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Democracy, one might say (or at least the vulgar modern notion of it), is the strange idea that the means justify the end; that the outcome doesn’t matter, provided only that it was achieved by a “free and fair” vote. On this assumption, British newspapers have described the Rhodesian election as “a triumph for Britain,” because it was conducted so skillfully by the British governor and a mere handful of British soldiers and policemen.

The London Evening Standard, which is a moderately conservative newspaper, described the result as “an overall British achievement that, whatever the next months and years may bring in Zimbabwe, deserves to be remembered with admiration and pride.” Whatever the years may bring? This was indeed the general view. The purifying waters of an election absolved Britain from all further responsibility.

AL

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Anthony Lejeune

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Democracy, one might say (or at least the vulgar modern notion of it), is the strange idea that the means justify the end; that the outcome doesn’t matter, provided only that it was achieved by a “free and fair” vote. On this assumption, British newspapers have described the Rhodesian election as “a triumph for Britain,” because it was conducted so skillfully by the British governor and a mere handful of British soldiers and policemen.

The London Evening Standard, which is a moderately conservative newspaper, described the result as “an overall British achievement that, whatever the next months and years may bring in Zimbabwe, deserves to be remembered with admiration and pride.” Whatever the years may bring? This was indeed the general view. The purifying waters of an election absolved Britain from all further responsibility.