. Democracy is powerless against
sectional anarchism; and when such movements break out there is no
remedy except by substituting for democracy a government of a very
different type.

Democracy is, in fact, a disintegrating force. It is strong in
destruction, and tends to fall to pieces when the work of demolition
(which may of course be a necessary task) is over. Democracy dissolves