The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-09-05
BALFOUR UNEQUAL TO THE TASK.
English GremieR Has Not Come Up to
 Duties of the Premiership.

English G'renaieF Has Not Come Up to
 Duties of the Premiership.
 London Chronicle.
 Before the cry, Who goes homer echoes for the last time through the lobbies, and before the last member disappears through the swinging doors. let us finger for few minutes in the familiar box behind the speakers chair from where we have watched the changing scenes of an evenetful ses- sion. Of the swift moving pictures that flash on the brain. one stands out more vividly than jumping onto the benches, us the government defeat. With roar of triumph liberals and nationalists leap to their feet. waving hats and handkerchiefs, and even jumping on to the benches. as the government tellers take their places on the beaten side at the treasury ta- ble. Once more the prime minister stands in his place explaining defeat away with flushed face and trembling words, still stinging from Mfr. Red mond's lash of scorn.
 And now another scene This time the treasury bench Is deserted, and only a few ninisterialists remain hid ing in the shadows beneath the gal lery. The house has met to pass a mo- tion condemning protection, preference and retaliation, and the government have run away; MT. Chamberlain has deserted his post. Not once, but three and four times thronged benches on the opposition side meet to fight the government on It's policy, to find the the ministerial camp has been struck. Mark the next scene, one oft re- peated during the session. The prime minister Is standing at the table. It Is question time, and the Liberals lean forward expectant Answer, answerT n nit centrated roar of daily repetition But although his lips may move, 1t is but to bubble and evade. Nemesis. how ever, in the figure of MT. Chamberlain, sits below the gangway. It is he who will answer and explain. claiming the prime minister as his follower, while MT. Balfour sits abashed, pale with anger, but not daring to disown the embarrassing embrace. Note the next chapter in his humiliation. in the ear nest, measured rebuke of his conduct from one of the most impartial, most considerate of the Liberal leaders. Sir Edward Grey's rebuke is received in dead silence on the ministerial bench es.
 These are the most vivid impres- sions of the sessions of 1905, which will be remembered for the snappinK of many reputations, and not least for it's swift and merciless revelation of MT. Balfour's unfitness to lead the
 House of Commons, and his failure to act the straightforward. manly part which no minister can afford to Ignore. The result has been a lowering of the tone of the House Supported by a mechanical majority, Mir. Balfour has heen able to force a supply through the House. and even to ignore defeat put he has done so at heavy cost to bts own side. He no longer possesses a minister of any distinction.
 Cm the benches behind, the brain and sincerity of the party have on all irnnortant occasions been in open re- wolf from Mir. Balfour. But his infIu- ence has exerted a hypnotic effect over tbe younger men, who so bfavely boisted the free trade flag earlier in the contest The most brilliant of the sroun is Lord Hugh Cecil. who has stood manfully up to Mir. Chamberlain To some extent Lord Hugh has been dissnpointment for his displays of conrsre ended after all In smoke. and sS,sn he seemed to catch the Balfourian tr,ck of sauaring opposite principles. perhaps appearances are deceptive ' orS Hugh has, at any rate. flashed | throneh the tourney of debate with srast effect His genius Is undoubted. snS In him belongs the future of his