New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-22
London, July so.

London, July so.
7. ;s curious how little change in the
parliamentary atmosphere the recon
..,,c,;on Of the Ministry has made
- 40 tnew much of what goes in
C.h;net meetings we should discover
srsrect. little change there also. In
18th Mr. Asquith is still the dominant
s.rr. The House Of Commons just
- much subject TO his will as il Mr..
uorsr Law and Mr.. Balfour did not
vet or had no place in the Govern
ant The impression on the publicis
much the same.
Leadership in the Lords.
-, tho House OF Lords the position
,, 6ifercnt because Lord Lansdowne
there divides with Lord Crewe the rep
,ssentation Of the Government, and IL
YOU strip Lord Crewe Of his official
authority not much authority of any
other kind remains TO him. He is an
amiable personality and not much
mor,. But Lord Lansdowne is a man
O. vast experience; OF proved judg-
ment; 20 whom the House of Lords
listened with Difference when he spoke
for the Unionist party only. The
Unionist majority in the Lords never
theless broke away even from Lord
Lsnsdowne when Mr.. AsQuith's Minis
try flung the Naval and Military Pen
siOns Bill at the Upper Chamber in
the old peremptory fashion; leaving no
sufficient time for the discussion of
comp leated measure before the adj
journment. But this was a case bv
itself, or rather the circumstances were
such that the brute despotism Of the
Parliament Act had no chance TO make
itself felt. OF its old legislative inGe
rendencs the House of Lords still re-
tsins something.
For many purposes the divisions of
party have survived the Coalition, both
in the Lords and Commons. For one
thing, the debating power of the Union
ist Peers is far greater than that of
the Liberals. 1t is in proportion, and
in more than due proportion, to the
Unionis, superiority in numbers. The
new Lord Chancellor, row known as
Lord Buckmaster, is thus far, for all
political purposes. cipher. AS an ora
tor in the House Of Commons he had
the gift Of exasperating that body. He
was never persuasive and seldom con-
vincing. The gift is one which, in the
position he now fills, may we'll be left.
to slumber.
Two Ex-Lord Chancellors.
His predecessor, Lord Haldane, with
all his various powers OF mind, never
managed TO win the good will Of the
Chamber over which he presided.
Among his powers Of mind was a GER
tain stiffness which impaired the In
Auence Of very unusual intellectual!
qualities. He was never quite trusted
While he spoke for his Liberal Gel
leagues.
Lord Morley. in whose sincerity even
his opponents believed, has almost ef-
faced himself lie disappeared at the
same moment from the Cabinet md
from public life because he could not
resolve for war. Not word has he
since uttered, either in Parliament or
on the platform; and he does not write
Tor the newspapers. In which respect
he differs altogether from Lord Cur
ION and Lord Cromer, who overflow in
the Press almost day by day. Lord
Halsbury, who will be ninety in Sep
TENDER. is amusing his leisure by codi-
fving the Law of England; a colossal
task, which all the younger men will
ingly leave to this veteran: by far the
greatest Of recent Lord Chancellors;
and perhaps the greatest within the
memory of lawyers still living.
do not go on with the list, because.
after all, and in all circumstances and
rever so much as now, the House of
Commons is the central power of the
State. ! say never so much as now,
meaning that under Mr.. Asquith's Par
lament Act the Second Chamber, as 1t
used 10 be called, has become not only
the First Chamber, but when great af-
fairs are at issue a Single Chamber.
The Lords preserve the spirit of indie
pendence, but not very much of their
old power. Their immense Conserva-
tive majority has been turned. how
ever, 20 ne uses.
The Lords and Mr.. Asquith.
II has never that know of been d.
rectly asserted, but it is quite con-
ceivable tina, wher Mr. Asquitl gath
cred Unionist colleagues into his fold
Il was with some thought of the Lords.