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THE WELSH OUTLOOK II Where there is no vision the people perish." CONTENTS: PAGE NOTES OF THE MONTH 151 OLD (MEMORIES 156 BORROWS "WILD WALES" 161 SALUTE TO ADVENTURERS 164 PAGE THE HARLECH FESTIVAL 166 A PLEA FOR SANE lORITIOISM 169 CORRESPONDENCE 172 PAGE POETRY— Harlech IDYLLS 160 (Alfred Perceval Graves) JULY, 1922. Annual Subscription. 7/6. Half Year, 3/9 (post free). NOTES OF THE MONTH THE Irish Free State constitution is, indeed, an impressive document, chiefly because it is the work of men who are interested in high politics, as distinguished from the sordid game that passes under the name in this and most European countries, and also possess a real and intimate acquaintance with the political ideas and ideals of their age. Most of the recent schemes of Welsh Home Rule, especially the ridiculous creation that Issued from the Speaker's Conference, and the hardly less unsatis- factory proposals laid before the humorous Shrewsbury Conference some weeks ago, were the work of men wfnse knowledge of political science was none too wide, and who were also either too vain or too timid to ask for the assistance of those who had studied it more deeply. While it is clear that the framers of the Irish constitution brought everything to the test of the fundamental principle that Ireland is a nation, the Welsh constitution-mongers seem throughout to be obsessed with party politics and imperialist ideas. The first question which the Irish constitution makers ask themselves is, what is the basis of Irish Government, and they find their answer in their declaration *that all authority, poli- tical pr judicial, is derived from the people. This is in the true tradition of great and lasting constitution-making, and the article makes it clear to friends and enemies alike that Ireland starts on its new journey as a sovereign state. It is the absence of any such definite reference to first principles that has made all Welsh Home Rule schemes fall go flat. In Wales our consti- tution makers, in preparing their schemes, never ask the bold question what are the rights of Wales, but satisfy themselves with the hesitating inquiry as to what powers the Government of the day, or the Westmin- ster Parliament, or the Labour Party will permit a Welsh legislature to exercise. The Irish, on the other hand, having realised that English Parliamentary government is corrupt and often misrepresents the real aspirations of the democracy, endeavour to secure by their constitution a real Parlia- mentary representation of the Irish people by a proportional system oi voting which gives a fair representation to the minority, and at the same time by the inclusion in the constitution of the two-fold systems of Referendum and Initiative, they prevent Parliament from forcing legislation disliked by the people, and refusing to undertake legislation which they desire. If the Irish constitution in this respect was in force in Wales, a hundred thousand voters could force a referendum on Local Option, for instance. With this ample provision for the pro- tection, of the rights of both majorities and minorities, the Irish constitution further establishes adult suffrage-every Irish citi- The Editor Joes not necessarily identify himself with the opinions of contributors to The Welsh Outlook." Editorial responsibility is limited to the views expressed in the "Notes of the Month," and in the unsigned article immediately following.