A -STATESMAN'S- END.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 179, 24 April 1908, Page 7

A STATESMAN' END.

■ .. —— ■ DIED PEACEFULLY. MR. LLOYD-GEORGE'S TRIBUTE. (Rec. April 23, .11.26 p.m.) lit TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION—COFYT.IGHT. . BURIAL IN SCOTLAND. ' ' London,' April 22. Sir Henry Campbcil-Bannermari was only partially conscious throughout- the night. Ho died peacefully, but rather suddenly, at 9.1S this' morning, in tho presence of his niece and Doctor King. Tho Primo Minister, Mr. Asquith, immediately informed tho stream of callers at Downing Street. Dr. R. W. Burnet, who attended Sir Hen'ry Campbell-Bannernian during his illness, in an interview, said that ho was a most plucky and pleasant patient. He manifested,'when ho becamo aware that ho was dying, tho greatest fortitude. It was about that time that ho resigned the Premiership. ■ The first part of the funeral service will bo conducted at Westminster Abbey at noon on Monday. Tho burial will take place oA Tuesday at Meigle (East Perthshire, Scotland). Sir H. Campbcll-Bannerman's oldest brother is in a critical state of health.' EXPRESSIONS OF REGRET. ■ The news of Sir Henry Campbell-Banner-man's death'was'received with great sorrow throughout tho kingdom. Messages of condolence wero received from King Edward, the Princo of Wales, -Mr! Balfour, the leaders of .all parties, tlib Lord Mayor, public bedios, the Sovereigns of other' countries, and from colonial and foreign Governments. Flags wero lowered on many public . buildings. . Tho "Daily Mail's", Copenhagen) correspondent reports that King Edward remarked: "Sir He'nry Campbell-Ba'nnerman was a faithful servant to his country., lam truly sorry that he is gone." , Mr. D.' Lloyd-George,; Chancellor x>f tho Exchoqiier, speaking' at Manchester, eulogised Sir Henry Camipbell-Baunerman as a great public figure. He'declared he was the. most lovable and bravest politician he had over. met. Ireland,'had' lost- her.- truest friend, and every section of tho Empire was similarly berflaved. : Mr. W. Runciman, President-of tho Board of Education, Mr. C. F. Masterman, UnderSecretary to tho Local Government Board, j and other Liberal - member's,, in speeches on Wednesday evening, hastened to acknowledge that some of the -most genuine generous tributes' to Sir Henry - Campboll-Banner-man came from political opponents. ■ Mr. A. Henderson/.- Labour member, and Chairman of the- Parliamentary Labour party,' speaking'at York, said-that Sir ; H<snry , Campbell-Bannernian-was ons of the Labour party's most sincero friends. German, French - and Italian liowspapers describe Sir Henry Campbell-Baunerman as a great, idealist'and lover-of peace. THE'vpiCE OF THE PRESS. Tho . Press tribute is• unanimous. -It .is recognised • that • the general , affection', and esteem in which, tlio, deceased statesman .was held-were, due'to his simplicity of character; self-abnegation-,], and'«loyal - : . aiidn. persevering service to tho. State. ' '. " The Times " -says:—" In the discussions that are coming' on stormy questions in/Parliament, wo may miss Sir Henry CampbellBannerman's pacific aiid taotful presence and cheery common' sense." , ' " The " Daily Chronicle" emphasises . bis sincerity and .his-many, triumphs of tact. The " Daily News " 'praises his'transparent honesty. - The "Daily Telegraph" comments on the late Prime ' Minister's candour and' consistency. / Tho " Standard ". says:—"Ho always played, with-the cards on the table.!' 1 Tho " Daily Mail " and • the " Mornihg Post", eulogise, the Mate Prime Minister, for keeping foreign affairs and, tho administration of India and the'. Army and tho Navy on national-lines,- outsido of party controversy. - ' ' THE KING AND THE LATE PREMIER. - "Downing Street, of course, is not an ideal nursing home, although ou the. park side it is fairly'bright and quiet; but any patient must fe'ol ho is iii his working environment, and must 'appreciate the need of cDmpleto v change, more. particularly in' convalescence." Thus wrote'the " Daily Mail "on March 5, at a time; when tho convalescence of the yeterah states--mail was believed to bo possible.;'- On that day, a notable thing had, happened, indicative of tho initiative and tact of King Edward. The King created a new precedent by visiting his suffering Prime Minister's sick-room, Downing Street. • Writes tho "Mail"" Thoro is no parallel for such a visit.' No British Sovereign has ever before entered 10 Downing. Street, since it be--came the 'official residence ,of the' First Lord of tho Treasury. But.'there' is also no'previous occasion on whi'ch the Premier has been confined to his room by sickness, and thus prevented from waiting personally upon tho King before His .''Majesty leaves England, which is the invariable custom." The King was about to leavo for Biarritz at tho timo, and,/as tho Prime Minister; could- not follow the usual practico of seeking an audience of tho King, His Majesty gave ono to him in his sickroom. The "Mail" also statos that the Prime Minister was* suffering from heart. affection, tile after-effects of influenza, which, it was hoped, caro and rest might "attenuate, if not wholly remove." On April 18, after the King's return from Biarritz, and after Sir Henry Campbell-Ban-norman's resignation, His' Majesty again drove to Downing Street, and inquired as to the patient's health'.... The flags, which were hoisted on, most of the public buildings in Wellington yesterday in honour of St. George's Day, wero flown at half-mast as a mark of respect to the lato Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman.