The Washington times., 1915-05-19
A COALITION MINISTRY

In the search for scapegoat, the
British public has settled upon Mr..
Winston Churchill as rather the
most available candidate for what
may appear later to have been
something of a distinction. Mr..
Churchill is to leave the admiralty,
it is said, and to be succeeded prob
ably by Mr.. Balfour. Politically,
there may be excuse for it; but just
why the hue and cry against a
civilian at the admiralty should
bring no better results than another
civilian in that post, is not at this
distance plain.
In the weeks before the war open
ed, this man Churchill "got a hunch"
that proved the inspiration to one
of the most daring, patriotic, and
effective pieces of administrative
business ever done by a man in a
like position. He was convinced
that Germany meant to force war,
and to force England into it. The
fleet was in home waters for maneu-
vers. In ordinary course it would
have been dispersed and sent away
to the division stations shortly be-
fore the diplomatic crisis was reach
ed. Churchill did not let it go. At
time when the world was still
reading with languid concern or none
at all the reports of the oncoming
crisis, Churchill held the fleet in
tact, provisioned it, shotted it's very
guns, and took to himself the sole
responsibility for what would have
been a rank excess of his authority
if the event had not justified him.
Say what we may about politicians,
it took politician, and bold one,
to do that. Would Balfour have
done it? Or Admiral Lord Fisher? I?
But Churchill is to go to the Of
flee of Secretary of State for India.
That he is to remain in the cabinet
is testimony to his political power;
that he takes the minor post is proof
of his patriotism.
Churchill's experience as first
lord cannot but recall to Americans
the career of Edwin M. Stanton as
Secretary of War. Stanton was the
object of the bitterest assault by
critics within and without the rul-
ing party. He faced conditions not
altogether unlike those which have
confronted Churchill, and he did the
work of a whole army division in
organizing, directing, building an
army. But the cry of "On to Rich
mond" could make itself heard
where the patient, plodding work of
the man at the war office, building
in order that victory might at last
be won, was unnoticed. Stanton re-
mained, and Lincoln was loyal to
him throughout. His reward OF
recognition came at last, and today
he is rated with Grant and Sherman
among the leaders who brought sue.
cess at the wars end.
One of the forecasted changes ir
the British cabinet is the substitu.
ton of A. Bonar Law for Lloyd.
George as chancellor of the ex.
chequer. Mr.. Lloyd Georges at
tacks on the liquor business have
arrayed against him the full force
of that interest, peculiarly intrench
ed as it is in Great Britain. His
fiscal measures Of the last few years
aimed at privilege wherever he
found it, had already aligned power
full elements against him. 1t will bt
doubted whether Mr.. Bonar Law vii
prove himself as ingenious in de
vising means and sources from
which to bring forth revenue as Mr.
Lloyd George has been; or whether
he, any more than another, will
manage to make the people pay thu
excessive taxes which the war de
mands, with any more amlabilit!
than they displayed in paying tn,
impositions that the Welsh chan
cellor figured out.
The other changes in the cabinet
said to be five in all, are of mino
Importance. However, the repor
that unionst is to become chic
secretary for Ireland is suggestive
, of political considerations of tn
first order. 1t opens to speculation
! the whole Irish question, with tn
uncertainties about what may be tn
: developments in connection with tn
, home rule movement after the wal
Americans have not been predis
posed in favor of coalition minis
tries in England, having some recol
lection of one government of thi
t kind that played a part in our rela
= ton with the mother country i