Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-04-06

and of discomfort united to make COM
mon cause against the old government
and when joined together in an admin
istratiOn a working team of Home
Rulers. Laboritcs, Socialists, Liberal
Imperialists and Little Englanders"
was found nigh impossible. But it
speaks much for Banncrman's leader
| ship that the disintrcgation of this
| party has gone much more swiftly
since the attack of heart trouble which
| occurred last fall in Bristol, where he
went to make Il political speech. prac-
| tically removed him from further ac-
| tive leadership.
| Sir Henry was not only the leader OF
| the House of Commons, but also it's
| father, for ne represented Sterling
| without interruption ever since he en-
tered the House in 1868 at the age Of
32-Throughout his political life he has
! been q consistent and staunch advo-
| cate of radicalism and his political
| faith has never waivcrcd. Hc did not
derive his policies from his family,
| however for his father. Sir James
Campbell, a prosperous Glasgow mer-
chant, was one OF the most devoted
adherants of the Tory party in Scot
| land. while his brother sat for years
| in the House of Commons on the Con-
servatvc side. When he first stood as
a Liberal candidate for Sterling, young
Campbell was twitted with his fathers
allegiance to the other side. but here
torted that loyalty to their political
faith ran in the family and that as his
father was consistent in his Toryisrf,
he would be consistent in his Liberal
ism. He became known rather for mis-
kgenialty and hospitality than for the
7 political sagacity which he showed lat
er. He mad varied experience in gov
ernment, holding the positions of fl
nancial secretary to the war Office
twice, secretary Of state for war, and
for brief time, in 18S4-5 chief secre-
tary for Ireland.
At that trying period. the Irish menu
bers were devOting all their efforts to
making that office almost untenable
but Mr.. Zimmerman Che assumed the
name of his maternal uncle, Banner
man under will and acquired his IT,
tie in 1880, met all their attacks with
unfailing good will and ready wit.
"Tim'' Healy complained that Ireland
was beng governed. by Scottish jokes
they could make no impression on the
Scottish sand bag.i', AIN
He came more prominently. before
the public eye when he took Office as
| secretary for war in Gladstone's last
government. His great administrative
act was to persuade the aged Duke of
Cambridge to resign the position of
commander in chief Of the army. The
N,,J-<
tire but he yielded to the war minis
ter's tactful pressure and resigned.
Four hours after the formalities had
been completed. and the necessary
documents had been signed the Liberal
government was defeated on the cor
dite vote and resigned. 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 Bamlerinan had q 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 disuuited.
There was not a moments doubt as to
who was to succeed Harcourt and by
a unanimous vote Of the party, Ban
herman was chosen in February. 1899.
to be its leader. He was the only pos
sible 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 begin
ming of the Boer war, which made the
bitterness between the Imperialist and
f1,ov
Ii was impossible to conceal the party
differences, for both sections openly at
tackled one another. but the difficult
ties of the position gave Bannerman
his opportunity.
A less rcsolute man would have
thrown UP the task in despair, but he
| stuck to his post. ever watchful for
an occasion to lead temporarily unit
ed party against the government. He
was bitterly and savagcly attacked,
but he never lost his head under the
greatest provocation. and in the face
| Of the biting criticism of Chamberlain
he maintained his self restraint.>
II was not until two years later that
chance remark by Mr.. chamberlain
in the House gave him an opportunity
to refer in detail to conversation
which passed between him and Cham
berlain before the wor From this con-
versation it was clear that Chamber
lain never anticipated a war and had
been "buffng" and that with this
| damaging weapon in his armory. Ban
| herman had refrained from any
breach of personal confidence while
snarting under the most singing at
| lacks This greatly raised him in the
estimation of the House.
AS the memories of the war died
| down and fresh issues came to the
front the friction in the party grew
| less noticeable and the front opposi-
ton bench no longcf. showed the. ex-
traordinary spectacle of three or four
| representatives of one section at one
end with as many more of the other
section at the other end and Sir Henry
! Campbell Bannerman sitting in the
middle as a Buffet state"
| But all the differences were not yet
| healed, and even the approach to
! power Lad not completely reconciled
the various leaders. 1t was reserved
! for an outsider to bring the mem