New-York tribune., 1906-12-30
ENGLISH PEACEMAKER.
Augustine BireU In and Out of
Parliament.

London, December 19.
A man of many resources has been in charge
of the Education bill over which the Houses Of
Parliament have been wrangling for a year.
Mr Augustine Brrell has had the unenviable
task of establishing system Of education which
would satisfy the conscences OF all religious
bodies: and while his methods have been con-
demned by extremists and the results OF his
labors have been disappointing to them. he him.
self energies from the protracted struggle with
out enemy in either house. This is perhaps
a greater achievement than the passage of a
compromise measure. and 1T is due to a COM
bination of brilliant gifts and sterling qualities.
Mr.. Forster succeeded in forcing the original
Education bill through Parliament by appealing
to the Opposition for support. and there
irreconcilable resentment the part OF the
Nonconfornists. who never forgave him, al
though they We're subsequently loyal to Mr..
Gladstone Mr.. BirrelI has not caused estrange-
ment OF the Free Churchmen, whose grievances
he undertook to remove; and while his bill has
been bitterly assailed by High Churchmen and
Roman Catholics. he has been credited with
making an earnest effort to effect a reasonable
instruction. An adroit tactician. willing to give
and take, ne has been too wary be ma
noeuvred out of his position as the leader OF
Nonconformity.
Mr. Birrell has been intensely In earnest
throughout this struggle. How could he have
been otherwise when his father was Baptist
preacher and his mother a minister's daughter,
and he himself. with his spectacles and his
solemn. sharp featured visage. seemed to have
been born for the pulpit7 From early environ
ment and lifelong association he has understood
the feeling of Nonconformity this question
of absolute public control over schools supported
0f hA Of a
tests for teachers; and while he has been will
ing to make concessions for the sake of peace
he has not estranged the sympathies nor be-
trayed the confidence of Free Churchmen.
They have been his chief clients. and as a sue
cessful barrister. who has had lucrative prao-
tice In the courts he has not lost sight Of their
interests. even when he was sacrificing the
chances of a measure on which he had expended
Ill his resources of tact patience and fexibllity
Barristers are seldom favortes in the House of
Commons. but MIR. Bi-rell like genial Sir Frank
Lockwood whose memoir he wrote with appre-
oiative sympathy. Is an exception This Is be-
cause he lacks the English advocates dry and
perfunctory manner of arguing a case. There
Is iucio exposition without dulness mastery OF
literary form without professional mannerism
an unfaiiing reserve of quaint humor without
bitterness or malevolence. AS he stands In a
characteristic attitude. with his arms folded
across his breast. his head thrown back and his
mouth and chin firmly set. he looks like one OF
Cromwel's Puritans and commands respect as a
man OF force: but when his serious face relaxes
and lights up with humor. he is the Cavalier
wooing the muses. toying with sarcasms and
pieasantries and revelling In rolIicking wit
There are many phrase makers In the Com
mons out there are only two genuine humorists
ohe Is Mr. Healy and the other is tho victim of
one of his most mordant sarcasms-AIr Birrey !
When Mr. Healy coined the word "Birreligiou"
as an epitome OF the moralities of which the |
President OF the Board OF Education vss the |