Evening star., 1945-03-27
LIoyd GEORGE

lic 1lloG GIlOuSIlt tlldt Auuot AdFC
flashed into the minds of thousands
of American friends when they heard
of the death of David Lloyd George
was one of happiness that he had
lived long enough to see the virtual
end of the European phase of the
Second World War. Differently ex-
pressed, this means that he COM
pleted the third epoch Of his career.
1t also signifies connection between
his personality and character and
the tremendous era in which he
moved and had his being.
Lloyd George was symbol OF an
age None of his contemporaries
excelled him in his role as militant
apostle of democracy in action. He
represented the people as few other
individuals ever have done. Even
his faults were popular faults, his
mistakes popular mistakes. Though
he died a member Of the House of
Lords, he belonged to the masses up
to the last. Indeed, his first authen-
tic claim to fame was based upon a
crusade to abolish the upper branch
of the national legislature of
Britain-and the crusade very nearly
succeeded. More important, how
ever, than his radicaliSm was the
practical skill which he manifested
in the Commons, as an advocate,
pleader, debater and a molder of
public opinion. Whether he sat on
the government side or with the
opposition mattered little. He was
himself, and he was heard gladly on
that account. If he seemed on occa-
sion to contradict-even to defy-the
power of the electorate which re-
peatedly raised him up to eminence,
1t never could be said in truth that
he was without numerous following.
The canny instinct of his Welsh
sires favored him in the crises of
career. Lloyd George was poet like
all the other sons of Mona, but he
also was one of the greatest prag-
matists that ever breathed. His mind
was as definitely logical as the multi
plication tables. He could-and
did-think with the accuracy Of a
perfect arrow flying straight to
target well-diScerned. There rarely,
if ever, was moment when he did
not know what he wanted. And
when he had selected his objective,
he went at it with a zest that was
as quick and passionate as a flame.
His anger was thing to fear. Yet
he not often showed his wrath. The
"wizardry" for which he was IA
nous depended for it's success on
persuading cooperation, not In
frightening people into working
together.
How much he contributed to the
winning of the conflict of 1914-1918
has been told again and again. Lloyd
George had been pacifist in his
youth and no mperialist-until Ger
many challenged the empire. Then
his patriotism came to the front, and
he discovered that he loved not only
the hills of Pembroke but also the
prairieS of Canada, the river beds
OF Australia, the South African veldt
which formerly he had been content
to leave to the Dutch, all the lands
over which the Union Jack then
flew. The dynamic force of his
determination to win a decisive VIC
tory over the Kaiser was an asset
OF global value. He went to Yer
sailles with the commission of the
whole company of the British COM
monwealth of nations.
Even for multitude in the United
States Lloyd George frequently
spoke. He was admired on this side
of the Atlantic as no other British
commoner was in his day. True
enough, he survived many of his
friends both at home and abroad.
The younger generations knew him
only after he had passed the climax
OF MS achievement, But his legend
is immortal. He left his mark on
the future as we'll as on what now
Is history. No man could ask more