The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-10-09

Paris. France. Aug. Is, 19O6.-Great
Britain has recently experienced Il
Of the greatest political revolutions
she has ever known The cOnserVa-
tive party, with Mr.. BalfOur. one Of
the ablest of mOder scholars. at its
mead, and with Mr.. Joseph Chamber
lain, a powerful orator and a fOrceful
political leader. as its most conspic-
GUS champion, had Won a sweeping
victory after the BOcr war. and this
victory, following a long lease of pow
er, lead the conservatives to believe
themselves inVincible. They assumed,
as parties made confident by success
often do, that they are Indispensable
to the nation, and paid but little at
tcntion to the warnings and threats
Of the liberals.
one mistake after another. however,
a~Iicnated the voters II the special
elections two Years ago began to show
a falling OFF in the conservative
strength and When the general cleo
ton was held last fall the liberals
rolled up Il majority of something like
200 in the house of commons. y new
ministry was formed from among the
15IcSt men of the Darty-d ministry
of radical n progressive men seldom
cqualIcd in moral purpose and intel
lcCtual strength. My main purpose in
visiting london at the time was to
become acquainted with the personnel
VI iIlt i1tN SoN cl IllIIEItl anu ltdli1 VI
their programme.
Before speaking of the ministers.
just Il word in regard to the king. who
j. the head of the government whether
il be liberal o. conservative The
government of Great Britain is always
in harmony with the house Of COM
mons, and as the ministers speak for
the king ne does not emphasize the
virtue of consistency. for he may be
ut in the attitude of advocating Il
thing today and opposing it tOmOr-
row. He is not expected to have Opin-
ions uPo public questions, or. if he
has them they are always presented
with the understanding that if the
ministers Will not adopt his views he
will adopt theirs. 1t is much easier
to be a king now than it used to be.
and the burdens of a monarchy have
been very much lightencd in the IA
ti"ns which. like England, recognize
the omnlpotence of parliament.
| was very glad to avail myself of
the opportunity offered by a private
audience to meet his majesty, King
Edward, and to be assured of his per-
Sonal interest in the promotion of
peace. The king has q very genial
fac" and makes his visitor feel at
case at once. He has Il knowledge of
world politics and by his tact and
good nature has done much to pro-
mote cordial relations between his
own and other countries. 1t may not
b" out of place to correct an impress
sion that has gone abroad with regard
/" the style of dress required of hos
who are admitted to the presence Of
tn king. Because knee breechcs are
Worn at court functions many have
understood, and l among them. that
they were rcquircd on all occasions:
bEt this is not the case. Most of the
calls made upon him informally are
made before dinner. and the ordinary
bIatk coat is worn. The requirements
are not as strict as they are in Russia.
Japan II Sweden, Wherc was ad-
NIS"d to wear an evening suit for a
moI ming call.
Sir Henry CampbelI-Bannerman. a
sturdy ~Scotchman, is The new prime
munster. those who know him in
t1lnatcly feel that his selection is a
Yindication of the doctrine hat pa
fchrt and courage. when Joined with
IncIit. are invinCibIe. He is now well
advanced in years and during his en-
IRE nublic career has stood unninch-
iilGi| Tor democratic ideas. He has
not been discouraged by the fact that
l." has often been in the minority, on
tue contrary, he has felt as confident
III his positions when he has had to
na'atain it amid taunts and icerS as
when his speeches brought forth an
rIarsc. He is not as great an orator
as Gladstone. but he has a very per
SVa we manner and his fine sense of
hlilnor gives brilliancy TO his speeches.
In outlining the policy of the liberal
I#rtN last December. he credited the
victory at the polls to several causcs
the tariff question, the Chinese
question:, the educational problem and
municipal questions. He pledged his
party to certain reforms and boldly
advocated d reduction of military ana
naval expenses. He pointed out that