The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-07-06
Prime Minister is a Man Who
Commands in Rare Degree tn e
Confidence of His Party.
He Has Strength of Mind Backed
by a Physique That is Equal
to Any Burden.
Nothing in His Career That Might
Be Called Sensational or
Unexpected.

In an article, "Asquith, the Home
Rule Prime Minister" A. G. Gardiner
says: "His succession to the Premier
ship was matter of course. And as
Premier he is not inferior to a great
lineage. He does not command the
affection that Sir Henry Campbell
Bannerman commanded, nor the rever-
ence that was Gladstone's. But he
commands in rare degree the conf
dence Of his party, and his handling
of the Parliamentary machine at
once n.asterful and adroit has COM
manded universal admiration. He is
slow to take up adventurous causes,
but, once convinced, he has unequalled
power to give them shape and, in do
ing so, to carry the conviction that
comes from his own secure and unim-
passioaed intellect to that timid pub
lie who see the dread form of Social
ism in every effort after a more just
and. therefore, more f1rmly-rooted
State"
A Man Of Granite.
went to the House one evening re-
Gently, and there CHANGED to find Mr..
;Asquith in the midst Of a speech. He
stood at the table firm as rock, nard
az adamant, his heavy voice beating
out his theme with great hammer
strokes, his eye fixed implacably on the
front Opposition Bench. So had I
seen him stand nine years ago on the
platform of a Northern town, while
cries echoed round the hall. He stood
in the law which will limit the number
with his arms folded, the massive head
thrown back, the strong mouth Glen
ched, the cold eye lit with certain
amused Indifference and contempt. He
made no protest, offered no comment,
but allowed the cries to flicker out,
and then preceded as though nothing
had happened. Here was man who
at least was not afraid. He might be
wrong; but he would never run away.
A man Of granite.
He does not skirmish or flnesse. He
does not feint or flourish. He heaves
himself on the enemy's center and
caves it in. The sentences of his or
derby speech march into action like
disciplined units. Every word has it's
mark. At every sentence you see a
man drop. He creates the impression
you hear the blow crashing on his op-
opponent reeling to the ground. Take
opponent reeling to theh ground. Take
any of those speeches with which he
pursued Mr.. Chamberlain through the
Countrywide Cinderford speech fol
example. It read like a succession of
"bulls eyes" at shooting range. Yov
could see the flags go up at every SEN
tence. "He talks like an advocate
from a BRIEF" said Mr.. Chamberlain
bitterly. Perhaps it was so. But
what a brief! What an advocate!
A Powerful and Mastery Debater.
He has the terseness of phrase that
is taught by the pen rather than by
the tongue. The art is natural to his
clear intellect, but it was perfected in
those days when briefs were scarce,
and when, as contributor to the
Economist" he acquired that mas
terry of economics and finance which
made him supreme. He understands
the value Of brevity as no other man
does.
He Creates Confidence and Carries
Conviction.
He creates confidence and carries
conviction, but he does not inspire
men with great passions. His elo-
quence keeps to the solid earth; it
does not fly with wings. 1t assures
you victory; but 1t denies you adven-
ture. He is handicapped by this chill
Of the spirit. It gives him the sense
Of remoteness and hardness which
those who know him best declare is
unjust to the real man. Behind that
exterior of adamant there are the shy
virtues of geniality and even tender
ness, and in personal contact you are
impressed not merely by his mascu-
line grip Of affairs. but by his courtesy
II and sconafderatiOn Bnt = uonula