The sun., 1906-12-23
Special caore Despatch 10 THE SUN.


wiz Resist the Catter OF tho sword.
Special caoIe Despatch TO THE SUN
LONDON, Dec. %. A Christmas truce in
all things political is the order OF the day
throughout Europe. That il will be only
a truce is apparent in the three countries
where the issues are Of the most absorbing
interest In England alone there will be
some delay in reentering the political arena.
Will, the education bill is now dead it
will only give place 20 broader struggle
over the questions OF disestablshment and
the constitutional position of the House OF
lords
There are those who consider that Mr..
Balfour, the leader OF the Opposition, made
a serious tactical mistake in not accepting
the compromise offered by the Govern
ment 1t is true that he has consolidated
20 some extent the heterogen eous elements Of
the party in power and has given it an issue
which will enable il to go TO the country
when the time comes with better chances
Of success than il the question had been
shelved temporarily.
On the other hand the IA ilure OF Sir Henry
Campbell Bannerman the Pr ime Min lister,
b take statesmanlike advantage OF the
opportunity given him by the House of
Lords defeat Of his chief measu urs OF the
session was most Disappointing. Instead
of addressing solemn words of warning TO
the peers such as Mr.. Gladstone delivered
on a memorable occasion in 1894 he roundly
scolded the upper house and then descended
10 a petulant personal attack on Mr.. Bal
four, who was not present to reply. It was
a rather humiliating demonstration of the
true calbre. or lack OF calibre, of the leader
Of the British Government.
France ia meeting her great religious
crisis with that new restraint and self-pos-
session which during recent years have
aroused worldwide admiration for the
French people. There has been no violence,
no real exhibition OF popular passion and
there has been no excuse for such demon
strations. So long as NJ. Clemenceau re-
mains at the head of the Government the
last mistake of which he will be guilty will
be that of resorting to any measures Of per-
secution which will enable even the extreme
clericals to raise a serious cry Of fmartyrdom.
His task is one OF extreme difficulty.
especially in the direction of holding control
OF all the elements among his present sup
porters. Moderation does not satisfy the
side and the opposition that he has most to
fear win come from them. There will be
attempts before long to revert to a more
radical policy Of the Combes type.
Such move will have the secret support
even of the extreme anti-clericals, who see,
as the Vatican evidently sees, that in the
end the cause Of the Church will be helped
rather than hindered by an intervening
period Of extreme antagonism on the part
Of the Government. Such tactics will be
entirely understood by the Moderate Repub-
leans. who aim merely at the peaceful sepa-
ration Of Church and State.
The sole question for the present is whether
Premier Clemenoeau will be able 70 retain
the steady, efficient support Of the great
body Of middle class patriotic Frenchmen.
The task does not seem beyond his powers.
R The writer discussed this week the sudden
crisis In Germany with representatives
Of various phases Of German opinion in
Berlin. Il cannot be said that the country
Is as yet fully aroused TO the broad signif-
ioance Of the situation. The campaign
has been postponed by tacit consent until
after the Christmas holidays, and then
there will be a month OF hot canvassing
The prospects are 30 vague that few broad
minded observers feel any confidence
In the result. resentment Of the country
is undoubtedly against absolutism, and
that is the real issue.
We want no Cesarism,' will be the
zllying cry OF those who see In the dis
solution Of the Reichstag interference
with its limited constitutional right to
control the fnan cial department Of the
Government. Friends OF the Emperor
argue that the attitude Of the Reichstag
on the question of dissolution was a de-
fance of the Kaiser in his character as
the War Lord, where he rightly claims
absolutism, and that therefore he was
quite justified in resorting to extreme
measures.
Opinion Is divided on the question whether
the Socialists will gain or lose in the pend
ing campaign. The Clericals, who stand to
lose most, are speaking out plainly. One
Of their best known members stated in q
speech at Cologne that the question of dis
solution had been long delibe rated and
prepared by the Federal Government and
the Chancellor. He also submitted that It
was not a question as to whether a couple
Of millions more or less were voted for the
co lonies, but whether the right OF the
A'o'ol7IdB 70 NoOe supphos was 70 10 u1aAh-
tanned, or whether 1t was sufficient for
some one to clatter the sword and say that
the officers in command had spoken and
therefore the Reichstag was to hold its
peace.
We will not allow ourselves to be ordered
about in these things" he said. We want
no absolut, government and no revolution
either. We are a constitutional party and
At this moment we stand forward as the
great and strong constitutional party, the
pillar Of order"
But the elections win be no true test Of
German popular will, for, as explained in
these dispatches a week ago, the Reichstag
ID not true representative body.
Attacks GERMAN GOVERNMENT.