New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-30
ASQU|TH LUCK
Continuance Improbable abor
and Home Rule.
London. September l

statute NAAAlOhA his concentration Oh pQI-
pose. mcidity Of mind and sobriety of
judgment. These concessions cannot be
refused and yet it is not to be denied
that he has been highly favored by cir
cumstances in his successful struggle
over the Parliament bill The guar
antees would have been withheld if the
King had not been influenced by his
fathers example and decision: the bill
would have been defeated in the upper
house if thirty or more Unionist peers
had not been frightened by the threat
Of new creations. and the government
would have been overwhelmed with ridi-
cule II II had been compelled to manu-
facture puppets by the hundreds The
Prime Minister has gone straight for
every fence and sought his fox by the
bo'dest riding, but he has had extraordi-
nary luck all the way.
VIII the AsQuith run Of luck continue
durinc the next eighteen months? That
IS a question which clubmen are asking
after their return 10 their easy chairs in
smoking rooms after their holidays.
There has been no sign Of the Prime
Minister'S unpopularity since he reached
the zenith of his fortunes in the passage
OF the Parliament hill without the crea-
tion Of peers. Sir Edward Grey has i'm
parted increased vitality TO the alliance
with France-for that is what the en-
tente has virtually become-and France
with England behind her has stood out
firmly against German intervention in
Morocco. II vigorous diplomacy con-
Quoted without meddlesome aggressive
ness has been helpful TO the Liberal gov
eminent. so has efficiency in the man
aeement Of the feet In the present
crisis a powerful fleet in readiness for
immediate action has been necessary,
and the nation has known where if was
and that IL was absolutely trustworthy
as a defensive resource. The action Of
the Ministry during the labor strikes
was also highly commendable. There
was no lack of strength in the suppress
sion OF lawlessness. and there was deX-
t-ritv i'm the arrangement Of an armistice
for a few weeks.
Certainly the government has not lost
ground since the settlement Of the veto
question. 1t has taken a strong line in
foreign and in labor affairs, and good
fortune has continued TO favor II. The
Prime Minister'S instinct for leadership
IS unerrinC. and his colleagues in the
Cabinet are able and fearless men. who
conduct their departments with admin
.strarive skill and work together without
distrust or jealousy. There has been no
British Cabinet equal 10 IL in working
power since the great reform admin
lstration headed by Gladstone. in 1868.
If IL fails TO take advantage Of the Par
lament bill and 70 secure the passage Of
an equal number of reform measures II
will not be because the Prime Minister is
q umorous and vacillating leader and is
surrounded by feeble, inefficient associ-
ates. It will be because the Radical luck
p turned and the problems to be
undertaken have not been thoroughly
thought out.
Already there are indications that the
coalition. which has cohered tenaciously
since the general election. is weakening.
The Labor members were Sc. aside by
the strike leaders, who had devised
new method Of conducting labor revolts,
and discredited as rusty politicians out
Of touch with the progressive forces Of
trade unionism. Naturally, they have
become jealous advocates Of federation
strikes and combinations with transport
workers. and their voices are likely to be
raised against the Railway Commissions
report i'm october. and also against the
government. If there be a renewal OF
labor complications. In their eagerness
20 prove that they are fully abreast with
trade unionism they may Obstruct the in
erlrance bin with impracticable amend
r1ents. challenge the employment Of mil
f-arv forces in the suppression Of strikes,
insist upon legislative relief from recent
decisions of the courts and demand eX-
IRENE measures in return for continued
surrort Of the Radical government. The
relations Of ministers with this unman-
aeeable group may easily become criti-
cal
Even more dangerous is the Home
Rule question. which the government Is
under obligations 10 take up next year.
Already the Union Defence League Is
organizing a campaign against il and
rrararing 10 revive religious bigotry in
Protestant Ireland and popular prejudice
f~ Lancashire. Wales and Scotland.
,ro~aave~ a strong delegation Of COM
fa-f-e Radicals from the Eighty Club Is
visiting Ireland in order 10 obtain pre-
else information respecting the land,
finance and other administrative ques-
t5urs and % rekindle ardor for ParneI-
ism and GIadstonianism. In the course
Of q few weeks the Home Rule question
will again be brought before the coun-
try with the Irish party itself divided
tv faction feuds. with religious bitter
ness as frenzied as ever and with the
financial difficulties multiplied. II VIII
De the Prime Minister'S thankless task
o. satisfy Redmondites and OBrlenites
when they are not in agreement on any
dearft4 scheme Of Home Rule and at
rr. came time 20 reconcile Scottish
Welsh and Lancashire Liberals to the
hearr cost Of separate administrative
system. What a sunburst Of Asquith
luck there must be If measure so COM
pick and exasperating can be carried to
successful issue,
rn.ouists probably exageerate the OH
fclIties when they assert that I IrelI
Britain will he forced 20 find tlo'VW'o'o
~ the outset and TO pay an annual sub