New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-14
LONDON NOTES
Mr.. Asquith's Coup - L.on
KnoIIyS-Another Disraeii.
London. .Tulv


gift Of arousing enthusiasm among HI,
followers has been withheld from him
When he is received with rounds Of an
pIause II is not through geniality Of dis
position or winning qualities Of person.
ality, but because his leadership %
astute. masterful and successful y.
appeals not 20 the hearts and emotions
but TO the intellect and enlightened SELF.
| interest of his followers. He is admired
and honored rather than loved by the
coalition forces. which he has contr4vo4
to hold together and 10 lead 20 victory
/ Conscious Of the defects Of his char.
acteristic qualities, he covets the power
which Gladstone exercised over men,
imaginations and passions. II there had
I been no premature disclosure Of his Dol.
/ icy he would have enjoyed this week IN,
/ personal triumph for which he has been
waiting all his life. II the declaration
respecting the royal guarantees had been
made in the Commons instead Of by let
ter 20 the Opposition leaders. thers
would have been an indescribable scene
Of enthusiasm. As it was. the secrets
had been told. the sentences we're cold
and perfunctory, and the cheers had the
hollow ring Of a hired clacque.
II was none the less q just and gen.
erous tribute which NJ. Asquith re-
celved from his followers when he re-
ferred with studied moderation 10 thu
Parliament bill. which was 10 he re-
stored 20 its original state and sent back
70 the Lords with the full resources OF
the prer0gative behind it for securing
its enactment Few Prime Ministers had
ever achieved more brilliant victory o.
earned more enthusiastic plaudits fo-
overcoming unexampied difficulties Tho
Lords We're solidly intrencbed on The
high ground Of privilege. tradition and
constitutional usage and he had ssc--
ceeded in dslodging and defeating them
with an allied force divided into factions
and not well disciplined. He had done
this by the sheer power Of infex.ble viii
and inexorable logic. Dependent HIM
|. sell upon Mr.. Redmond ; support
throughout 1910. he had suddenly
gained deliverance by producing the
Parliament BIN and. after the failure q,
the conference. appealing 70 the country
with the understanding that The guar
antees would not be withheld II he
were 10 obtain a majority Having won
a commanding position, he waited with
logged persistenCy for the victory
which was inevitable, with or without
the creation Of the puppet peers. Il nas
been an exhibition Of maneUvriBg power
and concentration Of purpose that en-
titles him 70 be ranked among the
greatest Of Prime Ministers. The au-
thor Of the coup d'etat IS a statesman
Of masterful force.
The approaching retirement ~ Lord
Knollys from the Kings service brings
to a close a most brilliant career. For
more than forty years he has been pri-
waite secretary, in constant attendance
upon royalty. and al seventy-four hs
considers that he has earned release
from the drudgery Of court CORE
spondence. He was anxious q re;irs
after the death Of Edward VII. but re-
NAMED in office at the urgent request
Of the King, who felt that the assistancs
and counsel OF his fathers confidential
adviser would be indispensable during
the first year Of his reign. Lord Knoll
lys has spent his life at court, and has
shown himself 70 be a most resOurcefui
and tactfuI as we'll as a most industrious
official. Businesslilse. precise and eff
cient in all matters Of detail and eti>
quette. he has charming manners and a
talent for saying the right thing IN ms
pIeasantest and most dignified way.
From long and intimate acquaintancs
with King Edward he has acquired and
possibly deliberately cultivated a rat
ural bonhomie in dealing with men.
which was his royal masters moss
characteristic quality He also kne"
King Edwards mind in relation 70 ths
struggle between the houses. and with
out doubt interviewed with decisive ef-
feet last November. when King George
and the Prime Minister came 70 an
agreement over the dissolution OF Parla-
ment.
The UniOnist rebels against N-r Bar
tours leadership have found their Dis
raeli In Mr.. r T. Smith That IS thef
own description OF him. and loud is ths
shouting and fulsome the flattery when
ever he makes a courageous spesch
writes brilliant letter. DisraeL how
ever while eager 70 command attention
by eccentric dress and a1ectations %
manner. was not in hurry. but waited
patiently until he had made himself us
indispensable leader: and this IS "na'
Mr Smith Is not willing 20 do. His rep
utation was made by sparkling maiden
speech in the Commons when ne vas
youngster in the thirtes. with "A goo1
record at oxford and AZ the Liverpoo'
bar, and before he Is forty he IS haiea
by his devoted friends as the fuiurs
leader Of the Tnionists. fluent speaker
and a couTa geous man Of action he
without doubt and ne becomes a dash-
ing soldier of fortune when he rallies th'
peers at the bottom ~ the mcat ana
urges them to fight 10 the last and
keep their honor bright Mr.. Baho''
is too clever tactician. however I"
stand in dread OF the popularity oI any
competitor on his own side. Enthus'
asts ike Mr. Smith sometimes carry
him along at faster pace than he liHe''
but he remains always on the front iiH'
and Is the only possible commander
Nfr smith has sncceeded IN lnYentins