Evening star., 1928-03-04

Thomas CARLYLE. Asquith was one Of
those III the movement
But 10 them the phrases and slogans
os political radicaliSm were well nigh
dead Interest vas shifting from po,iti-
cal 10 social democracy. Events were
also about 10 happen which were To
revive interest in British imperialism
and were to challenge all parties In
British politics TO define their attitude
TO their nation as All acQuiSiiive world
power. Liberals Of the old generation
stuck 10 their old slogans and held
imperialism 10 be y sin. The young
generations saw something more than
i,ashy t.nsel IN The dominion empire.
GladStone and Harcourt were in one
camp: RcSebery and AScuith III the
other
The Roer War broke out and Asousth
disappointed the radicals, Those were
davs Of liberal dissent and disruption
among colleagues. days Of open hostility
between leaders sitting side by side IN
the liberal benches Yet. although
Asqu.,h was definitely and professedly
or the side OF the inaperialiS,S, he was
never possessed by the marrow eEmUies
OF many Of his colleagues, He recoS-
nircd the qualities Of Sir Henry Camp
bell Zimmerman as leader o. tne
united liberal party. and when ina!
marty was called for by the events thar
followed he took his stand loyalty oy
Sir Henry as the only possible leader
and in the end pronounced upon him
\ funeral eulogy that rang With SIN
cerjty unusual on such cccaSsolsS-
The next war found the nation
united AS IL perhaps has never oeeu
hsfocr or Since--an6 he lifted the emo
H,.S cf the people onto planes Of stern.
moral determination. What took place
behind the scenes Ill those years Is san
\ p!avthns cf whispered run,or ana OF
rrlvatr gossip, Some OF II mas seen
ccmntsed ~ print, but m0ea 81
s,l,l flowing Oh idle winds Az any
ra,. ne geN, !Ie has undoubtedly lets
behind him records NJ what he knew
or believed or experienced But duriag
his lifetime he gave toGsh ~ the world
no srowlusg revelations Ike RIsmarcS,
He kept his silence and save US neither
eniiShtenment ncr guidance,
The Liberal party. split IN 1918. sur
gered sreater humiliation III 1872, The
next year, divided both IN leadership
and in ccuNctl, another election Snacie
IL Still more heavily Then, when iaenr
Mas returned as the Set<Nnd party and
Mas aoNus ~ assume Nffce, MI. AS2uita
made the biggest elGnaer ~ his life,
SESaAttih a. tAW N&>N1t%k ANN~AW ~A~N
shortly after the election, he used
wcrdS that made an approach fccM tAe
ahar party smgASSlole Ae evidently
thought ina, we weasd se IN and make
mess ef Il ~ being unequal t. the
terrible task II ScverNttg An empire
like cuts IN,uo.leSS he ee.t tNas Ne
would hold cftice for brief snxlcssc0S
month ~ 81 and that ugNcn our failure
Iiessall>ln Wcuia return ~ favor and ~
power. What moved him IL this ac
not kuow. II was fatal When I read
his speech At 4 nyeSite far rens>'e ffNM
the center o things could net be
teve that his SasaescuS iuaSmens has
failed Hut IL MAS 81 HtSsMS tells
the rest
In the end the Liberals had 70 Sap-
post thai hollow and unjust lIeA that
un tue political tsSsergeTenc~ had eeea
at wcGk IN the Caiapeell case, when 4
Communist Mas prosecuted for seditscn
and the p,<~scutt>sA had eeen With
drawn And IN the elestitM that fcl~
lowed Mr. Asa0ith, ~ the resscnal re-
sret NJ eNets one. MAS defeated IN
Paisley and eSased ~ ~ 4 member "
the Mouse Ne had led ana ruled ev his
s>,Ner and enehralled M
his nsaSlsgnh oaatcey,
Aus his troubles we've Not over, Asatn
and again Mas ne stricken yes ne ssgS,Si
amid his fortunes A. sveAs Ia hlS All.
yssSlN a. he had been IN hts power
Ills menelS vii stand the Wearing Ns
long wears The msSls NJ time MAY
make htn Jsm eut what Wlu he es.
held wtt h. torn CT serene atgassY
ana Wlnaoved rertisuAe.