The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1906-02-01

n&HE E astounding news comes to us
from across the sea that Hon.
Arthur j. Balfour. Tory EXPIRE
mer of Great Britain, has just
been defeated for reelection to the
house of commons from East Manches-
ter by II big majority by an obscure
Liberal named Harridge, who was con-
ceded to be weak candidate. The de-
feat of Mr.. Balfom under such circum-
stances proves beyond all cavil that a
great political revolution is on in Great
Britain and that the Liberals will have
a great majority in the house of COM
mons. which is the whole government
over there No doubt Mr. Balfour will
be returned by some other constitu-
ency. as in that country man may be
elected from any district. In that way
each party manages to keep its stron-
gest men i'm parliament, but his defeat
at this early stage of the elections will
COW Tories everywhere, for be it re-
membered that the districts do not
hold their elections simultaneously, but
whenever the spirit moves them. so
that the elections cover several weeks.
This revolution once more demonstrates
for our instruction the uncertainty of
human affairs. especially of political
human affairs. Our stand pat friends
may find much food for sober reflection
in what is now going on in Britain.
Several years ago the Tories came into
power there by an overwhelming ma
jority. just as the Republicans did
here. The Tories lorded ii over things
there. just rs the Republican have
done here Each hattered itself that it
had perpetual lease of power and
carte blanche to do as it pleased no
matter what. for the Liberals of Brit
ain and the Democrats of America
seemed to he completely effaced. Bal
four succeeded his uncle. Lord Sails
bury. I'm the premiership. and all Went
merry as marriage bell for long
time but the turn has come in the
road, and the Primrose party of that
marvellous jew. Benjamin Disraell.
earl Of Beaconsfield, the most brilliant
Englishman of the century. must walk
the plank to he succeeded by the
rivals whom for decade 1t has de-
spised. So it will be here. The hand.
writing Is on the wall for the Repub-
licans, but the leaders appear no more
able to read or interpret it than was
BelshazZar of old 1t was read and
interpreted nevertheless. The inter
pretation in brief. was that BelshaZZar
had been weighed in the balance and
found wanting, that the Jig was up
with him. that he was done for, played
out - ''ausgespielt," AS the Germans
would say-and the Interpretation prov
ed true TO the letter The memorable
scene at that banquet board in the roy
al palace thousands of years ago is one
of the best known incidents of history.
1t finds parallel here now among Re-
publicans. Let us hope that Belshaz.
Zar's fate will be theirs. They deserve
it as richly as he did
Here is Lord ByrOn's description of
the BelshaZZar feast
The king was on his throne;
The satraps thronged the hall;
A thousand bright lamps shone
Ger that high festival.
thousand cups OF gold
In Judah deemed divine
Jehovah's vessels hold
The goddess heathen's wine.
In that same hour and hall
The fingers of a hand
Came forth against the wall
And wrote as If on sand:
The fingers OF a man
A solitary hand
Along the letters ran
And traced them like a wand
The monarch saw and shook
And bade no more rejoice;
All bloodless waxed his look,
And tremuous his voice.
LET the men of lore appear.
The wisest of the earth.
And expound the words of fear
Which mar our royal mirthr
Chaldea's seers are good,
But here they have no skill.
And the unknown letters stood
Untold and awful still.
And Babels men of age
Are wise and deep In lore,
But now they were not sage;
They saw-but knew no more.
4 captive in the land,
A stranger and a youth,
He heard the king command
He saw that writings truth.
The lamps around We're bright,
The prophecy In view;
He read II on that night;
The morrow proved 1t true.
Beishazzars grave is made,
His kingdom passed away;
He, In the balance weighed
Is light and worthless clay
The shroud his robe of state,
His canopy the stone;
The Mede is at his gate,
The Persian on his throne!