The Washington times., 1915-10-27
A DICTATORSHIP FOR ENGLAND

Inc erect OF the CRITICISM OF tne
British cabinet, which is being
voiced in a section Of the English
press and in parliament, is a demand
for something close akin to a dicta-
The British executive au-
thority is welded by a cabinet Of
twenty-five members, which is larger
than the smaller legislative assem-
blies of some American States. 1t
is manifestly not an effective form
Of administrative authority. The
demand has repeatedly been voiced
of late than an inside body of per-
haps five men be vested with almost
dictatorial power. Premier Asquith
has come under harsh criticism, the
justification for which seems at this
distance not at all obvious. His
health has suffered under the strain
Of his great burden, and recently he
went away for few days of some
thing like rest.
It is to be kept in mind that Mr..
Asquith and his colleagues have been
under stress for a much longer time
than the fifteen months of the war.
They have been the executive Of the
United Kingdom for longer time
than governments often persist in
that country; and before the war be-
gan their burdens were fearfully
heavy, what with the social prob
lens and the menace Of civil war in
Ireland.
A London newspaper editorially
discussing the wars conduct and de-
Tending the ministry, admits that it
is too early to say any of the pres
ent statesmen twill win the crowns
Of Pitt or of Lincoln;" of Pitt, who
founded the colonial empire; Of Lin
coin, who saved the Union. True !;
history must answer such questions.
But if our British friends, lately
fond Of allusion to Lincoln as an
ideal leader, would study the great
emancipator's experiences of 1862
and the early part of 1863 they
would perhaps have better eoncep-
tion of the part their rulers are now
compelled to play. The first two
years of Lincoln's administration
were devoted very largely to the
problem of the border States; to
keeping Missouri, kentucky, and
Maryland from seeding; to weaken
ing the power of secession sentiment
in Tennessee; to laying the founda
tion for the division of Virginia
which was fearful blow to the
Southern cause. 1t was as truly a
problem of diplomacy and politics as
is the problem with which the en-.
tente powers are dealing in the Bal
kans at present.
Let Tennessee be compared, fol
example, to Greece. Tennessee die
indeed secede from the Union, but
there was one Congressional distric'
in that State that furnished NOR,
soldiers to the Union armies thar
there were voters within it's bounds
Greece has not seeded from tn,
allies, but it is torn between con
flicting sentiments and has for tn,
time being greatly injured thei
cause. But the injury need not b,
irreparable; it was not in the cas-,
of Tennessee.
The war in Europe, as has been S,
often said, is going through tn
stage that our civil war saw in 1862
The North's campaign was a failur
down to the battle of Gettysbur,
and the capture of Vicksburg, an
Lincoln was subjected to the sam
heckling and antagonisms that tn
British government is now meeting
4 Even so late as 1864 the politica
battle cry of opposition was that tn
war was a failure. But Lincoln ha
the country at his back. He force
it to undergo conscription, as Brit
ain may have to do. 1t is we'll TO
Englishmen and Americans alike
who find fault with Britain's allege
failures, to remember that tn
North did not do as we'll raising sol
diers before the draft was employe
as Britain has done in like period
that the draft was intensely unpopu
lar, as conscription is in Egland
that there were draft riots, as thes
are threatened in Britain.
The one surest thing that can b
, judged from present conditions
, the war is that the end is farthe
, away than it seemed at the begir
, ming. For the fatuous "On to Ricl
mond' of the civil wars early day
, we have heard substituted tn
equally futile "On to Berlin" in thi
A great war is not won or lost
, single campaign. This one wi
, not be lost or won in the Balkan
, or in Poland-not yet at any rate.
If Senator Works has his way a
D Washington will secure out of II
n "50-50" plan will be the hyphen.