The Spectator at war: Supportive opposition

From ‘Lord Curzon’s Speech’, The Spectator, 9 January 1915:

We are glad to record, though in no way surprised to find, that Lord Curzon takes a very serious and very clearly defined view of the duties of the Opposition during a period of national crisis. He recognized that part of these duties in war time can never, as in peace, be the effort to substitute one set of politicians for another in the work of government. On the contrary, in war the support of the King’s Government in all the measures which they may think necessary for ensuring the safety of the country becomes the essential duty of the Opposition. But while this is so, it is in no way to be desired that the Opposition should forgo its function, may, obligation, of criticism. As Lord Curzon pointed out, criticism is good for all men engaged in the management of public affairs. Without criticism their work is sure to suffer, and with it the national interests. Though at the moment men hotly engaged in a fierce struggle, and working to the utmost of their powers, may in the fever of their toil resent criticism as unjust, in their cooler hours they will agree that it was justifiable. Criticism is the antiseptic of political as of moral conduct. Criticism of the kind we are dealing with must, of course, be applied not in a captious but in a benevolent spirit, and, even if it is severe in matters of detail, no attempt must ever be made to create prejudice or to damage particular individuals. Members of the Opposition may specially dislike and distrust certain members of the Government, and think their influence as a whole is bad, but in war time that feeling must be absolutely suppressed, and the criticism made must solely of actions and never of motives. No occasion must be seized, as it may legitimately be seized in peace time, discredit a particular member of the opposite party. In every instance the benefit of the doubt must always be given to the man who is fighting the enemies of his country, whether at the front or in the administration of affairs at home.