Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-04-25


London, Eng.-Sir Henry Campbell
Bannerman, formerly British premier,
died Wednesday morning at his Of
fetal residence in Downing street.
There will be a funeral service in
Westminster Abbey at noon, April "a,
attended by representatives Of King
Edward and Queen Alexandra, diplom-
atists, members OF parliament and
others. The interment viii take place
the following day at Meigle, Perth
shire, beside the body Of Sir Henry's
wife.
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman was
born in Stracathro, Forfarshire, Scot,
Sept. z, 1886. His father was Sir Jas.
Campbell, a wealthy merchant, once
lord provost Of Glasgow. His mother
was Miss Bannerman OF Manchester.
When her brother, Henry Bannerman
of Hunton Court, Kent, died, under the
terms of the will Henry Campbell in
herited a large fortune and assumed
his hyphenated name.
Henry was educated at Glasgow uni
versity and Trinity college, Cambridge,
imblbing the ideas of the liberal party
at both institutions, and as early as
1868 he was chosen to represent lib
erals living in the group Of towns
around Stirling, and subsequently at
every election.
He had been only three years in the
house when Mr. Gladstone, who had
noted his capacity for business, made
him financial secretary Of the war Of
fee, where he remained until 1874. He
resumed this Office in 1889, remained
there for two years, and then followed
two years more as secretary of the
admiralty. In the Irish cataclysm
which followed the fall Of Mr.. Forster
and the Phenix park murder of Lord
Cayendish, chief secretary for Ireland,
in 1884, he was made chief secretary
for Ireland. He held the office ably
until the fall of the Gladstone minis
try in 1885.
/ 1t was natural that when Mr.. Glad
stone formed his third cabinet in 1886
he should reward his loyal and capa-
BILE follower with the important Office
Of secretary of war. He held the same
office from 1892 to 1895, the last year
under Lord ROsebery's administra-
ton.
1t was due to the reluctance Of Mr..
Gladstone's and Lord Rosebery's gov
ernments to expend money on the
army estimates that Sir Henry's de-
partment was caught short on eordite
and the exposure OF the deficient sup
ply Of that death-dealing explosive
lead to the overthrow Of the govern
/ ment.
AS war minister, Sir Henry achieved
two notable things, for which he re-
ceived the gratitude Of the British
army and country, the first being the
introduction of the eight-hour system
for a days labor in the army supply
factories. The second was getting rid
Of the royal old fogy, the, duke OF
Cambridge, as commander-in-chief
He was chosen leader of the liberal
opposition in succession to Sir William
Harcourt in February, 1899.
Sir Henry resigned the Office oi
prime minister on April 5. On his
resignation the representatives Of all
parties united in paying tribute tC
his ability and strong character.
During his term as premier, as in
deed throughout his entire life, SiI
Henry was able to Withstand attacks
from whatever quarter with stolid in
difference and to come back to thu
fight apparently undismayed, as Il
nothing had happened. His unfailinG
humor and his good will toward al
men endeared him even to his oppo
nents,