The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-24
RISE TO POWER OF
DAVID LLOrD-GEORGE


chequer. in whom democracy beholds
something more than champion
of causes. something more than a leader
in Liberalism. He is the voice which has
called il from long sleep. and the in
spiralion which may inherit 10 heroic
deeds He is something which conser-
! walton lacks. which imperialism caught
FOR a brief moment from Mr. Chamber
lain, only 10 lose in the intricate com
mereialism Of tariff reform.
Rightly have his adversaries seized
upon him as the enemy OF their cause
A man who strikes the imagination and
wins the affection of democracy is
greater danger TO reaction and more
dreaded menace TO opportnnism than the
ATTEST and most determined leader Of any
faction OF party. II is a hazardous thing
Tor any eloquent man to be the master
OF national feelings and conservatism
may argue just cause for its dread of
the increasing hold which the chancellor
or The excheqner actually possesses on
the affection Of the people.
There are men OF all shades OF p0Iti-
cal opinion who fear sentiment in the
business affairs OF the nation An idol
is safer in temple than in a market
place. Even the godliest Of heroes may
lose his head. But the Idol is more pub
licly worshlped and the hero more tu-
} mutuOusly acclaimed the more Violently
the adversary shouts derison
Acquaintance Of the briefest nature
with Mr.. George suffices TO disIodge the
notion that one day he may use mis-
power over democracy recklessly. He is
the shrewdest. sanest, and quietest par
- eel of self-contained humanity that ever
vibrated to the inspiration Of genius
] or felt the glow Of the selfish tempera-
ment There is a courtesy in the smile
; of his eyes, a kindness in the tone OF
his voice. a gentle charity and good
humor in his manner
There is energy in the expression OF
his face and vigor in every one Of his
actions. But II is the energy and vig0r
OF a benevoience TOO deep for com
PLEASANT geniality and TOO earnest for a
] mere platform loquacity. He would
serve humanity. but he viii stand no
nonsense. There is no desire in his heart
to make any one uncomfortable; but If
you are occupying three chairs and two
other persons want to sit down, he will
first ask then tell you 10 move. Like
r all benevolent and kindly men. he thinks
Of others: but with him these others
: chiefly are those who have no one else
e 10 think for them.
David Lloyd-George was the son Of a
schoolmaster. and vas born forty-six
years ago in a WEIGH village His father
died when he was two years Of age The
fortunes o. the family were committed
- TO the charge of an uncle ae0d. honest
man. but POOR as the soil Aon the top
Of Snowdon Hill Poverty never has yet
/ prevented the poor from defending the
destitute. and into the household Of the
poor cobber uncle was warmly welcomed
the dead schOolmasteT's family which
I included. ia a pinafOre and bare legs,
| Englsnd's future chancellor Of the ex-
chequer Il was hard work TO squeeze
them IN still harder work 10 provide
them with food But the good uncle
t0iled OF MS cobh'irG and, like Sancho
j. Panza. praying te God and hammering
away" eontFived TO support those whom.
being a religious man. he reckoned that
Providence had committed 20 his care.
Il can remember so very clearly
C said the chancellor the other day. that
il was always. not once or twice. not
n occasionally. but always. a struggle for
! I my mother al the end of the week The
Il last sixpence of every week was a coin
OF destiny Ny mind at that time was
impressed by the terrible Importance
every week OF this last sixpenee. and
a il is still impressed by the memory. II
!. is the strongest impression of my child
; hood. Few people in happier circum-
stances can realize the frightful strain
\ of a housekeeping which hangs for its
success con the last siApence. That !:
a strain which has worn out thousand:
OF noble women and has driven thou
sands OF weaker women into despair
=. II is terrible. II more OF our politi-
Il clans understood IL. British polite:
o would be more real and living and hu-
IA man
II was suggested 10 Mr. Lloyd-George
that he must be struck by the romance
OF his career-once a barefoot little boy
whose mother had to watch the last six
pence. and now chancellor of the ex-
ehequer of the greatest empire of the
world.
He shook his head @No, I assure
YOU" he answered ''The business OF
life is too severe for dreams of that kind
One ought 10 De always thinking ahead,
never behind. And then, life is so full
of SORROW
Politics touched his life, but subcon-
sciOusly, when he was a boy OF six
years His chief friends were the sons
of some local farmers. They were hon
Test and fearless children of Wales. a
general election took place. Lloyd
George remembers that he marched up
and down the village street with a tiny
/ little flag given him by his mother. 1t
was a grand day He strutted tremen-
dously But soon afterward he missed
his playmates. They disappeared. 1t
was ar if the election had swallowed
them up. Then he heard that their
fathers had been turned out OF their
Fnp h. 10
/ Liberal ticket Then and there he con-
cluded that politics was poor game
But that action OF the landlords. he
said. reminiScently, was the deathblow
| TO their political influence in Wales The
whole country was aroused. Wales is
easy TO arouse on such questions. We
got up a national subscription for the
dispossessed farmers. We made land
lOrdism shake in its shoes. Ever since
they never have dared TO interfere 80
Shamefully in the elections"
Then landlordism began to touch his
life in another direction. At the age
OF eleven he was conscious Of a suone
impulse toward solitude He did MOI
want 10 play with other boys. He did
not want TO be one OF a party. He wanted
TO be alone. He wanted to think Al
around him was the loneliness of Weicf
scenery. But wherever entrance Offered
TO those delicious solitudes there arose
a menacing board oyerawing the littl,
boy with the words of terror. Tres
passers will be prosecuted with the ut
most rigor OF the law. The fields Wer'
forbidden. the banks of the rivers were
forbidden Every place his soul desre'
was forbidden. Landlordism said 10 hin
in effect: '"rhe earth is mine The beauty
of the earth is mine. The shade of tn
trees. the softness of the grass. the love