The Star. TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 1914. THE DIFFERENCE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11028, 17 March 1914, Page 4

The Star. TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 1914. THE DIFFERENCE

of British politics, interested. therein f|sidc from party prejudice, \vjllfind a field of reflection in consideration of a marked diversity of habit published in particular circumstances between Liberals and Conservatives. "\fjien th 6 whirligig of the poll has taken rovonge upon the former, they philosophically make the best of a temporary situation, and absolutely refrain frrbm ptr.sonal attack upon the leaders .of" the. triumphant party. Indeed, they arc foremost in generous applause. Sir Henry Lit'cy quotes three modern instances to illustrate the point. When' in <187.4. -Disraeli at length won the Premiership, for which ho had long fought, so'far from the Liberal Press or the Liberal platform daily echoing personal abuse "or scurrilous imputation, they '.united, in giving the new Premier a generously hearty welcome. No states- ! .man* since the days' of Pitt niore scorn- , fully abstained from making advances i to the. omnipotent man in the street > than- did the late Marquis of Salisbury.His policy was uncompromisingly hostile, to- Libefalism. Some of bis actions, notably in connection with the liberal provision made for members of, his family, laid him open to damaging animadversion. , It elicited nothing more venomous than the sly suggestion of change df the address of No., 10, Downing Street to " The Hotel Cecil." As for Mr Balfour, he was and remains in the House of Commons and in measure throughout the country equally , popular with Liberals. - Cfoing back over the same period of time, we find Mr Gladstone, whether uf:Office or in Opposition, the qbject of incessant abuse, and even cnlumnv by the Conservative Party. Once a group of them, awaiting his-return from the dirision lobby, in which he had given a vote distasteful to their views, angrily "'booed" him; Out of doors the windows of his private residence 'were broken', by a well-dressed mob. For awhile this frenzy of personal hatred rehired, by reason of being diverted so as to fall on the head of Mr Chamberlain. During Something like a .year, lie/carried through the country the iipr.v cross of the "Unauthorised Proinsisting, among other things, on the abolition ot' the House of Lords, the disestablishment of the /Welsh Church,,arid the freedom of land from landlord monopoly. " What random; will they pny for their rent?" he asked. To-day Mr Lloyd George is the inheritor of this anin:«osit.y. What is said of him on Conservative platforms or written about him in thfc; Conservative Press, lie who runs-may read. What strikes one ,-at Home when, going about th 6 ordinary vocations, business or pleasure, 1 of the day is the discovery ' constantly made of' a deeply-rooted personal, to a statesman who during a comparatively brief term of office,lias by comparison with the work of, his predecessors realised Benthnm's idea : of an ideal Government, "one that dOea the greatest good for the largest number." If Mr Lloyd George is occasionally prone to depression under these cir-' cumstances, he may cheer up by reflection on the later stages in the career of his 'prototypes.; He has . lived to hear Mr Gladstone's name and authority, quoted with reverence on the : Conservative benches in the House of Commons. Aft for Mr Chamberlain, lio to-day lives in the odour of sanctity in London clubs and London drawing- . fooms, where thirty years ago his name jras anathema.