AT ST. STEPHEN'S.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1764, 31 May 1913, Page 6

AT ST. STEPHEN'S.

SOME IMPRESSIONS

LEADERS AND THEIR WAYS.

[By S. V. BriACUEE.I London, April 18. From the newspaper discussions as to whether Jlr. Balfour is right or wrong in his complaint 01 tliu decay of Parlianifiit 1 turn to review my own impressions uf tlio visits i have paid to the Houses of Commons sineo i came ilonie. X hud 1 liut, whatever may he tho case ill regard to the period covered by the exPremier's recollections, tlio visitor from overseas can hardly walk through tlio halls and corridors ol St. Stephen's, anil sit in the gallery of the llouso without leelmg that the great days aro past.

The Groat Dead. .indeed, it might seem that tho stranger's approach lo these Historic precincts had been arranged lor tno very ol creating sucn an impression. As ho draws near tho entrance, tho statue ol Cromwell glowers upon him from the shadow of \Vestininsier ilall, whilo across tho road tho l'rank and dignified Peel seems to address hiui from iiis pedestal with constitutional arguments. A little further oil, with bowed, inscrutablo head, stands Beaconsticld,

If, on the other hand, tho visitor passes through tho hall, tho brass tablets in the lloor tell him that hero the body of UladBtone lay in funereal state, that liero Warren Hastings, maker of an Empire, was tried for abuso ot his trust, that on this spot Strailord faced his judges whilo his lilo and England's liberties hung in the balance.

And when the stranger has climbed a flight of steps, and has questioned and been questioned by the civil and dignified policemen at two succcssivo doors, ho finds himself in a noblo hall or gallery. The walls aro panelled with great historical paintings, and along each side aro fulllength and nioro than lile-size statues of great Parliamentarians. Burke stands with folded arms, as if revolving high thoughts; Fox, witli arm outstretched, is exhorting England to be worthy of herself; tho younger Pitt' still _ wears that calmly superior look which always triumphed over his unhandsome features; Chatham's eyo seems ready to_ throw forth, oven from the cold marble, its customary lightnings. To have known these heretofore only from such liugo distances of space and time—the whole round world and the most crowded of centuries intervening— aild then to come amongst them thus, upon tho very ground that once echoed beneath their feet, is to receive an impression beside which all that one may carry away from subsequent hours of watching and listening in the gallery of tlio House itself is likely to seem somehow inferior.

Mr. Asquith—Every Inch a Premier. On my first visit, I was favoured, as a result of an introduction 1 had, brought from New Zealand, with a seat in tlie Jjistingiuslied Strangers' .Gallery, ami was tnus enabled to'gain a closer view of tlio members tlKin would otherwise havo been possible. On that occasion, or later, I saw and heard most of the leading figures on both sides of the Mouse, it was cnieily from recollections of the. remark-ably-accurate caricatures (if it is permissible'to say so) of "P.0.U." that I was able, before they spoke, to pick out many ot Hie leaders. i Mr. Asquith strikes one immediately as every incu a Prime Minister. His iarge and ruddy face and wealth of w'hite hair omibled mo to identify him' the moment he entered the House, and seemed to lorm a mark of leadership as distinctive as the plumed helmet of Jvavarre.. it was question time, and I could not but adimro the combined dignity and adroitness ot his replies. In the prepared answers which ho brought into thu House with him, and ill the extempore rejoinders to unexpected queries, he generally inanagod to turn an Opposition attack into an advantage for the Government, end at thesame time to figure as the responsible guardian of the public interest. His voice and manner wero perfect, io seo and hear him in these little passages-ttt-arms was a keen artistic pleasure. W hatcver might be one's verdict on his political actions, one would havo to admit that in all those qualities which go to make a first impression he is in line with the tiaditions of the great past.

The Quietness of Mr. Bonar Law. In Mr. Bonar Law, on the other hand, I was disappointed. I have not yet been so fortunate as to see him fighting with the "loves off," and substituting, by all accounts, a modern style of inventive for tho old-fashioned courteous criticism. However greatly he may excel in that particular line, his demeanour on less portentous occasions is. according to my observations, sadly unimpressive. Mature lias not given him a face and figure to mark him oil as "not in (.ho roll ot common 'men." He sits with legs crossed and arms folded, and has a general look of do.ubled-upness and depression, By and by, one realises that he has Kept his place while others round him have come and gone, and then one concludes that this very quiet man is the Leader of the Opposition, and one begins to credit him with a steadfast concentration which may compensate for the lack of more showy finalities. These, he apparently does not 'care for. 1 heard him ask tho Premier one of the ordinary-question about the "progress of business. His tones were scarcely audible in the gallery; his manner, as ho barely rose and immediately reseated himself,, was almost apologctic. On another occasion I head him mako a short speech.' His voice was thin anil toneless. Ho lisped—rather prettily. I thought, Ho had an amiable,, snulniK way with him, which was scarcely in harmony with the matter of his speoch. "What he said had evidently been carefully prepared, for the .subject was ono in respect of which it. was eminently desirable that the Lender of the Opposition should speak clearly and strongly and yet should not too decpiv commit himself. These difficult conditions Mr. Bonar Law fulfilled, and he used withal admirably ' chosen words and nicely balanced sentences.

The Chancellor and Otlisrs. The comparison between the uresent Leader of the Opposition and his predecessor has been made and remade to tho. point of weariness. I shall not attempt to present a new or any other version of it, for the sufficient reason that on none of my visits have I had the good fortune to see "Mr. Balfour. He is taking his Parliamentary duties nowadays with comparative ease. Nor can I add much to the alroadv innumerable word pictures of Jlr. LloydGcorgc. Sitting next to Mr. Asquilh. or rising- to parry an awkward question about the Insnranco Act, lie seemed to exude geniality, vivacity, and humorous appreciation of life. Tho other moods of | tho politician who is said to be either ruining tho country or saving it—according to the point of view—l have yet to see. ' I enjoyed also tho easy conversational manner of Mr. Birrell, t!i? stern dignity of Sir Edward Carson, tho clear, hard, business manner of Sir liufus Isaacs and Mr. Herbert Samuel. I saw Jlr. Chaplin (whose figure is exactly as drawn by "F.C.Ct.") go to the table to make a long personal explanation which tho Tlousc, scarcely knowing whether to bo amused.or bored, heard with a gonial impatience. Jlr. Wyndham, whom I had pictured as the complete gentleman and model of dignity, disappointed me with his rather fussy manner, but his speech was admirably lucid, and I hoard nobody who had a readier command of appropriate language. Colonel Scely was one of the most attractive speakers. His frank manner and ringing tones momentarily disarmed criticism, so that it was not till after lie had sat down that ono began to realise that his thoughts wore not always as clear as his manner had seemed to show them.

But. is Parliament decaying? I must leave the question where. I found it, for in order- to attempt an answer I should have to travel far beyond the boiuuks of these merely personal impressions. Suffice it to say that, even if there is to-day 110 Burke, or Fox, or Chatham, this groat Assembly which is the heart nf the Empire, still merits our admiration and as much of our confidence as the party system allows us to l>?stow.

Professor Flinders Fetrie, having offered his Egyptian collection to University College, London, for .£51185, practically cost price, the college is endeavouring to raiso the money br June, whon the option expires,