The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-02-15

his schoolmates that one day he
would be lord chancellor or prime
minister, and constantly he asked
his companions to test his knowledge
of parliamentary procedure. If the
story is true, it appears to be the
only evidence that Asquith ever
boosted of his knowledge or ability,
or voiced his ambition.
Six years after Asquith became
British prii 2, minister in 1908, he
was confrcI ed with one of the most
serious crisis in the worlds history
the outbreak Of the great Euro
pean War. Quietly, he led cheer
ing nation into war, and through
perhaps the most perilous months in
its history. The first mad rush
Of the enemy was countered, but
few regarded the stolid man at No.
10 Downing Street as q savior.
Domestic crises followed. Public
opinion turned from the leader who
lacked magnetism, and when the war
was half over the leadership went to
Mr.. Lloyd George, who had just the
human qualities that Asquith lacked.
Asquith stepped aside, and the
picturesque personality Of his Welsh
secretary Of war replaced him.
Stepped Aside, Not Down
But Englishmen insist Asquith
stepped aside, not down, for there
was no decline and fall for the
scholarly statesman who remained
just what he was in the beginning.
His power was in himself, not in his
office, and in q sense he had just
~ much, or just as little, influence
after his resignation as when he was
prime minister.
Throughout the awful years Of
war, and the dreadful years Of peace
making, Asquith remained the same
calm, steady bulwark Of English
ability and responsibility. During
all those trying times he scarcely
raised his voice above an even tone.
Blood had never got into his eyes,
even when Lloyd George split his
beloved Liberal Party wide open.
Asquith was growing old, but he
held his grip Of affairs with quiet
tenacity. He lived not only to see
the prodigal Lloyd George returned
to the fold Of orthodox Liberalism
but to make Britain's first labor
government possible by withdrawing
Liberal support from the Oonserva-
tive regime which Stanley Baldwin
had led to disaster in the general
election of December, 1923.
Upon Bonar Laws death Baldwin
had inherited q large majority in
the House of Commons. But Bald.
win wanted q mandate Of his own,
80 he went to the voters on the issue
Of imperial tariffs. Lloyd George
returned from his triumphant Amer
lean tour to plunge into the cam
paign under Asquith's banner, for
when free trade was at stake the
schism in the Liberal party disap-
peared overnight. Baldwin's de-
feat was stunning, Conservatives re-
tanned only 259 Of Bonar Laws 347
seats. Labor held 101, the United
Liberals 159, while six independents
were returned.
An unprecedented political stu
alton confronted Great Britain. No
party had the necessary majority to
form a government. Labor was
knocking at the door as the second
strongest party.
Meets New Crisis
With characteristic composure
Asquith met the new crisis and on
January II, 1924, he announced that
Liberals would support the Labor
vote Of no confidence in the Baldwin
government. Baldwin resigned,
Labor was indicted to power and the
two-century precedent Of England's
two-party system was destroyed.
Thus ct the age Of 72 Asquith met
another great crisis and dealt with
it with the vigorous fresh viewpoint
Of the youth who had entered the
House Of Commons nearly 40 years
before.
After a service Of approximately
half centur..' to his country, Lord
Oxford virtually retired from pub.
lie life late in 1926, his retirement
having been brought about with /
series Of events beginning with thu
sweeping conservative victory II
the general election Of 1924. From
that battle at the polls the liberals
Of which Lord Oxford had been lead
er since 1908, emerged a. . broker
party, temporarily at least.
There followed discussions in tha
ranks Of the party that eliminated
in the bitter controversy between
Lord Oxford and David Lloyt
George over the latter's attitud.
during the general strike in 1926
A few months later Lord Oxfor,
resigned % party leader.
Asquith started life with no Id
vantaees Of fortune. He was born
September II, 1852, Of amiddle- class
nonconformist Yorkshire family. Hi
father died when he was eight IN.
the boy went to London to school
At school be won prize after prize
Then two scholarships to Ballio
College came his way. At Oxford b
developed - an orator, and lik'
Lords Curxon, Grey and Miner Be
lonted to the famous Oxford intel
Iect1al clique influenced by Iowett
Young .Aequith made no profession
toward athletics but was NOR
human than John Morley, who neve
knew any physical recreation bu
walking. Asquith played quoits. i
later lie rolf was his recreation.
Married Twice
In 1876 Asquith was admitted {.
the bar, and when still an almos
briefless barrister, married his frs
wife, Helen Nelland Of Manchester
Four children were born Of tn
union. His wife died In 1891 IN.
later he pursued and captured tn
cleverest political woman Of Londol
Of that day, Miss Margot Tenant