The Press. FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 1908.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13098, 24 April 1908, Page 6

The Press. FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 1908.

THE ENGLISH PRLME MINISTER.

Tho late Sir Henry Campbell-Banner-nran was an exception to tho general rule that an English Prime Minister aiust necessarily bo a man of extraordinary force of character and of ability far above the average. Ho was a poor speaker—reading even his most important deliverances from type-writ-ten notes—and if he held his own in debate it was more by reason of his imperturbable good temper than by any display of gladiatorial fence. He was chosen as Loader of tho Liberal party not becauso be had shown any considerable power of leadership, but for tho Teason that sometimes leads a comparatively unknown man to be selected as American President in preference to much stronger candidates with conflicting claims. When neither Lord Rosebery nor Sir William Haroourt would give in to tho other, and their respective followers were at loggerheads, the party fell back on Sir Henry Campbell-Bannermaa in a mo-

ment of despair, which, afterwards turned out to bo a moment of -unconscious inspiration. His tact and bonhomie succeeded in keeping the party together where a more strenuous leader would have failed, and his genial John Bull qualities gradually gained for him the affection of the British people.

But although Sir Henry CampbellBannermaji succeeded in tiding over a most difficult crisis in tho history of his party and led them to viotory at the elections, it was evident that bo lacked the oonsrfcructivo power essential in a Primo Minister, and especially th© capacity to supervise and co-ordinato the work of his colleagues. He reminds us of some of the Primo Ministers of tho early part of last century—leaders like Spencer Perceval, Lord Liverpool, Lord Melbourne, and Lord Aberdeen. These wero all more or less easy-going men with members of thoir Cabinets ahler than themselves. Tho result in such a caso is that the stronger men in tho subordinate positions take tho bit in their teeth, run their departments in the way that suits their own views, while the policy of the Cabinet is dictated piecemeal by its most pushing members instead of being selected and moulded into shape by its head. Sometimes there is no fault to bo found with the result. It was, for example, infinitely better that tho foreign policy should bo sliaped by Sir Edward Grey rather than by Sir Henry Campbell-Banaerma__. The effect, however, was not so happy when individual members of tho Cabinet tried thoir hands at settling tho Irish difficulty, tho Education question, the Licensing problem, or such social proposals involving a largo expenditure of public money as the estobUfihmonit of old-age ponsions. There have boon a series of plunges ending more or loss disastrously. Tho result has boon a steady weakening of tho -Minis-try, and wo have little doubt that had Sir Henry Oampbell-Bannerman continued as the titular head the next election would havo seen them out of office.

The truth is that tho work of leading an English Ministry Ims grown so much in magnitude and complexity that it has becomo ahnost too great for any man to nccompush. Peel need to keep himself constantly in touch with tho other members of the Cabinet in thoir departmental work, and •largely directed their offices, especially in matters referring to foreign policy, oolondal affairs, and finance. Lord Kosebery, however, has stated that to do this now would demand more time and strength than any man has at his command. Still, the attempt must be made, and unless the Prime Minister is able to exercise more effective supervision than Sir Honry Campbell-Ban-nerman found it possible to give, tho Ministry will be in immanent danger of drifting on the rooks. Mr Asquith is a much younger man than- his predecessor, possessing a far greater fund of onergy and defcermination. He may be able to make up in firmness of control something of what he laokß in personal magnetism, and m- the difficult work which 'lies before him it is evident that overy ounce of his strength as a loader will be required.