Evening star., 1921-09-18

Great men do not at any time fall
in SO ignominious a fashion. much
less when the fate of a great empire
is in the balance.
The truth is that Mr.. Asquith pos
sesses all the appearance OF great
ness, but few of its elements He
has dignity Of presence. an almost
unrivaied mastery Of language.
trenchant dialectic. just and honor
able mind; but he is entirely win
that energy of moral earnestness
which characterized the early years
Of his political life.
He has never had an idea of his
own. The "diffused sagacity" OF his
mind Ii derived from the wisdom OF
other men. He is cistern ana not
His scholarship has made no diff
ference to scholarship. His moral
earnestness has made no difference to
morality. He acquired scholarship by
rote, politics by association ana mo-
things did he bring the fire OF origi-
nal passion. The force in his youth
was ambition and the goal of his
energy was success. No man ever
labored harder to Judge between the
thoughts of conflicting schools: few
bored less to think for themselves.
He would have made noble judge;
he might have been powerful
sta tesman: he could never have been
a great man as Massini. Bismarck
and Gladstone were great men.
THERE are reasons for suspecting
his moral qualities. When he al
lowed Lord Ha1dane to resign from
the cabinet at the shout of a few
journalists he sacrificed the oldest of
his friends to political exigencies.
it worse was the appearance of he
roic courage he assumed in padding
to Lord Haldane's rescue long after
the tide of abuse had fallen.
1t is mistake to say he brought
ENGLAND into the war. ENGLAND car
way in which politicians speak Of Mr..
Asquith as Having preserved the
unity, Of the nation in August. 1914.
is index enough of the degraded con-
dition of politics. A house OF COM
mons that had hesitated an hour after
been swept out Of existence by the
wrath and indignation Of the people.
Mr. Asquith was the voice of England
in that great moment of her destiny,
great and sonorous voice. but by
no means her heart He kept fac
was least possible for it to break
apart: but he did not lead the nation
into war. 1t was largely because he
seemed to lack assurance that Lord
Haldane was sacrificed. The tories
felt that Mr.. Asquith would not make
war hole-leartediy; they looked
about for q scapegoat; Lord Haldane
was chosen for this purpose by the
stupfdest Of the tory leaders; and the
bewildered prime minister. with no
mind of his own. and turning first to
this counsellor and then to that. sac
war ministers. called Sir Edward Car
son to his side and left the British
war machihe to Lord Kitchener.
we must make allowance for the
tine: NJ minister in our lifetime was
ace. MOREOVER. the cabinet A was "na not
united. Mr.. Asquith came out 81 that
tremendous ordeal creditably. but
not ! think. as great national hero.
fSl s p.nss.Kins Of s waT i, Mas
but it lacked the Impression .of a ere.
ative. original mind. He did not 30
much direct policy and inspire a ma
ton as keep a cabinet together. One
chairman Of q board Of directors
rather than the living spirit Of the
undertaking.
When the historian comes to fnduire
asauts s9 ts aiya M from pess Is or Ct NJ f.
forced. think. to lift that Veil which
MI. Asquith has so tealously drawn
across the privacy of his domestic life
For although he ever lacked the es-
| possessed nearly all the qualities
which make for powerful leadership
Indeed it was said in the early
months Of the war by the most able Of
his poiitical opponents that It passed
statesmaf, at that juhcture for the Of.
flee Of prime minister
His judicial temperament helped
him to eompose differences and to
sona1 character won the respect Of
manner: There was Something Shout
him superior to younser generation
OF toiitfcisi,s-a I'D sdisnity. 4 feticsnSs.
the e ons ssssptie q Alfsssd spenesr, Masn
a man Of honor and ths fi6blest tfIfi.
cipies, he had no AeduAntants with
icy joqrnalism; ,,,,.ssn;.,i Ae never ssve anyDody
liAfnent who took less paifs to seizure
popularity. Above ali THINKS. nd rey6f
plottAd hshifid closed doors; never
descended to treason against q rival.
I. Z 4
GBARCH 40 men may among the fec-
ords Of his public life, they will
fail to discover any Adequate Cause
of his fall from power. He was dilis
gent In ONCE; he tS6k always the
highest advice III every military ais
pute; settled the chief dihiculty at the
war office without 0fRense 20 Lgfd
Hitchsner; he gave full reif, to the