Nov. 10.
Tux resignation by Mr. Balfour of the leadership of the Unionist Party in the House of Commons, if not entirely unexpected, will come as a shock, not only to his own followers, but to moderate men of all shades of opinion who like to probe beneath the surface of politics in the endeavour to arrive at their inner meaning. In the speech in which be announced his resignation Mr. Balfour gave an analysis of his reasons which is, in a sense, also an explanation of the present condition of party government in England. Apart from considerations of health, which in any case would have prevented bim from taking part in the great Unionist campaign against Home Rule, Mr. Balfour might conceivably have retained the leadership for many years tocome. We hear much of loss of confidence, and of the activities of the new Halsbury Club. But it may well be thought that that change has been exaggerated by those, either in his own party or in others, who differed with him on important matters of policy. For many years past the most criticized member of the House, Mr. Balfour has reasoned his way through the maze of politics with an intellectual capacity that many, even among his opponents, recognized, even if few agreed with his conclusion. And it is, as he believes, in the best interests of the country and of the Unionist party that he resigns the leadership. The man who at a future date may have to form a Cabinet should serve hi: apprenticeship while his party is in opposition. Mr. Balfour, naturally enough, makes no forecast as to the identity of the new leader. His words, indeed, in this connexion, are marked by a tone of pessimism, which has long been sbared by those who demand for the government of the British Empire high qualities of statesmanship. They search the list of "coming men" in vain for a statesman as distinct from a politician, and especially from the professional
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.