THE BRITISH PREMIERSHIP.

Evening Star, Issue 18281, 22 May 1923, Page 4

THE BRITISH PREMIERSHIP.

Mu Boxau Law has retired from the British Premiership for health reasons, his departure mourned l by all good men. It was said of a Liberal Prime Minister, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, that he was “neither a great statesman nor a great orator, yet he succeeded where abler men would probably have failed.” It cannot bo said of the retiring Premier that he succeeded in the task he sot himself when his Government was formed seven months ago of giving rest and stability to a warexhausted nation. Fate allowed him all too little time for the trial. Ho had earned, however, long before that last responsibility was placed upon him, the public confidence and the affection that wore felt for /this particular predecessor, and he earned them in the same way—by tho simple virtues of his character. Conservatism had its enemies, but Mr Bonar law had none. He -“Never sold tho truth to serve tho hour, Nor paltered with Eternal God for power.” It was unthinkable by any mind that he should do so, and the tributes he is receiving now from journals and from confreres of all opinions show how Englishmen can still admire that rectitude. Even Mr Ramsay MacDonald can say that “in recent months I have come to regard’ him with real affection. The only thing I care about for the moment is the personal aspect.” We hope he may bo pardoned, as he deserves to bo, by tho extremists of his party. Politics would be an unspeakable tiring if such affections between those of the most opposite views could not bo formed.

It is Lord Beaverbrook who lias given so far the best vignette of the retiring statesman. The contrast he afforded by his sober" qualities and reliableness to the brilliance of Mr Lloyd George, who could win every -tribute from his admiring countrymen - except that of continuing trust, was most striking. Yet kit Bonar Law never ceased to trust his more sparkling rival while ho worked with him and under him in the Coalition Government, and used his influence quietly to restrain the

extravagances of the other's temperament. Whp Mr Law's successor is to be becomes now tho burning question.. Lord Balfour has been named,, but lie is in his scventysixfli year. Lord Derby has some qualities of tho retiring Premier. Of all the leaders of the divided ' Conservative Party Lord) Birkenhead probably has shown most cleverness, but ho has carried division furthest by his recent speeches, and "erratic" has been as much a disqualification for him as for Mr Lloyd George. Thoro are disadvantages, also, in the selection of a peer, who can only rule the Commons from another Chamber. Mr Chamberlain stands apart the majority of his party, though tho aloofness has been friendly on both sides, since.he elected to share the downfall of his earlier leader. Mr Stanley Baldwin, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, is not likely to attain so high after only seven months that he has been a bright light in politics. It was not a brilliant team which the ox-Premier commanded, but brilliance was not sought for when ho formed it. Britain is not yet so poor of men to leave doubts but what a successor to him will bo found, either within the ranks of tho Government or beyond them, who will fill tho position with credit, if not with lustre.