The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-25
His Majesty Had Little to Tell His
First Parliament at the End
of Its Session.
POLITICAL SITUATION LOCKED.
Government Is Not Strong, but The
Weakness of the Opposition
Prevents the Gaining of
Any Advantage.
BY HERBERT PAUL.

SPECIAL BY CABLE.
London. Aug. ci.-tCopyright. 1901. by the
New York Herald Company.)-The Kings
speech on closing the first session Of his
Majesty's first Parliament was unusually
subdued and colorless The tone of COM
placency of the paragraph devoted to the
question of China was in striking contrast
with the singerly handling of the South
African war About legislation there natur-
ally was very little to say
The political situation may almost be de-
scribed as a deadlock. 1t is still, as il has
long been. the weakness of the opposition
which makes the Government strong. Yet
1t is the weak opposition. and not the
strong Government, that attracts the inter-
est Of the public.
The leader of the Liberal party in the
House of Lords has been disabled through
out the session. Lord Kimberley is not a
powerful impressive speaker. and to the
general public is little more than a name.
But those who are behind the scenes of pol
itics have the highest respect Tor his acute
ness of judgment and intimate knowledge
of public affairs.
Lord Kimberley Is Conservative.
He has never associated himself with the
thorough going opponents OF the war,
though he is no admirer either of Mr..
Chamberiains diplomacy or Lord Miners
dispatches. He demonstrated strongly
against the Asquith dinner. and his innu-
ence, If he had been in a position to fully
exert II, might have done something To
keep the party together.
His place in the House of Lords has been
taken by Lord Spencer, who has discharged
the duties with admirable tact and skill.
No man is better fitted than Lord Spen-
Ger to carry on the Gladstonian tradition
and character. He commands universal Ie-
spect. If Lord Kimberley had to retire. Lord
Spencer would undoubtedly succeed, ana
must play a conspicuous part in the future
of British Liberalism.
The Liberal leader in the House Of Com
mons has shown reserve and quiet strength
surprising to all who do not know aim Sir
Henry Campbell Zimmerman has the mis-
fortune TO be rich, comfortable and rather
cynical. but those who took this for a want
found they had mistaken their man. The
movement by which he obtained a unani-
nous vote of confidence from all sections of
his followers was as mastery as II was SIM
pie
Lord Rosebery sneered at the meeting In
the Reform Club, but II would be a very
places with Sir Henry Campbell-Banner-
man.
Another important figure in the Liberal
party is Mr.. Henry Asquith.
The personality of Sir Edward Grey is ex-
tremely interesting and attractive, but he
has not Mr.. Asquith's intellectual force,
and in the schsm caused by Mr.. John Nor
leys speech on national reform union it
was Mr. AsQuith who took the lead.
Mr.. AsQuith's remarkable powers OF
speech, coupled with his great ability.
which he showed at the head Of the Home
Office, are great qualifications for political
leadership. 1 do not think am misled by |
that the manly, generous tone of his recent
utterances was acknowledged with graft |
tude by all shades OF Liberals.
But The question for the moment fs. now
much Liberal opinion he has behind him.
IL IL be a considerable amount the party Il
must be regarded as practically broken up.
for Mr.. AsQuith has unreservedly adopted Il
the fashionable creed known as Milnerism. /
and defends the methods by which the war /
which led to it,
Lord Miners Fool Friends.
Lord Miners friends have chosen. for /
reasons they do not explain, to drag his
name into the political arena. OF course. |
everybody knows that the High Commis
sioner is a passionate supporter OF war and
an enthusiastic believer in the great At
conspiracy which must be held by i
the faithful to prove itself. since no evil
dence worthy of the name has ever been
adduced in defense of IT.
But constitutional fictions have their uses |
and IL is the Cabinet who Is constitution
Mr.. Asquith's defense of Lord Kitchener's
in opposition to Sir William
Harcourt. raises the whole subject of such |
States and their right of equality of treat
ment.
1t also involves the validity Of paper an
nexations. IL not paper blockades.
Mr. Asquith will not call himself a Lib |
aral Imperialist. but he holds their opinions |
and propagates their views.