New-York tribune., 1907-06-02
THE LIBERAL MINISTRY
T;rfu0uS attitudes and Meaerc
Results.
London MAJ 90

London May 90.
The Liberal government has a fatal facility
far posing. It's energies are so largely employed
= assuming the right attitude on questions Of
-. Jay that il negIects to accomplish anything
--1is is tactical mistake, for the English cleo
,orate is as practical as Anglo-Saxons are every
,rere. and insists upon having results The
,overnment's chief diplomatic achievement has
zen an earnest and consistent effort to set a
.ood example 20 European powers in reducing
she expenses of the military and naval services
and 10 get into the right attitude toward dis
o-nament II has taken high ground on a
moral question which appeals to the conscience
of the civilized world, and it is not TO be re-
r-oached for the failure Of a virtuous effort to
forn provocative and Wasteful system; but
mart from the wholesome effect of example and
,ase there are not likely to be any definite re-
srts from a diplomatic campaign conducted
18th more ardor than discretion. The most i'm
rortart imperial event has been the conference
81 the Colonial Office: and here. TOO, its attitude
has been rreproachable and the results have
leen trivial and Disappointing The self-gov-
erninc colonies could not have expected min
.s,srs 10 be disployal to Free Trade and to the
electorate which armed them with power, but
they naturally anticipated more comprehensive
action on the permanent organization of an i'm
1erial council than was adopted. The govern
inent's attitude toward General Botha was mag
nauinlous and really fine. but the first result OF
this touch Of sympathy may be the Gripping OF
the South African mines through the repatria-
ton Of the Chinese laborers, and that may be
disastrous policy.
In domestic politics there has been since the
second session opened the same tendency 10
nose rather than TO act. An aggressive attitude
col. Tho
consequence OF the rejection OF the education
bill but nothing has Yet been done and the pre-
else line TO be followed has not been revealed
The aspirations Of the Nationalists have been
treated with respect, for Mr.. Birreu has been AS
sincere Home Ruler Of the GIadstonian type
ss either his predecessor in the Irish Office Or
the Prime Minister himself. Yet when the Irish
Council bill is produced il does not satisfy any
section Of the Commons and is repudiated unan-
imously by NT. Redmond's followers On the
question of army reform the government stands
at once for economy and efficiency but Mr.. Hal
dane is the only member of the Commons who
understands the new system and the results Of
the proposed legislation are problematic and un-
certain. The main concession to the labor party
since the passage Of the new law of combination
Is the promise of a nucleus for old age pensions.
Mr. Asquith in his Budget speech posed as Il
debt payer and an economist yet turned sym
pathetic eye toward the labor benches while he
was cautiously ear-marking a portion of another
years surplus for The establishment of a gen.
aal pension fund. Something may be done in
the early future, but it is an open question
whether the Chancellor Of the Exchequer has
not gone about it in the wrong way The clear
est thinkers on social questions agree that old
age pensions viii do more harm than good if
fbav6 +J,rif+
biity. Mr. Hartford Hawkins grand master of
Manchester OddfeIlows, makes this sententiou,
comment on the governments attitude on pen
sons: The constant promise of irresponsible
patriots and few responsible politicians is lead
ing young men 70 think that there is now no /
peed 10 provide for the future" II cannot he /
couhted that old age pensions bestowed without
discrimination as gratuities to all above a GER (
tain age limit viii complete the Generalization (
wrought by a wasteful and unscientihc admins /
trad0n Of the poor laws.
The Irish council bill will be withdrawn in /
consequence Of the contempt and hostility of the
Aationalists. and the pension fund is reserved
iT me rounding out Of a series of Liberal bud
gets Some substantial proof of legislative in
ousiry is required before the present session can
be wound mp and apparently this is TO be found
IN tie small holdings bill-a measure designed
LOT me Improvement Of the condition of the
agricultural laborers and for drawing the unem-
ployed out Of the overcrowded towns and send
ing them back to the land" Ministers are most
anxious to put themselves in the right attitude
OF benevolent interest in each Of these ques-
IONS The pose is easily taken; but credulous
nceed must be the onlooker who is convinced
either that poor Hodges fortunes can be nended
by so feeble a device or that the unemployed
can be elnptied out of the swarming towns by
improved facilities for allotments, land tenure
or purchase The agricultural industries must
De restored before there can be any return to
me land, and how does the Liberal government
intend to do that after two generations of Free
4rade2 Indeed, signs are not wanting that the !
ministry now in power will be known in history
@s one that was always virtuous in its intentions
ana Heagre in its performance. In administra-
uFe capacity il excels the previous government /
eho ranks with the famous Ministry Of All the
1aents. or with Mr. Giadstones first Reform /
Oaoinet, which entered upon legislative work
Win frenzy for action. It is a thoroughly |
Aigh minded and democratic government that
Is bent upon being the right side of every /
political and social issue; but when its record is
MADE up It Will be judged. not by its poses. but |
y pIdclI'eI results. Inf
STUDIO NOTES