The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-12-14

decessor turn out. like not a few other | doleful political anticipations, to bel false. The announcement issued yes tsrday shows that he is to have the as- sistance of capable and in some con- spicuous cases brilliant colleagues Moreover, there are indications that the new government is not going to play the game of the Opposition by making Home Rule the chief issue. If so futile step should be taken it would mean the exchange of UniOnist for Nationalist support. Now the for mer Is much more valuable to the Lib erals Even if the reunion of the party did not give it an absolute majority inl the next House of Commons, it's posi- ton would be better than if it had tOI come in merely as the tail to the Irish kite. Furthermore, the Irish leaders know perfectly well that they have more to expect from the Liberals than from the Conservatives, and they know, too, that public sentiment in Ireland is by no means. unanimous in commenting a policy of rule or ruin. The presence of MT. Morley and MT. Bryce in the new government ought to convince them that they have at least nothing to lose by initiating Br'er Rabbit.
 Sir Henry Campbell Zimmerman, it will be seen, remains in the House of Commons, and Mir. Asquith consents to serve under him as Chancellor of the ac the English people call him. may be a stronger head of an administration than those who would have given his place to Lord Spencer, were that mo- bleman physically able to take it, have professed to believe. "C. B." has fairly won that place by loyalty to his party in difficult circumstances. He is not a man of genius like Gladstone; but then men of genius are few. He is no orator; he is not even a debatcr in the highe st sense. He is not as clever as lord Rosebery; he has not such vigor as characterized the late Sir William HarcOurt. But he has sUc- ceeded where other men havS, failed. The post he now holds has not come to him by favor: nor is it the reward of self-seeking. "C. B. has simply done his duty. Sometimes it is a great thing to do that. "C. B" took a post that other men had abandoned and stuck to it. He braved unpopularity in opposing the Boer war; he seemed to 1 be absolutely indifferent to the abuse | which his attitude evoked. And he was statesman enough to accept the results of the war and to say that the | annexation must be upheld.
 He is a Scotsman, of course-another 1 illustration of MT. Carnegie's dictum that the Scots are ruling the British empire. There is little sentiment in his character; he is not the man, per- haps, to stir enthusiasm. But he is as courteous and good-natured as he is | hard-headed. This is an important | qualification for leadership In the House. That body will not forgive a man who loses his temper or who bores it. And he has the confidenc9 of his | followers. He knows how to make i himself respected. There will be no ] division of authority while he is prime l minister, it is safe to say, such as l wrecked the government of Lord Rose ] bery. With all his doggedness there is 1 nothing "dour" about Sir Henry; nor does he lack tact. The existence of 1 this quality is shown by the unexpect- 1 ed ease with which he has formed a | government out of somewhat inCon- gruous materials. Had he not had tact, MT. Asquith would not be Chan celOr of the Exchequer, nor Sir Ed-
 ward Grey Foreign secretary. There are to be men under him of greater reputation and of more original ability;
 but it is safe to say that he will be prime minister in fact as well as in name. At seventy his eye is not dim nor his natural force abated.
 The government as whole, as has been said, promises to be a strong one. Mir. Asquith should make an able Chancellor of the Exchequer; he was home secretary in the Rosebery admin istration. Sir Edward Grey is the best | foreign secretary who could have been chosen. He has been an under secre- tary in that department before, he is thoroughly conversant with interna-
 tional politics, and he will not make ] the mistake of trying to break abrupt