Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-06
IS IN LINE
Henry Campbell -Bannerman
Resigns Premiership.
ILL HEALTH THE CAUSE
Generally Feared the Great Liberal
Is Dying.
WAS PR0TEGE OF GLADSTONE
Change in the Cabinet at This Time
May Force the Country to a
General Election.
WAS PR0TEGE OF GLADSTONE

LONDON. April 6.-Sir Henry Campbell
Bannerman has resigned as prime minis
ter of Great Britain because of i'll health.
King Edward has accepted his resisna-
ton. Herbert III. Asuuith. chancellor Of
the exchequer. who has been acting pre-
mier since Sir IIenry's illness. will un-
doubtedly be chosen successor to the high
office
Sir Henrys condition remains un-
changed. according to the physicians bull
letin posted today. The king, In tele-
graphing his acceptance OF the premier
resignation, conveyed an expression Of his
regret and esteem with best wishes for
Sir Henry's recovery.
No further official announcement with
regard to cabinet changes has been made.
but the king has summoned Herbert II.
Asquith, chancellor of the exchequer. and
the latter will start for Biarritz. whore
the king is sojourning. probably this
afternoon.
The chancellor called meeting of the
cabinet for today to submit the pre-
mfers resignation and discuss the course
of business.
May Cause a Crisis.
The resignation of Sir Henry, the first
liberal prime minister Of England since
Lord Rosebery gave up office in 1895. has
its dramatic phase. for as he passes from
the stage the mixed forces which he held
together a party appear also to be
approaching the end of political power.
The Bannerman government, 1t has been
stated, combined too many factions and
too many fads: all the elements of oppo-
sition to conservatism and of discomfort
tod fn la lrr1nn "a
old government. and when joined together
in an administration working team of
home rulers. laborites. socialists. liberal
imperialsts and little Englanders was
found nigh impossible.
But 1t speaks much for Bannermans
leadership that the disintegration or TINS
party has gone on SO much more swiftly
since the attack of heart trouble which
occurred last fall in Bristol. where he had
gone to make a political speech, removed
him from the possibility of active leader
ship.
Sir Henry was not only the leader OF
the house of -co4ah4aons but also lie
father. for he represented Stirling without
interruption ever since he entered the
house in 1885, at the age Of thrty-two.
Throughout his political life he has been
a consistent and stanch advocate of radi-
calism, and his political faith has never
wavered.
A Masterful Stroke.
He came more prominently before the
public eye when he took Office as secre-
tary for war i'm Gadstones last gov
ernment. His great administrative feat
was to persuade the Duke Of Cambridge
to resign the position of commander-in-
chief of the army. The duke was ex-
tremely reluctant to retire. but he yielded
to the war minister's tactful pressure
and resigned. Four hours after formali-
ties had been completed and the necessary
document signed the liberal government
was defeated on the cordite vote and re-
signed. The duke then wished to retract
his decision. but it was too late.
A long period of depression for the
liberals followed, and Sir Henry Camp
bell -Bannerman had a trying time in
keeping clear Of the cross currents which
ultimately led TO Harcourt's resignation
of the leadership of the party, which was
badly disunited. There was not mo-
ment s doubt as to who was to succeed
Harcourt, and by unanimous vote of the
party Bannerman was chosen in Febru-
ary. 1899, to be its leader. He was the
ooly possible selection. for he was the
only prominent member of the party who
had broken with neither section.
Still more troublous times were in store
for the liberals with the beginning of the
Roer war. which made the bitterness be-
tween the imperialist and the radical
possible to conceal the party differences.
for both sections openly attacked one an
other, but the difficulties of the position
gave Bannerman his opportunity.
Stuck to His Post.
A less resolute man would have thrown
up the task in despair, but he stuck 10
his post. ever watching for an occasion ~
lead a temporarily united party against
the government. He Was bitterly and saw
agely attacked. but he never lost his head
under the greatest provocation and in the
face of the biting criticism Of Chamber
lain he maintained his self-restraint
1t was not until two years later that
a chance remark by Mr. Chamberlain in
the House gave him opportunity to
refer in detail to conversation which
had passed between him and Cha amberlain
before the war. From this conversation
ii was clear that Chamberlain had never
war anu had been bluff
ing" and the fact that, with this dam
aging weapon in his armory. Banner
man had refrained from any breach of
the most stinging attacks. greatly raised
him in the estimation of the House.
If historians do not call Sir Henry one
describe him a wise and witty man.
sense and great political sagacity, which
at times rose TO the plane of high states