New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-10
Mr.. ASQU|TH
The British CriSiS-Force OF
Character.
London. January %.

Tho Prime Minister meets Parliament
ten Increased prestige as a tactician.
rrrere has been fine sword play in poll
+,cs during the last three mo,Ihs. and he
hos disarmed his principal rivals. MI
,9o,four. after the failure Of the confer
.,os challenged him 70 produce the veto
,,;u and committed his own party 10 q
IN. tangled device-thc referendum.
Nv asouith presented ttc text Of the
,eto and appealed 10 the country on H.
ood now that the coalition majority mas
zen secured he describes the election
es practical application OF the refer
.,,dpn, principle AS the general elsc-
..rsta has sanctioned in advance the
..o hill with its preamble relating 70
che conversion of the House OF LORDS
.r,o a reformed second chamber. the
pine Minister properly assumes the
s,,,c,;ons OF an agent bound in honor
~. .a-ry ont his principals orders.
rho nreamble cannot be omitted in re-
.-,,ee 70 the wishes Of extreme Lib
.ls labor members and Nationalist
rrhe naople have authorized II and the
-.rernment can accept aid from the
onrosition in reforming the Loros
49,. can be a compromise respecting
~. hest method of obtaining an etficient
I'd properly representative secoho
.ta,,ber. and II necessary or convenient
no can be another conference over
,h,e matter; but the veto bill 0'herNlSe
a.. tardlv a controversial measure. Inc
to, has decided on special appear
e-r,valent 30 Mr. Balfour's proposed REL
1re,oup' that budgets must ne sat9
.,,.rdad against interference from the
- and that their veto on leglsiatioh
=. 10 res;ricted 80 three years. ms
80 ,hs prime Minister'S Interpretation Oh
~ elections and the coalition ma'of'A
O. prepared 10 support It,
M. Asouith's superior position q =
-, &c due 10 his characteristic
-. Gov going straight" He per-
- t,,o necessity for appealing TO the
.o,rtrv on definite issue ana ao'ui'is
no the result. In producing the Ne'o
h,u end IN laying stress upon II DIS 'i''
o,a paramount question on WHICH NV
o-'. -, ,.as 20 pronounce judgment ne
800 q into matter OF specia1
contract and political honor ms "o4"
&c NOW ont out for him. ana ne mas W.
Nc master OF the situation he oe-
SO thai neglect 10 enact the Fe''
,,n would he a breach Of faith win the
nat,or ne has reduced a genera e!ec-
ZION 20 q system Of tremendous SIN
,,,c,tc BY referring the vcfo OIL 20 ne
,orntrv he mas obtained 2 aec'-'."
,-rfob ne regards as & mandate that the
,,eto hin Is to come Grst and IS 20 90
a,sse6 without any material ameno-
,napt with his iucidity CT Hino ana
,neavih,a purpose he has arranged q set
clement Of the questions between -nS
houses.
The Prime Minister was considered TOT
long time & cold AND unsyrDFarhe'l9
leader. Incapable Of arousing entao3is@I1''
>,.,oc did he appear 60 less advantage
chan in the debates year ago WheH nc
,,,s not master either OF his CABINET OF
% bie marty and was subjected TO con-
,+,r+ nressure from the Irish section.
4 5uatorv. vacillating policy wes forced
man him. and his followers, disconnected
~. hts indecislon and lack Of autnorlty'
often neglected % cheer nm WHeh TIC
vosa IN the Commons. THIS palnlui eA-
rsr;enoe is not likely to be repeated dur
ing the impending session. He mas utlUeu
al sections OF the coalition on a oehil'e
,sspa originally proposed by John Bright
ra,,;ves bv Sir Henry Campbell-Banner-
man an0 finally sanctioned by the gem
oral electorate. He has outmaneuVreu
My Bslfour and Lord Lansdowne ana
ohtsined undisputed control OF d COM
handing position, from when MS 4oi-
lowers cannot be dislodged
year ago the Prime Minister was
,rritsb,e in manner. hating In speech
md preoccupied with anXieties. Inc
nroud snirited, self-confdent leader couio
not he recognized in the harassed public
servant who strolled through whitehall
,,;tr hent head and angrily resented in
terruptlons when he was in MS place Oh
the front bench. Those who have seen
him recently agree that the old Asqulth
is hack in Downing Street" The head Is
carried high, the eyes have the colo gut
+A- ~ contentment with the situation
che facA wears the familiar expression OF
seniality seen among lawyers "hen
bsrrister is briefed for winning case
There will be determined resistance 70
the veto bin in both houses. That mas
been & foregone conclusion from the out
set: vet brilliant and resourcetul as Mr..
Balfour is as a tactician and deoate9'
opposition must be futile when IT is d."
rccted against the declared VIII OF the
nation. Mr.. Asouith's cards are on the
table in plain view and his hand Writ
uallv plays itself from its inherent
strength.
DESPITE the bitterness prevailing on the
Unlonist side, Mr.. Asquith is not sub
jected 10 resentful criticism and partisan
attack. Mr.. Lloyd-George and Mr.. VIM
stor Churchill are the ogres who are de-
nounced with relentless ferocity by their
adyersaries. and possibly one Of Lord
Roseberys acute sayings respecting the
elder Pitts early philippics may be APP
pMed 70 these structures: "lnvecuves
ere one OF the least subtle and most
p!ouant forms OF advertisement" Mr.
Asouith escapes persistent defamation
and abuse because he has always
been temperate in speech and prudent in
ect and has been conspicuous for sobri-
ETY. OF judgment. Lcrd Rosebery de-
scribes the elder Pitt as "a rafting poll
tician, determined 70 make his way