The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-03-19
NO NOTABLE CHANGE.

Nothing or any particular moment
has taken place during the week to
change the attitude in the British poll
tlcal situation. Lord Rosebery comes
forward with proposition that the
House of Lords be cut down to Il MEM
oership of three hundred and fifty in
stead of eight hundred and fifty, but
as this would simply reduce the num-
Der instead OF completely effacing that
BODY. as advocated by the reform
forces. it will fail to meet with favor.
NO one expects the Lords to reform
the Lords and this is what Lord Rose
bery's latest proposal amounts to.
There is a growing feeling, so far as
indications point, that the present gov
eminent will last but short time. The
explanation of this belief can be stated
in a few words. The Labor partv is
wavering, but the Nationalist are un-
yielding. That is plainly the situation
at the present writing. Mr.. Asquith',
hesitation has so weakened the govern
ment as to place it in a position where
defeat may come at any time. Should
this take place on one Of the govern
ments main proposals immediate re-
signation on the part of the ministry
might follow. But when conditions are
such as at present in the house it is
the unlocked for defeat on a side issue
that is most generally feared. 1t was
a defeat of this kind that brought about
Lord Rosebery's resignation in 1895.
Campbell Bannerman was war secre-
tary and incurred vote of censure
arising out Of an unsatisfactory reply
TO question as to the supply of COR
d!te. Rosebery then resigned, though
ne did not do so in the previous year
when he was defeated on the address.
Between 1871 and 1873 Gladstone was
defeated several times, but did not re-
sign. He was defeated on a vote as
to the house Of lords in 1898, and still
held on. Perhaps Asquith will have
the opportunity to take advantage Of
precedents thus established.
In spite Of all the doubt and uncer-
tanty now existing, in spite of the
vested interests and Of the influence of
the established church which through
many generations has been the bitter
enemy of progress. there is a powerful
feeling throughout the empire that the
time has come for a new state of
things. TheLiberal party wants a great
leader. In this it is lacking with the
present premier. Mr.. Asquith's career,
as Colonel Arthur Lynch. Mr.. p, aptly
stated 1t a short time since, is simply
that of successful lawyer and poll
tician. The very words seem to cover
up multitude Of compromises of poll
tics and of plumber "a man who necer
makes blunder," said the Duke of
Wellington. "never makes anything"
And now Asquith, the safe man, with
his whole manner and bearing that Of
the trusted family lawyer with his
desk full of secrets and his best work
done. is not the man to lead a revolu-
ton. The only chance of the Liberals
is that his younger lieutenants, Lloyd
George and Winston Churchill, may
force his hand, or that John Redmond,
in his position of holding the balance
of power. may screw him to the stick
ing point by fear that is ever present
to a weak Government, that of being
cast out, never to return.
AS matters now stand there NAV be
a new general election within few
weeks or months. This may be avoid
ed by the Liberals taking their courage
in their two hands and really en-
deavoring to carry out the program
they placed before the country and on
which they were elected. Another rea-
son may possibly prolong the life of
the present Government, and that is
that no party, except the Tories, is pre-
pared to fight again for time. The
last general election cost millions ster|-