New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-20
iRr Obi. 20 ThA Trihun.

London, May 80 Members Of all po
litical parties here are agreed on one
thing. and that is that the formation OF
a coalition ministry means a complete
breaking up Of the present British
party alignment. Some persons think
it means the establishment Of new
national party" All concur in the
belief that the men now becoming
united for war purposes must become
so mutually involved in all kinds of
projects that complete separation in
the future will be absolutely impos-
sible.
Although occasionally finding fault
with individual members, the great ma
jority Of the Liberal party inside and
outside the House OF Commons have
always regarded the present admin
stration as "a ministry Of all the tai
ents" Some Of the more extreme sup
porters among Nonconformists have
not hesitated 10 assert that heaven
played a great part both in its selec-
ton and its direction. To these the
idea Of admitting their ancient foes
into the Liberal ministry is anathema
and sufficient to drive them into active
opposition.
Two schools OF thought are exem-
plifed in a couple of interviews given
to The Tribune to-day. Sir Gilbert
Parker. who is a Unionist member OF
Parliament, said:
coalition was inevitable No mat
ter how able and competent the gov
eminent might be, the pressure IS so
great in time of war that 1t needs
help. criticism. advice and suggestion
from all parties. Such cooperation,
however. without responsibility for
administration is almost fatal 10 those
who cooperate, because they have no
means Of carrying. out their sugges-
tilns in administrations. although their
suggestions at the same time may be
adopted and carried out in way con
trary TO the views of their originators.
Therefore. the opposition, cooperating
in such circumstances. gets the blame
with the government with whom II
works by the general public, and CON
fdence is shaken all around.
'If there is coalition, however. criti-
cism will be freer than II has been
since the war began. Liberal members
will be critcising Ministry composed
Of both parties without fear OF the
whip or reproach. say, from the gen
eral public. Members Of the opposl-
ton criticising joint government will
be free TO crticise sharply because,
their own leaders being in the govern
ment. they could not be accused OF
making party capital or OF subterra-
mean efforts to injure the government.
THE best combination OF brains that
the country can gather together Will be
none too good 10 face the immediate
and great responsibility of the moment
and of the future. Statesmen are not
MANY. and statesmen of all parties cor
rallied into one executive won't furnish
any too much Craftsmanship for our
needs. We don't want a government
al this time that has TO consider the
effect Of its actions upon its party
supporters. We want a government
which. if needs be, can hold its own IN
times of great difficulty against all
parties. working with the people ma
tional government that fears only God
and the penalty of error. Let us have
il. / say. whatever the consequences to
party may be. and believe the conse-
ouences will be mOmentarily disastrous
to party ambitions.
"A coalition. government, II it IS
formed. will probably do what no party
government would care tC do do what
Lincoln did and make service IN the
army compulsory for the war only. A
coalition government could do IL, as
only a coalition government can clean
up the mess when It is over.
81 have nothing 10 say against this
government as a government. No one
can declare. however. that IL could not
be improved upon by some exclusions
and some incusions as they say on
the prairie. getting the pick Of the
whole bunch.
Inclusion Of Labor member in the
coalition Cabinet said Philip Snow.
den. would be n direct violation or
the entire constitution Of the Labor
party. Even although we favored it