ence of 1906, and that he referred to a special conference convened for a specific purpose. But October is a long time ago, and he cannot have been forgetting the conference of 1906 ever since. Nor is the particular character of the conference at all to the point. The promise upon which the Opposition, and many of Mr. Balfour's own followers, not to say colleagues, rely was that there should be no departure from the principle of a tariff for revenue until the country had been consulted. As the Cabinet apparently intend to remain in office for at least another year, they might make an arrangement with colonial statesmen which would bind their successors whatever were the result of the General Election. No wonder the Leader of the Opposition moved the adjournment of the House, and in a very vigorous speech demanded that the point should be cleared up by the Prime Minister himself. Then began a lamentable period of recrimination and disorder. Under rules for which Mr. Balfour is himself responsible, the debate on a motion for adjournment does not begin till nine, and must come to an end at twelve. The order of speakers is therefore of much greater consequence than it was under the old regulations. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, who occupied half an hour, appealed personally to the head of the Government. Nevertheless Mr. Lyttelton was put up to reply, and the Opposition refused to hear him. They called for 'Balfour,' and they would have nobody else. The Speaker was unfortunately ill; and, though Mr. Lowther is a most efficient substitute, no deputy is quite the same as a principal in circumstances so extremely trying. Even the absence of a wig and gown is felt, for there is no costume less impressive than the evening dress of an English gentleman. Anyhow, Mr. Lowther failed, and the House broke up in confusion. It is very difficult for a stranger to appreciate the exact significance of proceedings in Parliament. But I am disposed to agree with Lord Hugh Cecil that Mr. Lyttelton should have been heard. His speech would have been an inevitable interlude, and the Prime Minister must, sooner or later, have given the explanation which he alone could give. The pretext that the question lies within the Colonial Secretary's department is indeed an idle one. The Leader of the Opposition, supported by the whole of his party, had directly challenged the policy, and appealed to the speeches of the Prime Minister himself. Still, I do not believe that in the long run disorder ever pays. To understand this special instance of it we must, of course, look beyond the immediate position of affairs. Whether they be right or wrong, Liberals have for some time felt that Mr. Balfour was treating them, and the House of Commons as a whole, with insolent disdain. His refusal to attend debates on the fiscal question, even when they took the form of censure on himself, was bitterly resented as unworthy of his office, and degrading to public life. A great party is personified by its leader, and that Mr. Lyttelton should be employed to tell Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman what Mr. Balfour meant was taken for a premeditated slight. There was no personal feeling against Mr. Lyttelton. He could have filled up the time as well as anyone else. But he was not Mr. Balfour, and there are many services for which he is better qualified than the elucidation of intellectual subtleties. The worst of a metaphysical Premier is that nobody else can explain him. Meanwhile the best way out of a singularly unpleasant imbroglio would be a dissolution of Parliament. The House of Commons is suffering from debility, and wants country HERBERT PAUL. air. The Editor of THE NINETEENTH CENTURY cannot undertake INDEX TO VOL. LVII The titles of articles are printed in italics AFG AFGHANISTAN, England and Russia in, 777-786 After-dinner Oratory of America, Ali (Ameer), England and Russia in Alien Bill, The, 326, 1048 Ancestor-worship and patriotism in Anglican Starvation and a Liberal Anglo-Japanese alliance, The, 500-513 Arbitrations, International, A Cen- Army, The: as it was and as it is, CAD Bishops, The, and the Reformation Black Problem, The, in South Africa, Blackfellows of Australia, their mental capacity and intellectual develop- Books, Some Noticeable, 838-848 Boudin, Fantin and, 97-109 Brain, The, and phrenology, 958-970 British Army, The, Dearth of officers, - and military training for lads, 734- Reforms since the Crimean War, 1- 26 Training for recruits, 751-759 British Empire, The defence of the, British Fleet, its distribution, 152, 153 British Navy, Reserves of Welsh British Navy, The Colonial contribu- its reserve of war-ships, 701-724 British workers and alien labour com- Butler (Slade), The Greek Mysteries Bathurst (Miss K.), The Need for CAD National Nurseries, 818-827 ADET Corps and Church Lads' Cadet Corps in the Colonies and at CAN Canada as the British granary, its Carmen Sylva, see Roumania (Queen of) of Church and State in France, Catholics of Ireland, The, and Uni- versity education, 912-918 Charity a Hundred Years Ago, 655– Children's Christmas Amusements, Children's dinners and school mu- Children's nurseries and infant schools, China, Japan's Debt to, 207–216 China, The integrity of, and the Anglo- Christ and the Greek mysteries, 490- Church and State, The Separation of, Church Army, The, and the Recla mation of Criminals, 285–293 Classical Quotation, The Art of, 671– Classical studies at Universities and Coal, Welsh Smokeless Steam, Reserves of, for the British Navy, 154-163 565 Commerce, Navies and the Protection Compulsory Greek a8 a National Concordat, The, and the separation of Confucianism and Chinese civilisation Constitutional Agitation in Russia, Conway (Sir Martin), Is Parliament a Mere Crowd? 898-911 Cooper (Edward H.), Children's EXP Coulton (G. G.), The Autobiography Creed (Hon. J. Mildred), The Position Crowds, The psychology of, and the FABIUS MAXIMUS, A Political, Hobhouse (Mr. L. T.), his Democracy 877-897 False Dawn,' The, or Zodiacal Light, Fantin and Boudin, 97-109 615-626 Flower-painting of Fantin, 97-101 blanche reviewed, 838-847 Fyvie (John), The Ethological Society GALATA Bridge, From the Toll- German Naval Estimates and the Giles (Professor Herbert A.), Japan's Golden Mist, The Story of the, 464- Gordon (Major W. Evans), The Eco- nomic Side of Alien Immigration, Gospel Narrative, The Greek Mys- Greek, Compulsory, as a National Greek Mysteries, The, and the Gospel Narrative, 490-499 Grove (Lady), The Three K's, 1031- and Reaction, 361-372, 529–547 Hutchinson (Jonathan), Parish School Jersey (Countess of), Charity a Hun- dred Years Ago, 655-670 Johnston (Canon), his Life of Liddon Jones (Roderick), The Black Problem 88 KER ERAMAT ALI (Syed), British 786 |