THE UNIONIST PARTY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 74, 10 November 1911, Page 5

THE UNIONIST PARTY.

MR. BALFOUR’S RESIGNATION

By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. United Press Association. Loudon, November 9. A meeting of about forty bankers and merchants wore not aware of the reason for the sudden call to gather together until Mr. Balfour’s dramatic ana unexpected statement as to his resignation. With evident emotion Mr. Balfour referred to tiic over-increasing strain of his political life. If the renames of the Baity rose, lie would no longer have tiie vigour to conduct a Ministry. He had been thirty-eight years in Parliament, and leader of the Party for twenty, whereof ten were as leader of tiie whole House, a longer period than that of any other Minister since Pitt. Only four or live Unionist M.P.’s ever worked under another leader. The increasing strain due to the Government expecting the House to sit for ton or eleven months, lie feared, would make it increasingly difficult to line! men of adequate leisure and position prepared to undergo the great toils now attaching to,politics. Probably 7 the country 7 was nearer to entrusting its affairs to those who, for quite worthy but on the whole loss satisfactory reasons, were prepared to work the political machine merely 7 as professional politicians. Ho believed the present was the best time to relinquish the leadership of the party. The present session was non-conten-tious, but Home Rule and Disestablishment were ahead, and before the end of next session there might lie a general election. It was wrong that his successor should not have tiie interval to prepare for the light.

Mr. Balfour said it was too soon to take a gloomy view of the Party’s prospects. ‘ 7 VVe are,” be said, “on the upward grade. Critics and grumblers arc like microbes. When strength is recovered the microbes resume their proper place and become comparatively innocuous.” The Government bad iivcd on electoral bribes for six years, and were now lapsing into the* old Radical practice of destroying institutions, by gerrymandering. There were signs of the steadily growing disgust of the better classes of the population. 'This was an inestimable advantage' to Jus successor. Ho personally 7 desired to leave his position of heavy 7 responsibility before bo suffered from the most insidious of all diseases—intellectual petrifaction—which made a veteran less able to deal with, new problems with freshness and elasticity than a younger mah. He was vain enough to hope lie had not reached this stage, and he hoped to still have years of activity 7 to devote, not only to the Party, lint to the country. Such services, however, must not impose the present strain.

*, ,Tho moating received the announcement with regretful silence, and afterwards a resolution was carried expressing satisfaction at his remaining a member for. thh City.

AVHO WILL SUCCEED P

GREAT TRIBUTES TO EMINENT

LEADER

'* ■ “ London, November 9. •Mr. t Balfour only attended the House of Commons on two occasions during the autumn session, and it is understood his medical advisors have forbidcleh him ;to accept aiiy position of responsibility in a further administration.

At a meeting of Unionist M.IVs at the Carlton Club on Mpnday, it was understood a loader for their Party in the House of- Commons would bo chosen by ballot, the leadership remaining in,abeyance. The general opinion is that the choice lies between Mr. W. Long_ and Mr., Austen. Chamberlain, but it is possible they may compromise on Mr. Bonar Law. *

It is generally' believed that the recent attacks delayed rather than hurried Mr. Balfour’s resignation. The Halsbury Chib on Monday passed a resolution tendering to Mr. Balfour and Lord Lansdowno their assurance of loyal support. Newspapers of all parties publish appreciations of Mr. Balfour’s intellectual and moral qualities, and Unionists' generally refrain from • commenting as to a possible successor. The -“Standard” asks if the decision is irrevocable, and the “Daily News” says there ai‘e many aspirants for the leader’s cloak, hut none fit to wear it with Mr. Balfour’s grace, and authority. The “Chronicle” questions whether the hounding out of Mr. Balfour hay had the effect of consolidating Ur Unionists.

“The Times” says the resignation is received with little; surprise hut very great and genuine sorrow by an overwhelming majority. The decision may he taken,as irrevocable. Mr. Balfour was not harrassyd into resignation, apd waited until the mutinous spirit of his Party had almost disappeared. Sir E. Carson is spoken of among the others mentioned as a possible successor. MR. A. CHAMBERLAIN’S TRIBUTE. London, November 9. Mr. Austen Chamberlain, at a Tariff Reform League dinner, deplored Mr. Balfour’s resignation. He could testify from intimate conversation with Mr. Banfour that he was a true friend and a determined supporter of tariff reform, and above all of Imperial preference. Whoever was chosen to lead the Unionists in the House of Commons must have the full and ungrudging support of every member of the Party.