New-York tribune., 1909-09-13
THREE HOTSPURS
Forcing the Fighting-Lords and
Commons.
London. August 2s

There are no figures OF heroic proporttons .,
English public life. Gladstone himself had bAer
in sympathetic touch with giants like Pei
Palmerston. Russell. Bright. Golden. DisraAli
but when his days were numbered he left be-
hind him only two statesmen of the same class
Salisbury and Chamberlain; and one ala M,
survive him long and the other is hardly r1o,.
than ghost in the background Of politics Tha
front benches OF the Commons are not euutv.
but ideals of leadership have changed, and s,ins-
fetal .cfeverness in debate. or dexterity in IN
venting phrases and making sport Of an oppo-
nent, has taken the place Of genius for publ,
life Mr.. Asquith and Mr.. Balfour are evenlv
matched as tacticians and debaters; and bouf,
between them are well fought and fairly inter-
esting to spectators: yet neither Of them appes-,
thoroughly in earnest. nor conveys 70 outsider,
a distinct impression Of greatness. IF Sir FA
ward Grey speaks with an air OF authority and
power held in reserve. it may be because hix
voice is seldom heard and he commands atssn-
tiOn when he does come 20 the front. There ara
more mediocre politicians than high-minded
statesmen in sight. England after Gladstone
and Salisbury is like Italy after Cavour and
Garibaldi. Germany after Bismarck or
France after Thiers and Gambetta- Party Doll.
tics are complex and Of momentous eonsequenc.
but the men directing them are not masters az
politics, with the glamour of great personalities
The most interesting figures in sight are the
three Radical HotspUrs. who are dragging the
Prime Minister along precipitous paths at break
neck speed and defying the Lords to bring on a
constitutional crisis The Chancellor Of the Ex-
chequer is one OF them His budget speech was
a failure because he attempted to rival Glad
stone in mastery Of detail and lUcidity Of ex-
position: and il was not long before his OppOn-
ents discovered that he had not thought out
clearly the application Of the principles which
he was advocating. For few weeks 1t looked
as though he had shot his bolt in midair and
had not hit the mark It was not until III.
campaign in support OF the budget was organ
ICED and close coalition Of Radical and Labor
speakers and agitators was formed that the
masses became intensely interested in the gov
ernment's work: and II was Mr.. Lloyd-GeoFgss
speech at LimehOuse that impaired an irreslst-
ible impulse TO the movement. II exposed him
at once to reprOach for appealing to the passions
of the mob setting class against class and de-
grading his high Office by the devices OF a
demagogue; yet il carried him to the front as a
leader Of democracy who had reckless courage
and the incompatible gift OF inspiring enthu-
siasm among his followers, He Is the Radical
Gracious with the hot breath OF the populacs
in his face
Close behind the Chancellor IS Mr.. Winston
Churchill, and he is In more furious haste than
his associate. He has less constructive ability
as minister and fnancier. and less iueney and
wit as a debater but he has even greater su-
dacity and aggressive force. and seems 10 know
intuftiveiy what his audience wants TO hear him
say and how 20 say II 50 that workers viii re-
member 1t and talk about II over their luncheon
pals. He is the best canvasser on the Liberal
side for he Is never out OF touch with the Masses
and fascinates their imagination by his dashing
bravado. high spirits and enjoyment OF conflict
He Is uncomfortable and resourceful and cannos
wait for instructions OF reflections. The Prime
Minister'S chief anxieties in ofiCs must come
from the difficulty OF keeping this daring lieu
tenant under discipline. Never has minister Of
the Crown been IN such white heat 20 force
the fghting 20 lead sortie against the Lords
and 10 rally the masses for decisive victory.
1t may not be war. but It Is picturesque and
vtvaCiOus.
The third Hotspur is Mr.. Lewis Harcourt by
r1ture and training a moderate Vhig but an
ardent Radical when the Lords are obstructins
the viii Of the Commons. Possibly it Is the
memory Of his father. the pioneer OF Radical
finance that excites his wrathful indignation;
or IL may Re a sInguIarly unordant wit that can
not be restrained wher he brings ~ into d.
structfve use, but certainly no Liberal minister
Is more OutspOken in criticism OF the Lords or
less disposed to keep peace with them by timely
compromise or conciliatory language than Mr..
Harcourt. His sarcasms are more effective than
ChurchilIs audacious epigrams. One OF the most
amiable men in public life, with graces OF cour-
tesy which make him favorite in society. he
is fairly white with anger when he talks about
the chamber OF titled nonentities and mediocre
ties and challenges il 70 leap headIong to de-
structiOn by fOOIing with the budget
There are no HOtspuTs on the UniOnst side Of
the Commons Mr.. BalfOur has done the bulk
of the debating for his party In opposition as
he did when he was Prime Minister; and young
men have not been encouraged 20 break fresh
ground and 20 make regulations The Cnionist
party suffers from repression of ambitions and
independent spirits. and from the leaders con-
viction that a general election can be carried
on the blunders of ministers of the day. without
the tnvtgorating effect OF creative policies and
definite principles boldly proclaimed and con-
slstent' advocated II there are anv Hotspur,
lurking in the cOncealunent Of the Upper House
and determined 10 make stand for landed in
terests and 10 force a dissolution of Parliament
on constitutional issue OF overmastering i'm
portanee. they will emerge IN due time and help
10 enhven the duh levels OF British politics.
Ihey VIII be ever more interesting figures than
the three dashing COnmoners on the LIBERAL
side. or, az least more fatuOus and fantastic