Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-01-26

ME astounding news comes to Il
from across the sea that Ho,
Arthur j. Balfour, Tory expire
mier of Great Britain, has ius
Deen defeated for reelection to tn
mousse OF commons from East Manches
Ter by a big majority by an obscur,
Liberal named Harridge who was con
ceded to be a weak candidate. The de
Ieat OF Mr.. Balfour under such circum
stances proves beyond all cayil that a
4 great political revolution is on in Great
Britain and that the Liberals will have
great majority in the house of com
mons, which is the whole government
over there. No doubt Mr.. Balfour will
De returned by some other constitu-
ency, as in that country man NAV be
elected from any district. In that way
eacn party manages to keep its stron-
gest men in 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
mold their elections simultaneously. but
whenever the spirit moves them. so
that the elections cover several weeks
Ihis revolution once more demonstrates
Tor our instruction the uncertainty Of
human affairs, especially of political
human affairs. Our stand pat friends
may ind 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
Joflty, Just as the Republicans did
mere. The Tories lorded it over things
there, just as the Republican have
done here. Each flattered itself that II |
mad perpetual lease of power and
carte blanche to do as it pleased, no
matter what, for the Liberals of Brit
am and the Democrats of America
seemed to be completely effaced. Bal
tour succeeded his uncle, Lord Sails
Dury, In the premiership, and all went
merry as marriage bell for long
time, but the turn has come in tho
road, and the Primrose party of that
Jew, Benjamin Disraeli.
earl of Beaconsaeld, the most brilliant
of the century, must walk
ne plank to be succeeded by the
1vals whom for a decade It has do
'pfsed. So it will be here. The hand
writing is on the wall for the Renub.
leans, but the leaders appear no more
!ble to read or interpret it than was
'eisnazzar of old. 1t was read and
Interpreted nevertheless. The inter
retaIlon, IN brief, was that Belshazzar
aa Deen weighed In the balance and
ouna wanting, that the Jig was up
,i.h MN, that he was done for, played
Ut "ausgespielt,' as the Germans {
.ould say-and the Interpretation prov 9
! true to the letter. The memorahleJ 9
;ehe at tnat banquet board In the roy
palace thousands of years ago is one !
ane BEST known Incidents Of history. !
nnds a parallel here now among Re- !
II ffhBllG4AaAs. Let us hone that, Raishan Y
as richly as he. did
Here is Lord Byron's description Of !
le Belshazzar feast. !,
The king was on his throne; :
The satraps thronged the hall: {
A thousand bright lamps shons
Ger that high festival. 8
A thousand cups of gold q
In Judah deemed divine
Jehovah's vessels hold
Inc goddess heathen6 wine. q
In that same hour and hall +
The fingers of hand )
Came forth against the wall Q
And wrote as II on sand: g
The fingers Of a man G
A solitary hand .
Along the letters ran
And traced them like wand.
The monarch saw and shook
And bade no more rejoice:
All bloodless waxed his look,
And tremuleus his voice. q
"Let the men of lore appear,
The wisest Of the earth,
And eapound tho words Of fear
Which mar our royal mirthl"
Chaldea's seers are good,
But here they have no Skill
And the unknown letters stood
Untold and awful still t
And Babel's men of age r
Are wise and deep in lore, !
But now they were not sage;
They saw-but knew no more, e
A captive in the land,
A stranger and a youth,
He heard the kings command,
He saw THAI writings truth. {
The lamps around were bright, 6
The prophecy In view;
He read 1t on that night;
The morrow proved 1t true.
Belshakzar's grave is made,
Ills kingdom passed away;
He, In the balance weighed,
Is light and worthless clay, T
The shroud his robe Of state,
His canopy the stone;
The Mede is at his gate,
The Persian on his thronsl
Germany's View Of lts New Tariff. G