The Washington herald., 1908-04-23
ENGLAND IS IN GRIEF
Ex-PremieP Bannerman Sue
eumbS to Long Illness.
NEWS SENT TO KING EDWARD
Official Announcement says that
Death Is Due so Heart Failure.
End Comes PeaeefuIIy-Sir Henry
Only Recently Resigned the Pre-
miership-succeede by Asauith.

London. April 22.-AH England to-day
| Is morning the death of Sir Henry Camp
bell -Bannerman, the ex-premier.
Although he had been i'll for some time
and it was known that his condition was
serious. the public generally believed that
rest was all that was needed to restore
the great statesman to at least a sem
blanee Of his former health.
The end came suddenly at 9:15 o'clock
this morning. It is officially announced
that the cause Of the death was heart
failure
The news Of the death was Immediately
telegraphed to the King and Queen, who
are at Copenhagen.
Sir Henry was unconscious throughout
the night aud. although those who were
gathered about the bedside saw that he
was sinking all through the night. the
death came Unexpectedly, even TO the
watchers.
II is understood that the funeral will be
az Meigie, PeTthshire. near which village
is Belmont Castle, the former premiers
Scottish seat. The body will be laid be-
I H.
who died in 1906, and whose prolonged ill
ness was great strain upon Sir Henry.
He never recovered from the blow Of her
death. II marked the beginning Of the
breakdown OF his health.
Sir Henry, on account Of ill-health, had
recently rendered his r~sienation as prime
minister and was succeeded by Herbert
AsqUith
Forty Years I'm Same Seat.
Sir Henry Campbell -Bannerman had
the distinction Of having entered the new
Parliament which was elected in 1895 at
the time he became first lord of the
treasury and prime minister with the
greatest majority ever given to a British
premier For nearly forty years he had
sat for the same seattle Stirling
BuTghs-snd his record Of public Office
goes back to 1871. when he was financial
secretary 10 the war Office, which post
he held a second time from 1850 10 1852.
During the next two years ne was sec
retary TO the admiralty. and in 1854 he
succeeded Sir George Trevelyan as Irish
secretary. filling that Office ably and un-
oOtrusively until the fall Of the Glad
stone ministry in 1855, In spite Of the fact
that the Irishmen described him as "the
Scotch sandbag." In the short govern
ment OF 1856 he was secretary for war,
and 10 that post he returned under the
last Liberal government. He was chosen
leader Of the Liberal opposition IN sue
cessi0n 10 Sir William Harcourt IN Feb
ruary, 1859. The Boer war proved a
stumbling block 90 the administration,
but Notwithstanding the differences be
tween Liberal impeTialists and other Lib
erals over this qeustion, a unanimous
vote Of confidence in his leadership was
carried At a meeting OF the Liberal party
held at the Reform Club in July, 1901
Took Name from Uncle.
Sir Henry was born September Z, 1886
He was the youngest son OF the late Sir
James Campbell. Of Ctracathro. Forfar-
shire. some time lord provost Of Glasgow.
tie assumed the additional name under
the will Of his maternal uncle. the late
Henry Bannerman Of Hunton Court.
Kent, who bequeathed to him a large es-
tate He attended Glasgow University
and Trinity College. Cambridge In 1850
he married Charlotte, daughter Of Mai.
Gen. Sir Charles Bruce She died in
1906 and from that time Sir Henry's de-
cline in health may be dated
In 1902, while the Liberal leader. a pas
sage OF words took place between him
and Lord Rosebery over the doctrine OF
the clean slate" in regard TO the Irish
question and other public questions, and
the Liberal League was formed Sir
Henry again received the solid support
Of the Liberal party I'm the House In 1893,
1901. and 1905, in opposing the education
and licensing acts, Mr.. Chamberlain
fiscal policy, and the governments action
with regard 20 Licensing and 10 Chinese
labor in South Africa on the resignation
Of the Balfour ministry, In December.
1865, Sir Henry was summoned By the
King and formed a Liberal cabinet. him.
self becoming first lord Of the treasury
and prime minister.
Premier Repudiates Peers.
Among the most important measures of
the Liberal government brought before
the Parliament in 1906 was the educa-
tion bill, but the House Of Lords gave it
its death blow by adopting amendments
which the House of Commons could not
consider. The premier Withdrew the meas
ure on December % of that year in
a memorable speech, in which he repu-
dated the claims Of the Peers to dictate
10 the Commons.
From the very beginning Of the present
session of Parliament Sir Henry had been
suffering ill-health, and after the opening
day he practically had not been able to
attend the sessions at all. Chancellor As
quith. acting as premier in his absence.
He was seriously stricken after a big DO
litical meeting held at Bristol on Novem-
her l3. and he wss obliged to give up his
Frto for ~ 30 4,1s@
that lie intended TO make.
On his resignation. April 3, the repre-
sentatives of all parties united in paying
tribute TO his ability and strong character.
Mr. Redmond, leader Of the National
lists, said that in Campbell -Bannerman' s
disappearance ireland suffered a loss sec
ond only to the loss caused by the retire
ment Of Gladstone
BRYCE PAYS TRIBUTE.