Evening journal., 1896-11-19
CONTEMPORARY OPINION.
THE ENGLISH PRIME MINISTER.

lhE ENGLlSd PRIME MINIS En-.
Let us consider for moment what is
the real as contrasted with the theo-
retcal. position of the prime minister.
In the first place. the prime minister
as a rule makes his cabinet. He is COM
missioned by the queen to form cabi-
net because he is the man whom she
considers TO possess the confidence of
a majority of the House of Commons.
He forms his cabinet by asking certain
members Of the two houses to hold the
great officers of state. He might do this
in one day and without consulting any |
one.
As a matter OF fact, what usually |
happens is this: AS soon as the COM |
mission to form a government has been /
received, the prime minister takes into
his confidence the two or three men
who will hold the chief offices, and
they together talk over the other
names. When a man is decided upon,
he, as a rule, joins the conclave, and
helps to consult as to men and places
and so the cabinet gradually evolves it.
self. No doubt, as generally happens
in this world, the prime minister's
choice is never really free. Certain
men must be in the cabinet whatever
happens, and hence they may be said
not to be chosen by the premier, but
to be ministers i'm their own right. In
spite however, of this, the fact that
they are asked to serve by the premier
makes them feel his superiority When
the cabinet is made the theory of the
unwrtten Constitution is that the cabi-
net governs. In reality it seldom does
anything Of the kind. Each cabinet
minister has very great power in his
own department. but the cabinet as a
cabinet can do little Since, however,
it knows everything, or almost every
thing, that is going on. it can exercise
great deal of indirect power. The
previous knowledge that the majority
of the cabinet would like or dislike
particular policy has a great influ-
ence. but still the cabinet does not rule
2 Who, then, really rules? The primo
T. minister-but limited in a way which
we must describe later. What gives the
prime minister his power? In the frs
place. he summons and presides over
and so largely controls, the cabine
u meetings. Next, if a vacancy occurs
q he fills it, and so can promote meI
u from the lower to the higher offices
Then he can and does confer with hi
@ colleagues i'm regard to the business O
their departments and so has hol'
" upon the whole machine of govern
D. ment Sir Robert Peel saw every mem
e Der of his cabinet separately every day
e Again, if there is Il difference betweel
l. two other members of the government
the premier decides. If there is an IN
reconcilable difference between him
= self and a minister, it is the minister
u, and not the premier. who resigns
:, Lastly, the prime minister can by r'
~ signing himself dissolve the whol
/ ministry. These things, small in them
IL selves. taken together make the prim
> minister's position what it is. II
makes and can unmake cabinet. II
le presides over it, and he has the right
advise in regard to every department
~ though this right is, of course seldol
" exercised, and he has secured to hi
~ beforehand the support of the rank an
" file of any cabinet if it comes to
a struggle between him and colleagu
- - because the rank and file know that
= the premier is beaten he has it in h
u power to upset the whole machine
~ government. Hence the voices Of tho
%, who want to keep in office are alwa
So found on the side OF the premier.-Lo
lie don Spectator.