DEATH OF SIR HENRY CAMPBELLBANNERMAN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 178, 23 April 1908, Page 7

DEATH OF SIR HENRY CAMPBELLBANNERMAN.

A DISTINGUISHED CAREER. BIOGRAPHICAL AND' CHARACTER SKETCHES. BY TELEGRAPH—PKES3 ASSOCIATION—COPYIUQUX, (Rec. April 23, 0.7 a.m.) - London, April 22. The death is. announced of the Rt. Hon. Sir Hv. Campbell-Banncrman, Primo Minister and First Lord of the Treasury from 1905 till March, 1908, aetat 71. ;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. ,• SIR HENRY'S LIFE AND CHARACTER. PATIENCE AND PERSISTENCE, • Not until ho was advanced in .years and a veteran in Parliamentary experience did Sir Henry 'Ca mpbell-Banuorman 1 oxliibit tho capacity for leadership and ability for administration which mado him eventually tho aflicial head, of the Liberal party, in opposition and in power. Tho son of Sir James Campoell, of Stracathro, Forfarshire, lie was oducated at Glasgow University and at Trinity College. Ho assumed tho additional name of Banrierman under tho ,will of a maternal uncle. In 18GS lie was elceted to represent Stirling as a Liberal member of -the House of Commons,' retaining the. seat at subsequent elections'.' ,Ho 'gained the character, which clung to him till just before he took tho leadership of the party, of a, somewhat heavy and perhaps stolid man, who might bo capable of quiet, useful work in; somo subordinate department. Hi? appointment in 1884 as Chief Secretary to the Loi'd Lieutenant of Ireland suggested to a facetious _Irish member ,the comparison of, a sandbag'in the dofences of a military fort. And Campbell-Baunerman's stolidity proved a most useful and annoying weapon. To tho most, virulent attacks of fiery Nationalists ho was impervious. Their assaults were like the < cannoji-balls fired at Gagantua, which lie raked out of his hair without, knowing what they were. ; / j A Parliamentary. writer tells an anecdote in this connection'.' One night -the attack was particularly fiery and furious. But tho Chief' -Secretary oxasperatingly refused to tako it seriously. "Mr. Speaker," said lie, "I hayo fouhd. the Irish .Office an oxcellent post for moral self-discipline. 'May the Lord give us a good conceit of ourselves,' prayed'a countryman of mine.. But in tho Irish Office, and face to face with the hon. gentlemen opposito, no man could think well of him-.

self."- The Nationalists were fairly upset. This was not playing tho ghmo. /: When they say hard things of a man they oxpect him to squirm. Even Mr. Timothy Healy could only throw up,his hands and enquire, 'What had Ireland done that she/ should be governed by Scottish jokes?' ' '•!' Army Reform. Previous to-this, in 1882,.5ir H. CampbellBannerman had been Secretary to tho Admiralty, arid, in 1886 and 1892 ho was appointed Secretary for War in Mr., Gladstone's Ministries. When Mr. Gladstono resigned' ollico and withdrew from public life in 1894, the reorganisation of the Liberal party bocamo urgently important. In Lord Rosobery's Ministry, which 'followed Mr.- Gladstone's,, Sir H. Campbcll-Bannorman, ,as Secretary for War, introduced a new and complete scheme of .army, reform, .including the retirement of tho Dukb of Cambridge from the Offico of Commander-in-Chief.' Tho Duko was constitutionally opposed to any changes in a systom to which he had grown accustomed, and his position as a member of the Royal Family, together with his distinguished services, made it a dolicato task for Ministers to suggest retirement'to him. Sir H. Campbell-Banncrmau took upon himself this duty, and by "tho' exerciso of characteristic tact, achieved his ond without, any unpleasantness. His scheme of army reform had reached tho committee stage when the Government .was defeated on a purely! technical question. Tho House was not disposed to attach importance to tho incident, but Sir H. Campbcll-Bannorman appeared to regard ■ tho dofeat as a distinct voto of censure on his administration, and insisted that ho could not continuo to hold office. The fact doubtless was that he'saw that the' Liberal party in powor was disorganised, and had lost the conlidoheo of the country, and that government by its moans was a farco which must end sooner or Inter. . ITa resolved to precipitato tho crisis. Other leaders of tho party were brought to sympathise with his opinion, and tho Ministry resigned. In tho general election which .followed tho Liberals' wero defeated, ai\d a Conservative Government formed with' Lord Salisbury at its hoad. ■A. new impression had been g;iven of Sir H. Campbell-Banncrmau by his determined action.. . Loader of the Liberals.A fow weeks afterwards, when he applied for tho vacant Speakership of tho Houso of Commons, which had boon his pot ambition, his colleagues declared that ho was too valuable a man to be spared from tho deliberations of his party. Tho disappointed applicant was honoured with a Knighthood. With tho retirement of Sir William Harcourt from tho leadership of the Liberals in 1899, he saw a still higher prizo possibly within his reach. He took tho official load of the depressed, divided party, and though ho had not been generally regarded a3 a man of great ambition, special debating talents, or

energy, for six dispiriting years, as has been said "lie stuck to his post on tho front Opposition bench, his serene temper and sound constitution pi"oof against not only the physical strain of tho position, its serious responsibilities, its many worrios, but also against the eclipse of Liberalism and the bitter personal antagonisms of his followers." Ho had his roward when tho elections at the end 01 1905 brought the Liberals back to power, and he bccamo Premier of England. Tlie Man ant? His Methods. Describing the man and his methods, a writer in tho "Daily Mail" stated:—"He is not only Loader- of tho Commons. Ho is Father , of the 'Houso as well, by right of having sat for the same place for tho longest unbroken term of years. In 1868 ho entered Parliament as member for Stirling, and'has represented uninterruptedly the s.amo' constituency oversince. There is nothing of the stern parent in Sir Honry as Father and Leader. Ho shakes no grave and reverend locks -at tho HOU3O. Its waywardness ho never reproves. Ho prefers to wheedle and coax it with a joke. Nor is ho ever seen-.in a hurry or perturbed. Observe him walkirfg leisurely up tho floor of the House. Ho has all; the air of a man who enjoys life and takes things easily. Ho carries his head, not, forward like tho 1 enthusiast .or fanatic— oager,- impetuous, ;and self-centred—but 011 one side, as if inviting familiarity and. confidence: Genial imperturbability is-tho dominant. expression of his strong, roughly-carved Scottish foaturos. Happy man! Ho evidently has an excellent set of nerves and digests his fpod. No wonder, then, that'he should be placid, urbane, and self-controlled. Ho has nover displayed any deep-seated political enthusiasms. On the other hand, thero is 110, trace of political ferocity in his composition. But wo shall see what wo shjll see. I 3 ho not about to load a campaign against tile House of Lords ? At any rate, he has grit. ; Ho had already shown "grit,"'if some lack of tho; Imperialistic spirit, in his opposition to the Boer War when tbe majority-of the

nation were wild for its commoncemont. On July 23, 1906, ho showed tho saino quality in addressing tho International Parliamentary Conference.. In his spoech ho startled-tho reticent diplomatic world by declaring that ho welcomed the representatives of the youngest of Parliaments, tho Russian Duma '(which had just'been angrily dissolved by the Isar). He deeply regretted the circumstances of tlioir appearanco in England and "The Duma will revive in ono form or another. We can say with all sincenty, Tho Duma ,is not dead. Long live the Duma 1 The outburst created la sensation. ' Tho rest is, told in a few .words. After guiding the Liberal party through tho difficult sessions of 1906' and 1907, Sir Hv Campbell-Bannerman found : himself forced into tho House of : Lords campaign. His disarmamont scheme was'coldlv rocp'ivwl it Tho Hiiguo the ' Nationalists %ojXl his Irish Devolution-Bill, and tho Houso of kl ,n, ed °'\ mutilated his 1 Scottish' Land Bills. ■ rho veteran Prime Minister had hardly completed tho denunciation of the Lords in this latter connection, and tho announcement of a now crusado, when his fatal illness overtook liini, leaving behind tho vital questions of licensing, education and old-age pensions, on which the fortunes of the Liberal party now rest. AS OPPOSITION LEADER. THE IMPRESSIONS OF A "CANDID FRIEND." , A "Candid Friend," writing 'in the 'Daily Mail" regarding Opposition leaders states: — "In any gallery of Opposition leaders, whether Tory or Radical hang tho pictures,. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman is on tho lino in the place of honour. The reason for this is not ono of mcro courtesy. Liberals comment without sparing on the position as between Sir. Balfour and Mr. Chamberlain'. Tho two, they would have it, stand towards one another somewhat in tho rolatioil of aphis and ant. Tho ant, according to entomologists, is ono of the most scientific and—with its formic acid—deadly of warriors. It captures and enslaves the aphis.' Tho aphis lieiicoforth is at tho beck and call of the ant—sleeps when the ant sleeps—wakes when tho ant wakes; and so on. So much for tho ant and aphis or cock and bull story, as you chooso to regard it. But tho Tories always havo had their re- ' tort ready. At first, as betjveen Lord Rosehery and Sir Henry Campbell-Bannorman, it was, a case of King Stork and King Log. Howover, tho stork, unliko the ant, went away. King Log was left in possession; hut then the Tories said: 'Truo, you lead, but who of your subjects cares to follow?' So tho gamo tit-for-tat wont on.

"Meanwhile, Sir Henry Campbell-Banner-man, sticking to his post, took apparently not much heed of tlioso on his own sido whoso note was one of rather qualified admiration, or of those on the other sido, who denied him the title of leader. Sensitive or not, ho did not publicly show himself hurt or piqued, which must be regarded as virtue in him. He plodded on, giving a cortain impression of stolid unconcern. Now and then he lms . divagated from Front Bench orthodox Liberalism to utter an undoubted blazer. His 1 methods of barbarism' and his extraordinary figures about the people 011 the brink of starvation will be remembered. Opponent and friend—wo were all angry. They remind one of Lord Salisbury's blazers of the black man for Parliament and the circus for the village entertainment., They have not stopped him. Indeed, a certain number of blazers probably stand to tho account of all first-class politicians. Sir William Harcourt's were too many to reckon. Disraeli —to hearten, perhaps, his party—Churchill, and Palmcrston occasionally allowed .themselves.an indiscretion. So did Lord Rosebcry, who actually began' his premiership with tho blazer about tho predominant partner and Home Rule.: Mr. Morley might almost allow Gladstone onp or two.. Tho politician who never 'makes a blazer may be/in danger of making nothing. No Ficcy Chatham. "No doubt Mr. Chamberlain lias had his sliaro in the work of setting Sir Henry in theleadership of the Liberals, but it would be absurd to deny that his owu gifts and charactor have availed. As to the former, we have, so far as Parliament goes, a performer, of singular distinction. Always at his ease on the Trout Bench, Sir Henry' has grown to bo a master of debate. Ho can thrust pretty hard, is guite quick enough in retort, arid has the finished style. He has not the devil in attack or defence; which can put tho House in a rago in a moment. His is ! not a soul for tempests.- 'Tho rapt oration flowing free' flows not for liim. But then think of his fund of comfortablo. commonsense, his knowledge of tho men and ways of tho world, his wit,- his accessibility.. The last consideration is of importance. Lord Rosebcry, in his delightful, monograph on Pitt—a.book we have heard Lord Acton disapprove of for its . history—refers to _ tho inaccessibility of that great, haughty. Minister. ■' It needs a very fjreat leader to be inaccessible. Wo are not in the mood to-day for 3ome terrifying Chatham on either side, who Will appear at caprice, make a dazzling oration, and disappear in a nimbus of glory. It is hot against Sir H. Campbell-Banner-man that he was born to "ride on whirlwinds.. ' The Accomplished Ccntleman. "This is not intended as a characteranalysis. Tho -barest outlines of a character study, are' 'only to bo .drawn by the suro hand on the strength . of 'years' of close 'observation, even intimacy. It is just an individual impression. '.We mostly must sit iu the dusk in regard to those about us; how can we expect to be .anywhere, but in the dark in relation 'to. tlioso. above or far removed, from us? 'Wo only get glimpses of our heroes in an occasional flash', illuminating according to the strongth of tho hero aid of _ our i own power and readiness to distinguish. : In these flashes the figure, of Sir 11. Campbell-Bannprman appears comfortable rather than colossal. In spite of pungency in 'debate.'and public platform speeches, and rqal native wit of dry, choice quality, which ho will'uso against'his opponent, you detect a larfjo amiability about Sir Henry". The qualities which .make him a marked success 011 the Front Bench are, socially, invaluable. After such a performance as that in which Sir Henry welcomed tho French legislators wo found him the bost afipr-dinner speaker in ' England.'' Does he not appeal to /'us— putting out of thought all the South African war unpleasantries and the pepper, of the platform — as just the , easy, accomplished gentleman to dally with over win'o and 'walnuts? A Reputation in Pall Mall. _"What_a seventeenth century, cultivated, gifted, leisiirely, gentleman he. could"' liayo made—what'a perfect Secretary of State.for some llockipgliam or Gronville Ministry: With such adornments of mind' and character, Sir Ilonry Campbcll-Bamierman naturally has drawn-, to himself,. a considerable personal-.'following. ' It is natural, too, that through his discretion,, savoir fairo, and ohrewd head for bu'sinoss, ho should liavo loft a -'reputation in Pall Mall of ( being the best and best informed Secretary of .State for War for a. long while past. An eflioient administrator—probably raoro efficient thim many a more dazzling figure—at his.easo at Court, and, more or loss, in a crowd, a practically perfect master of parliamentaiy fence—these things go far to equip a man for. tho highest offico. But has ho- the glow or fervour by which the leader'can tb,uch..thc imagination' of the many? Ho. strikes .with foehng a high note now and tlion, and it rings true. But if a fire burns strongly; within, it is surely under wonderful control. Not a spark oscapes." ; ,-