New-York tribune., 1906-10-29
THE LIBERAL LEADER.
Increasing Prestige of the British
Prime Minister.
London. October %

with the responsibilities Of power His front
bench opponents did not conceal their contempt
for him when they themselves were In ofaosL
Mr. Balfour persstently underrated him and
affected to regard Mr. Asquith as the response
BILE leader OF the Opposition. whose arguments
were to be answered seriously Even Mr. Cham
berlain. courteous he invariably Is In debate.
made 1t clear by shrug OF the shoulders. q dis
dainful gesture or an impatient information that
he did not consider Sir Henry Campbell Ban
herman a foeman worthy OF his steel MIscaI-
culations OF his talents and force OF character
were easy and natural when he had succeeded
so resourceful a debater Sir William Har-
court IN command OF the faction rent LIBERAL
forces. and had so brilliant a rival as Lord
Rosebery for the party leadership. His ep-
ponents gave him credit for the fine old British
virtue of doggedness in taking punishment with
out seeming to be the worse for It: but they
laughed at him as a second rate politician mas
querading statesman This before he
became Prime Minister. at seventy. organized
a strong Cabinet In the face OF insuperabls dif-
fculties and appealed successfully to the ooun-
try. The idle chatter about mediocrity IN the
saddle. plunging into bitches instead OF clearing
them, ceased as soon as he had a triumphant
majority behind him. The Prime Minister
throughout the proceedings OF the first session
OF Parliament has shown himself man Of foros
and his authority and prestige have steadily In
creased.
How can this expansion OF political infusncs
be accounted fort Largely, without doubt
through the Intervention OF the general electo-
rate. Prime Minister, who had not been q
brilliant leader of the Opposition. becams a
dominating figure in politics when he represent
ed an overwhelming majority OF voters. When
the democracy commissions leader TO govern
Il u a IN
him with tremendous reserves OF power Sir
Henry Campbell -Bannerman has had no COM
petitor since the election. and he has risen abovs
Jealoustes and rivalries. as strong Prime MIN
| lister is bound TO do. He has not made long
| speeches himself; he has reserved himself for
great occasions when decisive opinion was
| needed; and he has allowed his colleagues To
| distinguish themselves Every man on the front
| government bench has either introduced a bill
or taken a conspicuous part IN at least one de-
| bate The heutenants have not been snufred
| out as inferior lights. Each has been allowed to
| shine In his own way. and feeling OF content
| rnent has pervaded the front bench. There has
been a fair division OF work. and every minister
has had opportunities for justifying and increas-
\ ing his reputation When Mr. Balfour led ths
| Commons there was constant heartburnins on
! his own side OF the House. Members who had
| special subjects or hobbies OF their own did not
| speak often as they liked. There were COM
| plants OF favoritism- Men whom Mr. Balfour
| had known in Eton or Carnbridgs, and soma OF
| his Oxford friends, formed an inner ctroIs of
preferred debaters. Those outside were placed
at a disadvantage. and some OF them fancisd
| that they were sighted The Liberal Prins
Minister has been in this respect a superior
! taotician. There has been free held for VET
Grams and rising men, and there has been neither
| faVOritiSIQ q haa beap
supported by his associates. and HIS leadership
| has steadily become more acceptable to men On
| his own side.
| 6eH-restraint is difficult when the leader Is a
brilliant debater. Mr. Balfour could throw light
on any subject discussed by him, so subtle ware
| his reasoning processes and so keen his per-
/ ception of the weak or strong points OF
| argument 1t not easy for him to tolerate
| dulness or diffusenesS when he could close
debate effectively himself; and consequently
ne often looked around complacently and as
| Stunning that all the men who had anything I'M
portant to say had already spoken, wound
| up the discussion himself IN a mastery way.
| The Liberal Prime Minister has pursued DIFF
ferent course. Possibly he has recalled his own
experiences when he entered Parliament nearly
| forty years ago as member for Stirling Burghs
| and aspiring youngster was coldly re-
| ceived by the veterans in service and taught the
/ virtue or humility Certainly ne mas Deen most
| conslderate IN his treatment Of the new mem
| bers who fill the benches Ee makes the short
| est speeches which have been heard during re-
! cent years from a prime minister. He puts
| ministers in charge of measures and watches
/ them while they open and close the debates
| He encourages Mr. Winston Churchill when so
! accomplished debateI Mr.. Churchill is TO
| be audaciously assaulted, and he allows young
members TO win their spurs when they
| barely mounted for public careers. When he
| speaks himself he brings to every question the
reserved force of authority which he has drawn
from the general electorate. Kind hearted,
t magnanimous gentleman as he Is. he may be
acting from unselfish motives when he grants
a free field for Individual effort and enables IN
known we'll ministerial associates 70
/ show what is IN them: yet he Is also shrewd
and adroit party leader IN taking this line
| The surest way OF promoting his own ascen-
danoy and Of securing discipline among HIS fol-
| lowers IS fair treatment of associates and gen.
! erous encouragement of rising His
| speeches have more weight when he IS not con-
stantly forcing his way into debates and there
| is less discomfort on the front bench and
throughout the government side when there are
few disappointments and no grievances
! The Prime Minister. instead OF being the vic
tim OF the double-party system. as Lord Rose
berry has been demonstrating that so brilliant
man Lord Randolph Churchill was IN his
| time. intelligently directs and controls t. In
stead Of asserting his independence OF party Or
ganization and offering resistance to II. he has
and. with the democratic electorate behind him.
he has hall