THE LORD-LIEUTENANTS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13009, 10 January 1908, Page 6

THE LORD-LIEUTENANTS.

Among thoso most affected by tho new British Army Act are the LordLieutenants of counties in the United Kingdom. For many years the office of Lord-Lieutenant has been one ot almost empty dignity. Tho holder is invariably ji man of high position, in many cases ft peer. Appointed by tho King—otherwise, tho Government—he naturally is a party man, and it is only a few months ago since the Lord-Lieutenants were being sharply criticised by tho Government newspapers for the political bias they showed in. their recommendations for appointments as Justices of tho Peace. Tho lx>rd-Lieutonant of i county is accorded, and takes, the lead in county society. "Ho is a noblo- '• man/ says Mr T. U. S. Esoott, "of great wealth and birth, of blame- " lees reputation, of beneficent inten"tions. Ho is tJio patron of local "societies, of schools, of charitable " institutions beyond number. He in "generoms, philanthropic, a>nd pn>b- " ably something of an autocrat" Mr Kseott's further remarks on the political influence of the Lord-Lieu tenant givo ono tho idea that this panegyric was written with' his tongue in his cheek. But it hn.s been, and still is, true in tho mam of many a LordLieutenant, and if tho occupant ot "Tho Castle" has sometimes realised hid greatness rather too fully, and has imposed his views, and especially his political and religious opinions, rather too arbitrarily upon tho county, tho fault has been less witn tho man than with the system, and with those who, for tho sake of his patronage, meekly accepted his • autocracy. To-day, howover, tho leaders of tho counties have very real duties to perform. Wo can hardly call them, new ones, for they are a revival of the duties which the Lord-Lieutenants wer© first appointed to perform moro than 350 years ago, namely, to array or to lead the territorial forces. From being ornamental figuro-noads they hjfc© now, they are "to " play that leading part in tho " future development of the county " forces to which public interest, tra- " ditipn, and tho laws of England " aliko call them." To them has been entrusted the important duty of establishing thoso County Associations wihich under their leadership are to raise, equip, and maintain the territorial army which, is to take tho place of the existing volunteer and yeomanry organisations. They will have to provide and maintain rifle ranges, drill halls, and eircnouries, omd iihough the command and training of the forces will be. in tho hands of Imperial officers, tho County Associations will bo responsible for handing over these forces to tho authorities in a fit condition to tako the field, the necessary funds being provided by tho Army Council. A month or two ago tho King summoned all the Lord-Lieu-tenants of tho kingdom to Buckingham Palace, and there explained to them personally the duties of their "great '•■ami honourable task," concluding by saying that ho looked to them to foster and direct, by their preoopt and example, tho epirit of loyal and patriotic effort. Mr Haldane has proved himself in many ways an extremely able War Minister, and hn; enlistment of the tradition and prestige attaching to tho office of LordLieutenant in aid of tho new territorial army was a stroke of genius. Backed by the King's personal appeal to tho Lieutenants, it ensured for tho now scheme tho active support of a section of the community whoso prejudices are all against tho present Government, and at the same time it gave the ancient dignity of Lord-Lieutenant all tho added honour that comes from important responsibilities.