Evening star., 1928-02-19

~
Henry Asauith. first earl OF
oxford and Asquith, Is dead at 40:
OF the many great liberal statesmen OF
Britain he was one OF the very greatest
his political career was one o! the most
momentous in British history, the
most momentous, perhaps. since that o.
the younger Pitt.
AT Dal!ioll. the young Asquith left
shining name. profoundly imp:eSSins
the mighty Jowett himself. Thence ne
went TO the bar He entered Parlla-
uent In 1885. where he remained con-
t!nuously unit! 1918. He first acnleved
IN 1892 tat the mature age OF 4ol'
when he became home secretary IN
the ney Liberal ministry OF Gladstone.
His great administrative capacity and
courage at once evidenced themselves
and his resolve to demOlisf the obSlruc-
tive ,Cwer Of the lords.
He innoyaied by appointment OF
women as factory inspectors ana pS
opening Trafalgar Square TO LABOR
demonstrations. He coined memorable
phrase and gave broad hint 10 their
loydships when he declared the govern
ment 70 be "plowing the sands in It's
efforts 10 push Liberal policy IN lace
Of the prerOgativeS OF the Upper House
But the Liberal defeat Of 1898 sent nm
INTO Inc 4i!UBItlttS iOi Al Sha'"
Respecting the Boer war he adhered
TO Lord Rosebery as a Liberal imperial
list In fine, he was thorough paced
but discreet Liberal in domestic policy
An imperialist after the best tradition
In regard Of imperial concerns and Tor
cign relations He was Chamberlain
chief opponent in the !atierS famous
tariff reform crusade OF l9o3-i9oo
t"reform" In our "elephantine" Sensel
the grand champion OF Cohden!Sm ana
free trade Orthodoxy" IL was
mighty logomachy IN which Mr. ASqullh
did not come of second best II was
OF course, that on Sir Henry CamppcA-
Hanncrman's accession To power IN De-
cember 1905. he should become chan
ccllor Of the exchcquer, and equally. OF
course. that on Sir Henrys resignation
because of III l-heaith in 1908, he should
become premier He continued premier
for II wears. His achievement OF the
office his long retention oi ihe ONCE,
were due 10 sheer merit, fact or re-
assuring import 20 believers In democ-
racy. He had no specious qualities.
He curried favor IN no quarter lie
s,~orned the arts OF publicity. He was
distinguished by certain Perlclean
aioofness. IL ultimately proved ms pane;
but the wonder faud the chiei PROOF
sooner ~ operate.
The grand achievement OF Aaqui'h
prior ~ the war was the Parliament
act ot 1911, passed IN the teeth hl tht
mos, drtcfmiued and Vicious opposition,
which took from the Lords all power IN
teApcc, Of money bills and provided
that any other bill passed IN three sue
,eshlve sessions by the Commons should
become law without the Lords assent.
Sc tats dGarltb
atitth himself as "a landmark IN polit~
lcsl dryel6pment His fame ftgt;.!i.a
no further monument. His conduct Oi
thc mighty struggle MAS characterized
by ylgor, resolution, parliamentary ad~
GTtish All tiac higher qualities ~ statth"
nsnatlip IN extraordinary degree PAS
sage II inf measure cleared the way
/ iGr ine irish home rule blii which en-"
paped Asqniih's chief eneislfs thrncrr
! forward until the war Oh thih tpihodr
| il is enough Ia sBy that AaquI'h eK~
| hibiied ut least as much wisdom III re-
hpett Of the veXed problem M any
| Predecessor. that the business Haa
| thelyed by the Great War and that
| the happy solution ultimately attained
aWed uurn. however thseiitlbly, 10 HE
patience. t0ibfarance. foIlhidtfatfiith
and good viii shown by Mr AhqIith
al Ills Tine The controversy took heavy
Toll 1i hth sexaRtnafian energies. aud he
entered his final phase much battle
scared Ahquith's manner ot draiiig'
III respect nf British entrance into the
var viii always b. "a matter nf debate.
II h urged by some That Aupetbtatca-
man, a GHai ham huptiiOf Ia cunHrfi~
tiunal sftIpie, might, by committing
tfltaln betinifs. qn the side 0t Ftancs
snd Russia. have aVffted lie present
Yar5 WHeffas hblulii waited until Orr
MAN. AhA aeil4.Nd niA lat AGItulV Ng