Ireland, it is the problem of defence which has ever seemed of the highest importance to Mr Balfour. He has regarded the adequate protection of the country against foreign aggression the first duty of statesmanship. It is idle to put our house in order if we refuse to lock the front door. The most beneficent legislation that humanitarianism can desire is useless if the State be not impregnable. Should a foreign army invade our shores, it matters not a jot how many millions are in receipt of pensions. Upon this truth Mr Balfour has insisted a hundred times, and always with a passion of patriotism. Under his leadership the Committee of Imperial Defence became a body of the gravest authority. Upon its energy depended, and still depends, the security of the Empire, and it is fortunate for us that in these days of democracy it is not at the beck and call of the people. And the same spirit which established the Committee of Imperial Defence, animated Mr Balfour throughout the difficult period of the South African War. Europe was fierce in antipathy, and the Radicals, led by Mr George, openly comforted the enemy on platform and in print. Demagogues who had served the country in Parliament, and were destined to serve her again, did not hesitate to accept and circulate the basest falsehoods, invented to the dishonour of England. Yet Mr Balfour never wavered. He possessed the fine spirit of William Pitt. He, too, was a VOL. CXC.-NO. MCLIV. pilot who weathered the storm. He was never downcast nor disheartened. He refused to believe for a moment that England could suffer defeat, and, supported valiantly by loyal colleagues, he conducted the most difficult war of modern times to a triumphant issue. There is always a pathos in saying Farewell, and the pathos is vastly increased when we say farewell to a Leader to whom we owe So deep a debt of gratitude as to Mr Balfour. As he said himself, a severance such as he announced must cause pain to all of us. Yet may we be of good heart; for not only does Mr Balfour remain in the in the House of Commons to give his counsel and encouragement, but the Leadership has been placed in capable hands. The leadership will not be, as of yore, the leadership of autocracy. Like many another great man, Mr Balfour knew not how to depute to others the work which they might have done. The very weight of his authority restricted the range and power of his followers. The long acquaintance which he had enjoyed of public affairs, the ease with which he addressed and managed the House of Commons, made it almost impossible that he should leave to others the tasks which he might perform himself. In future, no doubt, there will be a wider distribution of duties. Of those who serve under Mr Bonar Law, the new leader, 3 L more will be expected, and whole-hearted support of an they will give more. Nor undivided party. need the Unionist Party be under the slightest fear that the work of opposition will not be conducted with energy and thoroughness. The campaign which will will open next session need give us no apprehension. With such a leader, aided by such lieutenants, it cannot fail of success. The auguries are good. The process by which Mr Bonar Law was chosen is of the best possible omen. It is often said that politics are an affair of egoism-a battle in which every man's hand is against his neighbour. Of the Unionist Party this was never true, and it can be no more said. The self-sacrifice of Mr Austen Chamberlain and Mr Walter Long does them both the highest honour. Each of them had the strongest possible claim upon the support of their colleagues. They have served the party long and with vigour. But rather than incur the slightest charge of dissension, they willingly made way for Mr Bonar Law. Not merely does their action compel the fiercest cynic to take a more amiable view of politics. It disposes once and for always of the foolish legend, industriously circulated by the Radicals, that the Unionist Party is rent in twain. No better proof of unanimity could be found than that which was given at the Carlton Club; and Mr Bonar Law assumes his onerous position with the The new leader is, in the country at least, something of a dark horse. He is not familiar to the gossips. Hitherto he has eluded the makers of caricatures, and he is all the better for the elusion. In the House of Commons his qualities in debate are well known and appreciated. He has all the courage of vigorous opinions. He will fight the battle of Tariff Reform with an energy which is above suspicion. He knows how to hit hard as well as where and how to direct his blows. Born in Canada, he has always cherished the liveliest interest in the Colonies, and his election to the party leadership comes as an opportune corollary to Canada's rejection of reciprocity. He will champion the causes which he has at heart without taking or giving quarter, and the mouthpieces of the Government are already deploring what they call his "lack of urbanity. Never have we seen a better example than this of the devil reproving sin. The supporters of the demagogues who have preached a raucous crusade of classhatred, who have conducted the three last general elections as campaigns of insult, demand "urbanity" of their opponents! Have they lost all sense of humour and fitness? Their mere demand is the herald of their fear, and we hope that their fear will be justified. Urbanity is not the quality which at this moment we demand of the leader of the Opposition. The makers of ously ask urbanity of their revolution have no right to expect urbanity. The pinchbeck Robespierres who now pretend to govern us, and have never refrained their tongues from invective, are not the men to plead for the forbearance of others. Reason is useless in a gagged and guillotined House of Commons. The gentle whisper of subtlety is unheard amid the racket of the hustings. The time has come for plain speech and a simple policy; and because we sure that Mr Bonar Law and his colleagues will not spare the sensibilities of those who, having destroyed the Constitution and prepared the disruption of the Empire, now pite are opponents, we look forward to his leadership with a serene confidence. "At all events," as Mr Balfour said in his eloquent peroration, "while men grow old, and men pass, those who have given service must feel when the time of their service comes to an end that behind all these individual considerations there are great and permanent causes which do not decay with human weakness or perish with human life." So it is that, though we have changed leaders, our cause remains unchanged, as well worth fighting for as ever, and still intrusted to brave and able hands. INDEX TO VOL. CXC. - ACTION, A CALL TO, 139. Algeciras Treaty, terms of the, 147. Appalachian Range, the, some in- Archers, Royal Company of, history of, ARCHERS, THE ROYAL COMPANY OF, Aristotle's Politics,' recent actions of et seq. Army and Navy, rumour as to control Asquith, Mr, unconstitutional demand of, from the King, 415-speeches of, 'Bab Ballads,' the, of W. S. Gilbert, 121 BACKWATER, AN AMERICAN, 355. seq. BARON DE FRÉNILLY, RECOLLECTIONS BEAR, TROUBLES WITH A, IN THE MIDI, BELLA, ISOLA, 73. BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, THE, 545. Brazil, German colonies in, 608-mixed Brigandage in Asiatic Turkey, repres- BROTHERHOOD, THE FENIAN, 378. CALL TO ACTION, A, 139. CARDINAL'S ROSE-GARDEN, IN A, 787. Ceylon, a visit to, 73 et seq.-the sects CHEESE, GUESSING THE, 441. CHRISTMAS AT THE CAPITAL OF Church of Rome, increase of the, in Churchill, Lord Randolph, memorandum by, as a member of the Commission of --- Comic operas, the, of W. S. Gilbert and COOLUN, CONCERNING THE, 701. COPTS AND MOSLEMS IN EGYPT, 203. CORONATION, THE: IN THE STREETS, COUNTRY, THE CUSTOM OF THE, 367. Crane, the, classical references to, 702- CRICKET, FIRST-CLASS, IN 1911 AND CRIME, THE PRIME MINISTER'S, 415. Cromwell, Oliver, interviews of George CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY, THE, 367. of, in Kashgaria, 757 et seq.-murder DEVONSHIRE, THE EIGHTH DUKE OF, Devonshire, the Eighth Duke of, Mr tions, 714 et seq.-determined opposi- "DID HE EAT HIM?" 287. DOUBT, THE BENEFIT OF THE, 545. DUTCH CHURCH, AN ELDER OF THE, Eastwater, in Somerset, an expedition - EGYPT, COPTS AND MOSLEMS IN, 203. EIGHTH DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE, THE, ELDER OF THE DUTCH CHURCH, AN, Elephant, the, usefulness of, in Ceylon, ELIZABETH, THE FLIGHT OF, 52. English Legation, the, at the Abyssinian FALLS OF GUAYRÁ, A JOURNEY TO THE, FENIAN BROTHERHOOD, THE, 378. Field-sports, popular prejudice against, FIRST-CLASS CRICKET IN 1911 AND FLIGHT OF ELIZABETH, THE, 52. France, supremacy of, in Morocco, 147 FRANCE, THE R. P. IN, 246. |