A Unique Distinction.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 5, 1 February 1911, Page 53

A Unique Distinction.

Mr. Balfour has achieved the unique distinction of leading liis party to defeat at the polls three times in succession. No British statesmi® »inv popular representation was established, Inis such a record as this. Mr. Gladstone was beaten in 1874, but lie triumphed in 1880. He was beaten again in 1886, but he came back to power in 1802, at the next general election. Mr. Balfour, on the other hand, led the Tories to the polls in 1006 on general Tory policy, including Tariff Reform, and received the most overwhelming defeat in British election history. In January, 1910, after fours years of Liberal Rule, he challenged another verdiet at the Polls on Tariff Reform and a Navy Scare, and suffered further defeat. To-day, barely twelve months later, he is leading his party to their third successive defeat. “Will .Mr. Ba four resign the leadership of the Conservative party ?” asks the “Daily News.” But the answer should not -be hard to find. Disappointing to the party as Mr. Balfour’s record is, they have no one qualified to replace him. He has a unique record of failure at the polls, judged as the leader of a great party, but with Mr. Joseph Chamberlain in permanent retirement, the Unionists must perforce retain Mr. Balfour as their leader for want of a better. For years he refused to lead on the subject of Tariff Reform, and try as they would they could not pin him down to it. When at last they thought they had got him, he produced his Referendum Pledge on the eve of this election, so that Tariff Reform should not be an issue in this present fight. Whatever victories the Unionists may now score in Lancashire and other Free Trade strono-holds. they cannot claim them as victories for Tariff Reform. The ten thousand Unionists who “leant to their feet” at the Albert Hall with a roar of “This lias won the election,” when Mr. Balfour gave his celebrated Referendum promise, are now -wondering why on earth they cheered. Not only has Mr. Balfour bv his -pledge failed to influence the election, but he has robbed his Tariff Reformers of the credit of anv victories the Unionist partv wins in Free Trade constituencies. Tf they could find another leader -who would command the sunport of the whole partv they would perhaps view the loss of Mr. Balfour with eonanimitv. But where is the alternative leader?