The Washington herald., 1915-05-20
British Cabinet Reorganization.

OtIlISu N0Ol0et REORGANIZATION.
reorganization of the British cabinet is
promised by Premier Asquith, and the political
crisis in England is apparently not so much due
to the conduct OF the as to the injection of
| other questions into the situation. The first
lord of the admiralty, Mr. Churchill, has not been
satisfied to let real navy man manage the navy.
and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr.. Lloyd
George, has not confined his efforts to the forma-
ton OF the budget monumental that work is
in providing for billions of war expenses. The
genius of these two spectacular British statesmen
is so general and comprehensive that no one task
however difficult could absorb their attention.
The editor OF the Pail Mall Gazette expresses
the opinion that the drink mudde had considerable
to do with the embarrassing situation 1t would
not be surprising, because the English people
always more sensitive about home policies than
about foreign policies There were several ques-
tons disturbing British home politics when the
war began and it represented to the German
Kaiser that these differences could not be COM
posed even by war; but they were, and for ten
months we have heard little about Irish home rule
or Ulster opposition at the point Of the bayonet,
nor have we heard anything at all about militant
sufragettes. Actual war with Germany quoted thes
agitations if it did not compose the differences,
and Bonar Law, the leader OF the opposition in Par
volunteers" who to fight against home rule,
has been of the most able and loyal supporters
OF the government, while the prediction is now
made that he will become chancellor Of the OK
chequer in the national cabinet. 1t is significant
that this leader OF the opposition is to take the
place of Lloyd George, who precipitated the pro-
hibition question at time when he was looking
for OF revenue.
In his weakness for coming picturesque phrases,
Lloyd George declared that was a greater
enemy OF England than were the German subma
rines and Ieppelins. 1t strong language and
had England been engaged in a great moral CAM
paign for tho regeneration of her own people, in
stead OF engaged in for the preservation OF her
political industrial and commercial existence, it
might have had another effect than a rcorganiza-
ton OF the cabinet with Lloyd George transferred
TO less important post The English people not
only refused to take tho chancellor of the cx-
chcqucr seriously but they resented his reflections
upon the whole body OF labor and his revival Of
local domestic issues at time when all the ma
lion is fighting for its very life. The clergy united
with the laboriug and business to rebuke |
the attempt OF the cabinet to follow the example |
OF the Gar OF Russia and lay down rule for
domestic life as we'll as for military defense. The
prohibition campaign OF Lloyd George became a
farce before it fairly begun. and it had that
old traditional effect OF destroying confidence in
the government just at the time when all the re-
ports from tho front indicated that the military cam
pagn of Gen. Kitchener gave promise OF success.
This situation in England illustrates the danger
OF injecting purely local and domestic issues on
which the people divided into the general
policy at a time when all the people arc called
upon for sacrifice to defend their common interests.
The ono predominant virtue of Lincoln during the
civil his concentration OF effort to save
the Union. He refused to quarrel with any part
OF the people who supporting the govern
rent. and he also refused TO allow the members
Of his Cabinet to air their quarrels. They might
and did quarrel in the Cabinet ROOM but Lincoln
" oud not permit them to resign to agitatc or
advertise their hobbies and differences outside that
chamber. He held them to the line OF national de-
cnSc As he held the armies in the field He pro-
posed to save the Union without slavery ii he
:oud with slavery it he must, but the Union.
The example OF Lincoln in singlcness OF effort for
government defense. is worthy OF consideration t
low as are other OF his great public virtues and
services. And it is pertinent to conditions in the
ned States today as to those in England