Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-20
NEW Liberal LEADER.
4 Long Name and Much More to Rec
Ommend Him.

Justin Mccarthy, NJ. p, in the Independent.
There is nothing to be said against the
choice of Sir Henry Campbell Zimmerman
as leader OF the liberal party in the House
of Commons, while there is a great deal to
be said in its favor. A London liberal
Journal, while thoroughly approving of the
selection, did, indeed, admit out of pure
good humor that the name of the new
leader is, by reason of its length, rather a
trying one for the newspaper reporters ami
the writer's OF leading articles. But it ia
not easy to see what could be done to get
these important persons out of the diff
Guilty. Men in these countries are very
proud of their family names and we can
hardly expect Sir Henry to entertain any
proposition for the leaving out Of the
Campbell or the Bannerman. Campbell
Bannerman is by means of its hyphen made
into one name and we cannot expect its
wearer to enter into a sort of compromise
by leaving out the fiIst two syllables or the
last three. We might as well invite him
to call himself Sir Henry camp-map or Sir
Henry Bellbanner. In Octave Feuillet's ro-
nance, Monsieur de Camors," the hero is
invited on certain highly advantageous con-
ditions to change his name for another and
he ~disposes Of the invitation by simply re-
plying "Je m'appelle Camors." The new
leader OF the party in the House of Com
mons would probably reply to a similar
suggestion, 81 am called Campbell Banner
man" 1t will not make any matter in the
house so far as the debating is concerned,
for there, OF course, he must not be re-
ferred to by name and is only spoken OF as
the right honorable gentleman. Apart from
the length of his name the new leader has
everything to recommend him. He is not,
indeed, a great parliamentary orator like
Gladstone; but then, what living man Is?
lie Is not, perhaps, as powerful a debater
OF the hewing and slashing order as the late
leader, Sir William Harcourt: but then,
what other available man comes any nearer
to such a position? Sir Henry is an ey-
cellent debater and can make a telling
speech on any subject which is
likely to come before the House
OF He is a man of sound judgment
and long experience, who has more than
once held high office and has always proved
himself a most successful administrator He
has a keen sense of humor, is most genial
and agreeable in manner, and is very popu-
lar inside the House of Commons and out
side. Then he has a high social position,
which counts for much in favor of a politi-
cal leader in this country, and he can en-
terrain his party, which likewise counts
for a good deal. | do not believe that he
ever made an enemy and know that he
has made many friends even among those
who have little sympathy with some of his
political opinions, Every one believes in
his absolute sincerity and he certainly did
not put himself out of the way in the
slightest degree to obtain his present posi-
tion. II | were a member Of the liberal
party | would certainly have pressed for
ward the name OF Mr.. Herbert Gladstone,
but | suppose Herbert Gladstone himself
would not have listened to the suggestion.
and so there is nothing more to be said on
the subject.