CHEERING THOUSANDS

Evening Star, Issue 19617, 25 July 1927, Page 5

CHEERING THOUSANDS

FAREWELL TO FRINGES AND % PRIME MINISTER THE' CANADIAN VISIT Presc Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, July 23. Over 100,000 people thronged the quayside, cheering a farewell as the Empress of Australia departed from Southampton, The Princes, standing on tho upper decks, smiled their acknowledgments. while Air Baldwin waved his pipe. The tugs and pilot boats assembled at Southampton Water were decorated with bunting, and screamed farewells with sirens, tbo crews standing to attention on the decks. Tho Empress of Australia was gay with flowers, including 5,000 peonies, which a Canadian, Mr Ormiston Roy, had shipped in cold storage for use in decorating tho Princes’ and Air Baldwin’s .staterooms. MR STANLEY BALDWIN Britain’s Prime Alinister is a man of sturdy constitution and a devotee to politics, but it was uot surprising that ho was compelled recently to cut down tho engagements which he had been accepting so freely. His medical men stepped iu and assured Air Baldwin that he would break down if be did not curtail bis efforts, and the Prime Minister decided to accept the advice. Probably it was necessary to make a special effort when he fust took office.- Mr Baldwin was little known outside his own county—Warwickshire—and ho had to establish himself as a platform speaker. This he has done, and no one now denies him the gift of ready and telling speech on a large variety of subjects. Air Churchill is more effective on a groat occasion, Lord Asquith and Lord Balfour ar better equipped for high debate, while Air Lloyd George is quickerwitted in the management of audiences; but no speaker in Britain has a plea'santer fund of phrase, anecdote, and

idea than the Prime Aiiinslo, and he displays his gift alike when speaking in the House of Commons, replying to a deputation, or addressing one of the miscellaneous gatherings which look for advice or. encouragement from the first statesman in the country.

The strain of constant oratory is a comparatively new thing in British public life. Before Gladstone Primo Ministers were never expected to prepare public speeches three and four times a week. This is one reason why the Victorian standard of oratory was higher than the Edwardian or Georgian. As speakers, Gladstone, Bright, and Rosebery were artists, but no modern politician has time for artistry. Even Mr Winston Churchill has to be content when he has mastered a difficult theme. Mr Joseph Chamberlain was the last political speaker who found time for adequate preparation, spending many hours upon an important speech. Three to five days was his customary allowance. At the end of his life he warned his son against taking too ranch trouble with speeches, not because the trouble would be wasted, but because the burden would be intolerable. Mr Baldwin attempted the impossible when ho not only spoke in the House of Commons and addressed political meetings up and down the country, but added to Ins burden addresses to the Classical Association, speeches at universities, and a dozen other worthy organisations.