The sun., 1908-04-26
A HARD BLOW TO SOCIALISM
PERSONAL FACTORS ALSO IN
DEFEAT or CHURCHILL.
Ne Roth Charms and EhraGes tho British
POpulace- ASQulth Ministry May Held
on Three Years, but the Lords VIII Kin
Extreme Measures London DOlngs.
sD,eral cdOl, D',poieA 10 THE sun.


Extreme Measures I.OndOn DOlnEs.
SpSet1l Cdb' DSJpoieA 10 THE sun.
LONDON April 25.-Politios and the
weather have absorbed public attention 10
these isles during the entire week. The
rules Of the cable company forbid the trans
mission Of an adequate description Of the
latter subject sufice il to cay that more
snow has fallen In London in the last three
days than in tie entire previous winter.
To.day's papers chronicle the finding Of the
frozen body Of . man In a snow driit few
miles from London. He had attempted to
walk home a long distance during Thurs
days so-called blizzard and persisted 10y the
Vaysde
Politics, on the other hand is a bieot
which Ia displaying all the extreme heat
which the weather lacks. There was a
greater display Of redhot roaring enthusi-
asm in the streets Of London last night over
Winston Churchil's defeat in Manchester
than | have seen al any politioal demon
Sration since midnight Of July I, 1892, at
Omaha, when the Peoples party let them
selves loose over The nomination Of DOnelly
Ilf "dU'htbleI UBnN WIS lUt IlOfN
pcuresquely persona Of any English cam-
paigI Of recent years. Churchil's bril-
hancy. audacity and unscrlpulousness have
charmed or enraged the populace accord
ing tC their mental constitution Even
where he commands admra ton he in
spires no confidence and his defeat has been
received with eNultation by a large ms
lority Of his countrymen. His political
character is we'll indicated by Mr. Grayson,
Socialist member Of Parliament. who SAYS
Of Churchil's eleotioneering methods
II you ask him II he believes in 10 and so
he looks you in the eve and asks Do you
believe in it?' II you answer yes he will
reply. SO do -
In other words he will promise anything
In a campaign and ignore it completely
afterward. Nevertheless Churchill ia the
most prominent figure in English public
life, and his ability is so great that his re-
preston s impossible
WHAT 1T MEANS
The broader significance Of the Man
chester election s described by the English
press OF both parties as epoch making. II
means Of course complete condemnation
oithe Governments record and programme.
II means also q sautsry setback to soca lism
and great growth Of Mr.. Chamberlain's
tarh doctrine in a constituency which was
regarded as the citadel Of free trnde.
The licensing. education and old age pen
Uon measures Of the Government ell helped
to defeat the Liberals. The practical Ques-
tion now arises what effect this disastrous
blow will have upon Mr.. Asquiths pro-
gramme Ne il quite cold blooded enough
10 ieuore the evidence OF the country's
dspeasure and 60 on as though nothing
had happened,
Mr.. Churchill told his constituents in his
speeches that the Government expected to
continue in Office lorSthree more years,
They are legally entitled TO do so for II all
the by-elections should 90 against them
their enormous ma ioHty would scarcely be
impaired Manchester. however, settled
one point The Governments power for
evil in socalistic or other radical legisla-
tion is row NJ on end The House Of Lords
will I've justified in interpreting the will OF
the country as adverse TO all such measures
and will throw them out Then the question
will be how long the Government will have
the audacty to remain in Office in such a
deadlock. According to all precedent they
must soon appeal TO the country in general
election under such circumstances.
AsToR's TACrLEss GIFT
William Waldorf Astor's gift Of tha Cassl-
peake's flag and the Balaclsva bugle to an
English museum arouses mixed comment.
The Interpretation put upon II 10 American
circles is that this eX-Amerioan has gone
out Of his way to snub his former country
men. The graceful thing, Of course, would
have been to present the Gag to America
and the bugle 10 England but Mr., Astor's
peculiar character is not built on those
lines. He saw an opportunity to emphasize
his new allegiance at the expense Of the old
and he did il In the most offensive way
possible IT, however, he expected TO
promote his we'll known social ambitions
Al the hands of the King he has made a
serious mistake. The powers that be 10
this country. whether at court or in Down
ing Street. understand quite we'll that to
confer peerage on this gentleman would
perhaps do more after this episode to weak
en- their cherished entente cordiale with
America than any other small mistake
they might make
COST OF OLD ACE PENSIONS.
Alfred Butterworth, a Lancashire cotton
manufacturer. made practical test OF the
cost Of old ago pensions during Easter
week by giving Ave shillings to every one.
over As years old in Oldham and Chadder-
ton. the population Of which Ia 10000. The
cost Of the weeks pensions as tested by
Mr. Butterworth was el.55O. Taking the
population OF the United Kingdom at 1900
OOO Mr.. Butterworth estimates that the
annual cost Of a national old age pension
you'd be GO ,sS2 OOO assuming that the
two towns named give the average num-
Der Of recipients. MIR. Butterworth points
out that about four thousand rich people
die annually with fortunes aggregating
goo, 10000.
ART AND SOCIETY
The committee to choose pictures for
the Academy are tired Of the constant
innuendoe upon the poorness OF the eX-
hibitions 40 this year the Academy re-
jrctions have been more reckless than ever
before, and II the exhibition contains fewer
paintings, at least a better average will he
maintained.
Americans will be greatly in evidence
during the opera season, which will begin
Nka oN