THE LATE BRITISH PREMIER

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9305, 4 August 1908, Page 2

THE LATE BRITISH PREMIER

+ — . — THE SPEECHES OF SIE HENRY CAIvIPBELL-BANNERMAN. (The "Times.") A - selection, reprinted from the " Times," of the principal speeches delivered by the late fcir Henry Camp-bell-±Sannernian, from his election as leader of the JLiberai ±*arty in Jj'ebruary, IWd, down to his last utterance in the House of Commons on February xa of this year a has been published. Hindi speecn is preracect by a brief statement of ihe circumstances in whicn it was delivered, whue a table of contents, Side-iieadings, and an index facilitate reference. Uf the thirty-two speeches contained m the volume seventeen were delivered 111 Opposition and the rest during Sir Henry OanipbeiHiannerman's Jt'remiership. Kead in succession they present a clear exposition of the poetical creed of one who was proud to call himself an "impenitent Liberal." They cover the main subjects which have occupied Liberal thought during the past nine years, and are valuable illustrations of the ups and downs of the party during Sir Henry Campbell-JBannerman's leadership, and of the consistent manner in which the late Prime Minister adhered to the orthodox Liberal programme. Home Rulo, for instance, had its place in his speech at Stirling just before Mr Balfour's resignation, as it had in his declaration as leader in 1899; and throughout the arduous years of Oppo^ sition, in season and out of season, he kept before his hearers the supreme importance of peace and economy, selfgovornment and popular control; and even during the war, when the country whs least disposed to listen to him, he reminded it of the "conspicuous problems" of licensing, housing, land, and education. His last speeches were mainly occupied with his attack on the House of Lords; the subject was not new, though it had then become more actual ; it was foreshadowed in his declaration of 1899. To the principles of that declaration he remained true, and except for what may be regarded as a single lapse — namely, in his attitude towards the claims of trade unionism — he abided by the " good opportunism " denned and defended seven years before, and refused for reasons of expediency to regard either payment of members or woman suffrage as practical. It is no slight to Sir Henry Camp-bell-Bannerman's memory as a speaker to say that he was no great orator ; but his ordinary, every-day style probably served him better than the most accomplished flights. Some of his more unreined utterances will live in quotation. "The Duma is dead; long live the Duma," may have been indiscreet, but it will be remembered. Nor is the expression " methods of barbarism " yet likely to be forgotten ; while v Enough of this foolery," words # tittered when, as was said at the time, " there was a touch of Naseby in the air," will certainly go down to the applause or reprobation of posterity.