The Washington times., 1917-07-20
NEW PARTY SEEN
IN PROSPECT FOR
BRITISH POLITICS

LONDON. July 20.-British politics
Is in a state OF unwonted hux. Broad
ly speaking. there are no political
parties left in the country. The old
Liberal party. which, truth to tell,
has become about the most illiberal
institution in the country, has pretty
nearly ceased to exist. in the old
sense. There are signs that a new
party. which quite likely will be
known some day as the National
party. Is gradually forming itself
around the wrecks OF the older po-
Iitical establishments.
The old code OF liberalism-that
liberalism which made the night for
social legislation in which Lloyd
been ossified into q formula, and there
is the authority OF great political
wisdom for the observation that
when a party's creed gets thus ossi-
fied the party Is nearing Its end OF
usefulness, at least for the time be-
ing. One cannot observe the mani
festation OF the Liberal politicians
nowadays without realizing that their
party is approaching, II It is not
actually in, this condition.
AsquIth n Second Blaine.
The chief force that holds It to-
gether at present is affection for Mr.,
Asquith. In retirement from actual
governmental control he Is perhaps
even more the idol of his followers
than when he was premier. Going
back to America for a comparison,
none so well suggests the sentiment
which binds his followers to Mr.. As
quith as the recollection of the de-
votedness which the masses OF the
Republican party displayed toward
James G. Blaine.
There is much about Mr.. Asquith,
indeed, to suggest Blaine. There is
even more, in the following OF Mr.. As
quith, to remind one of the almost
idolatrous devotion with which Mr..
Blaine was followed for many years
by his admirers.
Liberals Not War Party.
But the Liberal party, whose great
est cement was loyalty to Asquith.
was not a war party. 1t did not come
into power on a war issue, and in re-
tanning power so long and welding IL |
SO effectively he violated the tradI- |
lions OF Liberalism. For It has al |
most become an axiom OF British !
politics that the Liberal party must I
do its work in time OF peace, while |
the Conservatives alone are to be
trusted with the conduct OF great for
eign enterprises. such as war.
Mr.. Asquith proves himself 10th
the national politician and the states
man by his success in managing both
party and country in the early years
of the war. When he went out OF
power he was succeeded by another
Liberal, but Asquith remained the
leader OF the party on the floor OF the
Commons and in the heart OF its
membership.
Lloyd Georges Following.
Probably. taking the country on the
whole, there is as much affection for
Mr.. Lloyd George as there is for Mr..
Asqulth. and, of another kind, as
much admiration. But Mr.. Lloyd
Georges following is a curiously COM
posite one. A large section Of the
Liberal party supports him: not al
ways because 1t likes to do so. but
because to support him Is the only
way to keep the Liberal even nomI-
nally in the ascendant Along with
this majority OF Liberals Mr.. Lloyd
George has been able to command a
majority OF the Conservatives or
a considerable section of
the Labor party, and at times a rather
dubious loyalty OF the Irish elements.
1t Is too early to Judge whether
these various routes will ultimately
be amalgamated into a new party.
possibly under the name OF National.
The strictly political elements OF the
old Liberal party are not prepared
to give up their claim to be the
- 81 n, I
other hand. they are not sufficiently
opposed to conduct the war as vIgor-
ously as the country wants II con-
Quoted. 1t is still a very large ques-
ton whether the Liberal party will
be able to pull Itself together and
deserve perpetuation.
Premier FOrEets Politics.
Mr.. Lloyd George does not seem to
be playing party politics at all. He |
Is devoting himself strictly to the
business OF making and winning the
war. So far as one can tell from
his participation In Parliamentary
his only interest is to
Inc up a majority behind his policies
and he is not seemingly concerned
whence he gets that majority. The {
yeriest Tory or the most extreme {
Socialist. so long as he represents a 1
vote in favor of the Government and ,
he Governments program OF con-
lucting the war, looks just as good
o Mr.. Lloyd George as any Liberal I
who stood loyalty by him in the old
lays of the Lloyd George budgets e
md the beginning OF taxation reform. }
But all this is serving Mr.. Lloyd ;
Georges government better than II is I
erving the Liberal party. So far as {
he issues of today are concerned, the Q
making of war in the most vigorous
nd determined fashion. the adoption o
4 whatever means may be necessary 2
o reach the end OF victory. the Con I
ervatives are at least as devoted to q
hn c-nrnrnrnent are The Ilherala q