The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-18

the lute which has eventually sent the conservatives into silence.
 Elections of members of Parliament to fill vacancies caused by the death or res- ignation of the sitting member during a term of Parliament are called "bye-elec- tions," and are regarded as indications of how public opinion may have changed since the general election; consequently great importance was attached to all bye elections after Chamberlain's campaign was started, and in nearly every case Chamberlain's candidate won, which was taken as an endorsement of his views upon the tariff question:; and between the loss of seats to the conservatives and the defection of Chamberlain the great ma- jority of a couple of years ago dwinded down to a mere cipher and rather than suffer defeat through an adverse vote. Balfour decided to resign as he was not able to carry on the government with his small and doubtful majority.
 Whilst Balfour and Chamberlain were engaged in advocating their different views upon preferences and tariffs, the liberals and nationalists joined hands to defeat Balfour not because they approved
 
 oust the government; and now that they have succeeded the present situation with all it's complications presents itself for so- lution.
 Although the liberals denounced the con- servative government and are clamorins for office themselves, they were not pre- pared to accept it, as they have no policy and no recognized leader. They hoped and expected that Balfour would dissolve Parliament and let the country decide be- tween parties, but instead Balfour re- signs and hands over to Campbell-Banner- man a sinking ship and tells him to con- tinue the voyage.
 Campbell Zimmerman can't well refuse to accept what he and his party have been asking for during the last two years. so he takes the helm himself and puts crew aboard whose views upon political matters are about as varied and diverse as the tongues spoken at Babel. As an illustration of what Campbell-Bannerman has to meet 1t Is only necessary to state that in a speech made at Sterling few days before Balfour's resignation, hs stated that home rule for Ireland was the only remedy for the ills and troubles the people of that country suffer. T want" said he, ito see Irish affairs in the hands of an Irish Parliament" and with these words not yet grown cold, he now says, since he became premier, that a great many things must happen before home rule can be given to Ireland.
 Campbell Zimmerman has formed what appears to be a strong cabinet, but it lacks the element of cohesiveness. Salt and sugar, vinegar and cream, are all very good to eat and drink. but they would make a very unpalatab1e dish if mixed together. So 1t Is with Campbell-Banner- mans cabinet-the clements are not sym pathetic. Campbell Zimmerman will fall, and fall soon, into pit dug for him by Balfour. A general election will come at an early date, and 1t is extremely dif- ficult to forecast the result. It will be a fight between Balfour and Chamberlain for the leadership of the conservatives. and 1t Is quite possible that the con- servatives under Chamberlain will take office. Redmond will control eighty na- tionalists for certain and he will put them on which ever side offers him the best terms. His one purpose and object in the House of Commons Is home rule for Ireland, and 1t may happen, through the irony of fate, that Joe Chamberlain will be the man to introduce and pass the home rule bill