The sun., 1908-04-18
pRIME MINIsrER OF ENGLAND.
once, IKE the Constitution, On EVoluion
From PolltiOaI Conditions.

To THE RDIToB or THE sUN-Sir: II may
perhaps be Of some Interest TO observe that
Sir Henry Campbell -BahnermAn must so
down In history as "the nrst Prime Minister
OF England" II was not until December,
1905, when King Edward placed the Primo
Minister on the table Of precedency next 70
the Archbishop OF York and Immediately
above the Lord Chancellor OF Ireland that
this ofiiclal designation OF the chief onicer ol
the British Empire was recognized.
Formerly there was no such person as
Prime Minister" and the individuals who
had climbed to the exalted and much coveted
position took rank only either a. Chancellor
OF the EKcheQusr or as one OF the Secretaries
Of State. Consequently In Nj Gladstoner
time II was usual for the company at dinner
party or public entertainment 70 make way
for the Grand Old Man and give him the
place Of honor, even before Dukes mar
quesses, VisCounts and Barons. 10 was very
much the same with Earl Beaconsheld, VINO
felt very strongly on the question; Il breported
that he was the first oiiicer OF the Crown 70
use the words Premier and Prime MIN
ster" In oflclal dOCum ents. Even now u Is
somewha, Of an anomaly for the Aroholshop
Of CanteTb Try, the Lord Chancellor and the
ArehblshrD . OF York TO take social rank before
the stat ssman to whom they owe their APP
pointU ents
10 = related that when Visoount Melbourne
w.. Prime Minister and the chief adviser oi
the young Queen no one at large dlnh e
party would enter the room before the chiel
olilcer and adviser OF her Majesty. Mel
bourne then turned to the youngest military
offlcer present and said, Sir, please walk IN
nrst." which the young man did, whereupon
the Prime Minister exclaimed 10 that fascinat-
inR manner which made Melbourne 80 popu-
leT with both Queen aud people. quite right'
slrl Always obey orders, ,,-
Like the Constitution Of England; TINS once
Of Premier has been the outcome OF centuries
OF evolution Aud, strange 20 relate " was
the dissipa!ed Charles u VINO really ..aSs .laS
devoted so much OF his time 10 bis mistTesses
that he was very glad TO let his Ministers
alone. William OF orange aud Queen anne
tried 10 return TO the old way oI dong tilhgs
and presided at Cabinet meetings, but when
George l. came 10 the throne Engllsh etates-
men very sOOn discovered that they had
King who hated the country and Could NOV
speak a word Of the Kings English : Geo[gee
u never attended Cabinet meetings ana lelt
the afiairs OF state entirely g Melpole Nho
beyond dispute was Prime Minister. When
George II came 70 the throne there was s ohly ~
slight change. II was said lhat the nrn oi
Walpole and Townshend governed we
country But 1t was soon seen that there was
a division In the camp. For while IoTnshend
was a prime favOrite with the Duchess OF
Kendall, the Kings mistress, Nalpole was ihe
Queens right hand man., and caroline
gained the day. 80,
The long indspOsltion OF George III. and
the frivolous life Of the Prince Regent created
a public demand for a I,espons6le hinlster.
and for seventeen years William Pltt lteIhly
4reigned" as the peoples representative
From that time no one has doubted the eI-
istence OF the fact that the Kings CHIEF MIN
ister II responsible 10 the people and not 10
the Crown. The leader OF the House OF Com
mons was always the CHANCELLOR Of the EI-
chequer. Pitt. Addinaton, Perciyal. Canning
and Peel were Prime Ministers and at the
same time Chancellors Of the EHchequer'
An exception was first made by LORD Palmer
sion, who being threescore years and ten
placed young Gladstone in charge OF the
finances OF the country. Both Mr.. Ballour
and Sir Henry Campbell -Bannerman became
First Lords Of the Treasury, and II is worthy
Of notice that Mr., Asquih takes the same n
position and turns over the finances OF the
country TO Mr. David LlOyd.George. i, d.
NEw YORK, April TO-