Law and Liberty

Abstract

If we were to remain on the level of ‘party politics’, we should begin by discussing the process whereby the Conservative Party has come to be regarded as a symbol of ‘law and order’, opposed to all those factions which defy them. But, whatever the present truth of the matter, ‘law and order’ is simply the business of government, and there can be no political party which spoke or acted as though it were not concerned to uphold them. The truth was given by Machiavelli, in one sharp sentence which everybody recognizes to be true the moment he feels the reluctance to believe it : ‘The Prince must use first law, which is natural to man, but must be prepared to use violence, which is bestial, in order that the rule of law be maintained.’ The issues that will concern us are those of the nature of law, its scope, and its ‘image’ in conservative thinking. The rest is a matter of tactics, and irrelevant to our purpose. Theoretically speaking ‘law and order’ can be left to look after itself.