The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-11-13

The resignation of Arthur J. Bal
four, as leader of the opposition in
the house of commons, is an event
that no one really expected. but at
which no one is greatly surprised.
now that it has happened. Mr.. Bal
four's leadership has been more or
less questioned for a long time; but
the audacity OF the course taken by
the .Asquitll ministry in regard to the
house of lords. and the vigor with
which that course was pursued to its
triumphant end, have brought all the
doubts as to his capacity in this re-
spect to tho point of open and ener-
to stay where he is not wanted, so
soon as he is convinced that he is not
wanted; and his resignation is with
out doubt proof that he is SO con-
'yinced.
Most intelligent observers have
probably had the feeling that MIR.
;Balfour's skill as q leader of a poll
ftical party had its well-detincd limi-
Etations. a past master in the small
tactics of the house of commons, in
(which he is an old hand. the very
tnimblencss and subtlety of his mind
tdisablcd him from meeting his OPP
lponents. as the champions Of Il Wig
orous and greedy democracy. on their
own ground. When he conceived
that he had set forth rcasons which
were conclusive as against any given
iCourSc. the man in the street re-
manned unmovcd and untouched. Most
persons who have read man of his
speeches have probably felt that he
lacked the 1.rm grip of a successful
popular advocate. Ills philosophical
mind kept the other side constantly
in view, and his thorough intellectual
Integrity made him abhor setting up
Illusions. The British democracy are
not capable Of grasping much more
than one point at q time. and MT.
Balfour spoke to them as if they were
IL company of scholars, possessing all
the powers Of discrimination that
learning gives. If to many readers
his speeches seemed to lack definite
ne.s and point. one may imagine how
Intellectual they were with an cleo
torate largely made up Of men who
are paid only seven or eight dollars
a week. Lloyd George knows how
to fill such men with hope, and his
old-agc pensions law is the constant
proof to them that he can satisfy the
hope which he makes them under
stand and feel . Mr.. -Asquith adj
dresses them like nm advocate speak
Ing to IL jury. His speeches have
cumulative force. and arc almost at
one point. Mr.. Balfour is philos-
optical, ~gentlcmanly, broad-minded.
and uncertain. He leaves n popular
audience in doubt as to where he
went in and where he came out. It
Is fine. hut there is no hope in it for
mel, and women who are working
fairly hard for their modicum Of
bread and butter; and there is not n
point in it definite enough for n
If these men to tell his mates the
next day what it was. Mr.. Balfaur
wishes as we'll to every nan and wo-
man In thu United Kingdom as ny
man in the public life Of that country;
but ht. fails t. convince them Of this
fact. and often fails to make them
sec ii. In the large sense of one
practical idea at Il time. and the force
to drive this idea home so that it be-
comes ii household word. he is not fit
ted for political leadership in Il half
educated democracy.
Whether another will do better in
his place is uncertain. in England
authority is ii great thing, and MIR.
.Balfour possesses authority among
educated people. If he did not make
popular Roadway against the new
pace set by Lloyd George and his as
sociatcs. he at least held the conser-
.vativc elements Of the country to-
'gether and kept them from making
mistakes . 1t is not wisdom that Mr..
'Balfour lacks, but driving force. Driv-
Ing force ma be obtained in a new
leader; but whether the needed wis
dom will go with it is not S % GER
tain