New-York tribune., 1907-09-15
POLITICAL OUTLOOK.
Rcnytat;0ns and Nc7c Forces at
Westminster.

London. August 81.
The close Of Parliament is followed by the
usual processes of political stOcktaking. AS
these inventories are made by partsans Oh
either side there are wide diveTgences III val
uations When the account current OF prohl anu
loss is audited by neutrals the net gam Is OH
tho liberal side although it is not so large as
ministers themselves estimate IL There mas
been an unprecedented amount Of fresh leSisla-
ton and this is a proof Of working power Dul
the bulk of it has been non-controversial, and
the remnant has been tentative ana hlcohClu-
sive The conflict between the houses, while
claimed as a victory on each side. has been In
reality 2 drawn battle without marked advan-
tages of rosition The Lords have rejected TWO
Scottish measures and secured compromises III
other bills and while they are reproached LOT
blocking and mutilating legislation, tney nave
shown their efficiency as a revising chamoer-
The country has not been vitality interested III
the three schemes of land legislation, ana Iouo
talk about an irrepressible constitutional strus-
gle will be a tinklng cymbal until there is
clash of opinion over some question like old
age pensions for the unemployed. on which or
gapized labor throughout the kingdom VIII
rally tts forces The Opposition has been adrclt-
" led hv Mr. Ralfour. but tactical dexterity is d
moor substitute for conviction. The Conserv-
ativss are divided the subject OF tariff re-
form and cannot make substantial progress
until their house is set in order. Mr.. BaIfour'
Influenced alternately by the Ceciis ana the
Cbamberlainites is Laodicean- Nobody knows
whore he stands on this fundamental issue OF
party policy.
When the stocktaking Is carried into valua-
tions Of Individual regulations the results are
even more uncertain than in party gains OF
losses. The Prime Minister while stronger than
the government as a whole, has neither gained
nor lost prestige during the session. There have
been striking passages OF bravura In MS chel-
lenges to the Lords: there have been Palmer
s,onian touches Of pleasantly in his conduct OF
debates. and there has been ConsuQlmate tact
in adjusting the balance of power within the
Cabinet and in managing factions in the COM
mons He remains the necessary leader OF the
government but he is aging under the pressure
Of work and responsibility. and with all his
. of,eoted toculartv he is weary of public life
and is kent at his post only by high sense
of duty Ambition never carried this rich anu
irdolent Scotsman into Downing Street II was
n consciousness that he had led the Liberals IN
Onposition and earned the hOnors OF Prime
Minister that induced him 10 put his back 70
the wall and TO resist all efforts TO displace him.
\ high bred Scotsman is about the last man III
the world TO give up anything that ne Is con-
vinced rightfully belongs 10 him. Yet the Prime
his capacity for leading his party with un-
ri,-aIIed authority feels the burden Of every
added wear and longs for rest. Possibly MS
strength and courage may revive AFTER iour
months vacation in Perthshire; but II IS hoO
nv anv means improbable that he may retire
from, office before the opening Of another session
That will raise the question Of the Liberal sue
.caseion with Sir Edward Grey as a more avalI-
atI, candidate than either Mr. Asquith or Mr.
fy,,TNO a hab
reserve. and this is more helpful to poiiticel
,,,,titio, than front bench repartee or fuency
in debate.
rho Prime Minister'S associates have been
mora intent upon disappointing their critics
than improving their political regulations lriS
Sc an impulse which almost invariaoly influences
nubIic men While they are carrying the strong
holds of power by direct assault they are cred
tied with qualities which unit them 1or the
RESPONSIBILITIES of office; and it is point OF
n,ide with them 10 prove that their critics we're
wrong in their forecasts Mr. Morley had been
reproached with being Little Englishnlan in
5iyerent TO the interests of a worldwide en-
,;ra. and he became one of the firmest and most
resolute Secretaries for India England has ever
known Mr.. Lloyd George had been lampooned
as a FIRE eating Radical without administrative
experience or sobrety Of judgment; and ne sue
ceeded in rvalling Mr.. Chamberlain hlmseH as
an organizer at the Board OF Trade- MI AS
ouith had been condemned as "A Whissfsh LID
eraI without sympathy for democracy and 1e
was not long before he produced budget so
radical as 10 merit the word "socialistic MT
Burns had been denounced as little peter thah
n socialist agitator and revolutionist; but
sobered and broadened by the responsibilities or
power he was converted into one of the most
conservative and sagacious ministers or the
Crown, with the courage and Judgment required
for resisting turbulent attempts TO pauperize
and demoraIize the masses These ana othef
ministers have shown how unjust were the
structures passed upon them by opponents; but
while their talents for administrative business
have been brought into full use. they have not
their regulations as debaters and
politicians Mr. Haldane has narrowly escaped
tho fate of the drawing room bore who talks too
much: Sir Edward Grey has the superior gift
for reticence: and Mr.. Harcourt and Lord Crewe
have made the most conspicuous advances in
politicaI authority.
The labor members have scored the largest