The Topeka state journal., 1908-04-22

majority ever given to a British pre-
mier. 1t was prophesied at that time
that the incoming of the new party into
power would make complete upset
ting of the old order of things; that the
Liberal government was in poyer for at
least it's full term, under the septennial
act, and that within the next six years
new names would be announced and
new statesmen would appear. But with
his passing the forces which he held
together as a party appear also to be
approaching dissolution unless by some
strong act, the new premier, MT.
Asouith, can weld and hold together
the various factions that are striving
for one particular object in the mouse
of commons. Recent bye-elections have
resulted in the defeat of the Liberal
candidates on every hand and no LID
eral seats are regarded as too safe at
the present time, matter that mas
been given consideration in view OF the
reconstruction of the cabinet and the
necessity of holding further bye-elec-
tions in case certain appointments to
that body are made. He was able TO
withstand attacks from whatever quar-
ter with solid indifference and to come
back to the fight apparently undlsmayed
as though nothing had happened. his
unfailing humor and his good Will
towards all men endeared him even to
those who opposed him or whom ne
opposed.
Among the most important measures
of the Liberal government drought
fore the parliament in 1906. was the e9-
ucation bill. but the mouse OF tin Iotus
gava II IFS death blow by adopting
amendments which the house OF com
mons could not consider. The premier ep
withdrew the measure on Decemoer ~
of that year in a memoraDle speech ~
which he repudiated the claims Oh lHe
neers TO dictate to the commons, anu
adding: h,,,;+ for
+be moment. but neither the resources
of the constitution nor the mousse "a
commons are vet wholly exhausted a..u
ways must and shall be found Wnelepy
the will of the people, expressed LII o,.sa ouS
tte;r aIacted representatives in the house
of COMMONS. can be made to preVail,
Almost Immediately after there 1ol-
lowed efforts on the part or the gov
ernment to check the powers ol onn liie
house of lords and on June o, 80,
! the premier himself moved tnal ~
order to give effect to the Will Oh the
naonIe as expressed by their electeo
| CONSERVATIVES it is necessary tlidI
the mower of the other house TO alter
or reject bills passed by TINS house
| sbould be so restricted by laws as 10
| secure that within the nmlts oi q
| single parliament the final oeclsioIi VI
| the commons shall prevail:
Eventually it was decided 10 ap-
| noint a select committee to CONSIDER
and report upon the Suggestions
which have from time to time peen
made to increase the efficiency OF the
house in matters of legislation.
| Health Breaks Down.
From the very beginning of the
present session of parliament Sir
Henry had been suffering i'll health
| and after the opening day he prac-
| tics1lv had not been able to attend
| the sessions at ALL Chancellor AS
ouith acting as premier in his alb
| sence. He was seriously stricken af-
| ter a big political meeting held at
Bristol on November 13, and he was
| obliged to give up his plans for
series of political speeches that ne
| intended to make. .
On his resignation, April 9Th, the
| representatives of all parties united In
| paying tribute to his ability and
| strone character Mr. Asquith said of
him:
| "In the annals of our history there
is no man who, after long years spent
| in the thick of public contention. has
ever laid down the highest office un-
| der the crown more universally ana
deservedly beloved
| Mr.. Redmond, leader of the Ma
tionalists, said that in Campbell
Bannerman's disappearance Ireland
suffered a loss second only to the loss
| caused by the retirement of Glad
stone. "There is not an Irish national
| ist in any part of the world" said Mr..
Redmond, "who will not deeply de-
plore that this consistent, brave, hon
| orabIe friend of Ireland has been
taken from the arena of public life